This all-inclusive, family-friendly dude ranch delivers on an authentic, horse-focused experience for riders of all skill levels.
Located in Southern Arizona’s dramatically beautiful Sonoran Desert, Circle Z Ranch opens its thousands of amazingly diverse acres to guests between late October and early May. Established in 1926, the oldest guest ranch in Arizona has perfected the marriage of horse, rider, and wrangler to create the ultimate dude ranch experience for families of all riding abilities. This second-generation, family-owned working ranch also strikes a wonderful balance between time in the saddle and leisure, allowing for plenty of opportunities to create lasting family memories. The ranch owner and staff have mastered the art of bringing people together in a comfortable, family-focused environment.
The ranch caters to families with its highly-organized schedule that has just the right mix of structure and flexibility. Kids benefit from a purpose-built experience that emphasizes a strong relationship and respect for horses – both in the corral and in the saddle. Young riders get to know their horses and their wranglers throughout the week as they help groom the horses, take lessons in the arena, and spend time together out on the trails. Even the most novice of riders can be loping through the fields by the end of this vacation.
My family – including my 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son – have some experience with horses, but we’ve never stayed at a dude ranch. As “new hands” (first-timers) we were pleasantly surprised by the number of “old hands” (returning guests) who had been to the ranch anywhere from five to 25 times! It was quite a ringing endorsement to spend time with families that have made Circle Z an annual destination for decades or even generations. After spending a week here, I certainly can understand why.
Get a sneak peek of Circle Z by watching our video here.
Horseback riding at Circle Z Ranch
Phenomenal horseback riding is the focus of the Circle Z experience. Each day is spent covering miles of trails that meander through the ranch’s thousands of picturesque acres. Daily rides take place in both the morning and afternoon with each outing giving you a completely unique opportunity to enjoy the natural wonders of the area depending on which direction you head out from the ranch. Rides vary from lush, creekside outings that take riders through tunnels of mesquites and cottonwoods to cactus-laden, rocky landscapes with climbs that arrive at amazing viewpoints to massive, grassy expanses backed by red-rocked mountains that feel straight out of a Western movie. The larger-than-life cinematic locations have been used as backdrops for more than 20 films and television shows. Whether your family is here for a short stay or a full week, no two rides will be alike.
Riders and horses are expertly paired by the head wrangler based on experience and temperament, creating a great foundation for having the best rides possible during your stay. The attention to this relationship was very evident during our time on the ranch. Extra care is given to matching younger riders with horses that are particularly well-suited to kids. Highly experienced wranglers lead guests on rides that can range from slower-paced and less challenging walks for beginners to adventurous, fast-paced loping rides for intermediate and advanced riders. The wranglers become enduring tour guides, nature experts, and on-the-trail entertainers. Your wranglers also will provide optional riding lessons in the morning for folks interested in improving their abilities or brushing up on their horsemanship skills. Overall, the riding was far more spectacular than we expected.
Families can ride together or as adults-only or as kids-only; families can make those choices on a daily basis. Because the ranch does such a great job of creating a fun and safe environment for kids, we found that almost all the younger kids ended up riding in their own group with wranglers that catered to their particular skill levels. Our teenagers rode with the adults and enjoyed the opportunity to do more advanced riding as well as the chance to get to know the wranglers and other riders. But they did chose to forego some riding and instead spend a few afternoons at the pool or going on off-ranch excursions.
The mid-week lunch ride is an example of one of the longer outings where guests venture into the wilds as small groups and then gather collectively on the ranch’s picnic and rodeo grounds for an afternoon of great food and entertainment. The ranch prepares a picnic-style lunch with open-fire grilling and all the classic, homemade sides. Kids wrap up lunch with a go at the piñata before everyone gathers to watch the wranglers put on an impressive roping demonstration. Guests can choose a long or short ride back to the ranch where the afternoon is spent at the pool, on the tennis courts, in the game room or at any of the other areas of the ranch where guests can relax until the dinner bell rings.
KidTripster Tip: The longer and even more picturesque lunch rides that take the Circle Z experience to the next level happen later in the week, so if you’re looking for the full dude ranch experience, be sure to sign up for the 7-day package. Everything just seems to get better the longer that you’re here!
KidTripster Tip: For the most iconic activity on the ranch, head down to the stables at 6:45 a.m. if you want to see over a hundred horses run in from their overnight pasture to get their share of the morning’s hay. This daily ritual is spectacular and a definite memory-maker for both kids and adults. Kids can try to pick out their horses from the herd as they gallop pass. Watch here. Once the horses all come in for their breakfast, guests make their way to the lodge to get their day off and running with hearty ranch classics. The spectacle repeats itself during the evening when the herd is turned back out into the pasture. Watch here.
Just how hard do the wranglers at Circle Z work to ensure you of a memorable experience? Get a behind-the-scenes look.
Other activities at Circle Z Ranch
Throughout the week, Circle Z schedules activities that do a wonderful job of providing additional entertainment for when you’re not out on the trail. If you’re looking to take advantage of the natural surroundings, there are several options to choose from.
To get a little exercise and enjoy the ranch from a very different perspective, climb Circle Z Mountain for an aerial view of the entire spread and gain an appreciation for what your four-legged friends do each day as they climb to the top. The hike is about two hours round-trip, but you’ll get to leave your mark at the top in the log book that lives in an old, rusted mailbox along with a bottle of tequila that adults can sample as part of a ranch tradition. For those that make it to the summit, you’ll be rewarded at dinner with Circle Z buttons that are handed out to first-time climbers who complete the ascent.
Family members who are willing to head out before breakfast can join the weekly nature walk to learn more about the intriguing ecosystem at Circle Z. Vince Pinto, an entertaining naturalist and biologist unlocks the area’s mysteries as you stroll along the trails. Year-round Sonoita Creek provides an ecological bridge for a large numbers of migratory birds, insects, and other animals as it connects different “ecological islands.” As the home to the largest number of pollinators in the United States, the Patagonia area boasts 18 hummingbird species, over 200 butterflies, and more than 350 bee species. Many unique birds are regularly spotted in this hotbed for birders, and animals – such as antelope, fox, deer, and wild turkey – are a constant presence on the property.
The mid-week campfire in the center of the ranch grounds provides a wonderful evening of entertainment and the perfect setting to enjoy every kids’ favorite – s’mores. The wranglers serenade guests with Western music and roust a few sing-alongs from the group. A round of humorous, cowboy poetry beneath the stars caps off another amazing day on the ranch.
And speaking of stars, Vince Pinto returns later in the week to guide guests through the night sky with his green laser pointer after dinner on the weekly astronomy night. Learning about the stars and planets under the wide open sky was a treat and hearing the Native American perspective on the constellations quickly localized the expansive universe above.
Activities outside of Circle Z Ranch
Each day’s rides are optional. If you’re looking to take a morning, afternoon or day off from the trail, the ranch is close to several great destinations. Our teens appreciated these day trips to mix things up during our week-long stay.
If you’re looking to stay close, check out Patagonia Lake State Park just a few minutes away by car and about an hour hike from the ranch. This lake has beaches for swimming and events throughout the year which are posted online. You can rent canoes and other boats if you’re looking to get more serious about spending time on the water.
The town of Patagonia is only a few short minutes from the ranch and a great place for kids to spend a few hours popping in and out of local shops to find things to bring home or to simply grab an ice cream cone. My kids particularly enjoyed Global Arts Gallery where they checked out locally crafted art, jewelry, and crafts.
Other area destinations that come highly recommended by Circle Z staff, guests, and locals include Kartchner Caverns State Park and Tombstone, Arizona. Tombstone offers a chance to step into the Old West and visit the site of the gunfight at the OK Corral. The town is set up to give you a complete wild West experience, but note that this is a full-fledged tourist destination. Kartchner Caverns is a natural wonder. Visitors can go underground on daily tours to see the amazing caves and bat population.
KidTripster Tip: Make reservations for the caverns online to ensure that you get in.
Accommodations at Circle Z Ranch
The ranch’s accommodations vary to meet the needs of families of all sizes, but each of the options – cottages, suites and standard rooms – sits within a beautiful, communal compound. The price of your stay is broken down by person and includes room, meals, riding, and scheduled activities. The cost varies depending on the length of stay and type of room. A 7-day stay ranges from $1,992 to $2,452 for adults. Kids (12 and under) range from $818 to $1,456 and teens (13 to 17) are $1,839. A 4-day stay that runs from either Sunday to Thursday or Wednesday to Sunday ranges from $1,328 to $1,635 for adults. Kids (12 and under) range from $545 to $971 and teens (13 to 17) are $1,226. We really appreciated the fact that the ranch discounts older kids, a rarity among vacation properties.
The guest rooms are original to the ranch and date back to the late 1920s, but each has been fully upgraded to meet the needs and expectations of the today’s visitors without losing the charm and spirit of the authentic ranch experience. Rooms in the Casa Rosa guesthouse open to a courtyard where a fountain makes you feel like you’re in a desert oasis. Many of the cottages have porches that invite guests to spend long and lazy afternoons in the shade. We stayed in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom cottage that was very spacious and well appointed with a full living room as well as lots of privacy for our teens.
KidTripster Tip: Reduced package rates are available between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and often provide themed activities.
Meals on Circle Z Ranch
Each of the three daily meals are announced by the ringing of the bell just outside of the main lodge that houses the dining room. All meals at the ranch are homemade and fit for a hardworking wrangler with hearty options served buffet-style. Kids get their own dining room where they make fast friends and tend to head out to day or evening activities shortly after their meals are complete. Adults gather at large tables in the main dining room where open seating encourages guests to sit with a different group each night.
A continental breakfast is served at 7:00 a.m. followed by a hot buffet at 7:30 a.m. Each day’s offerings are a mix of hearty classics and lighter options that seem to meet everyone’s needs. Our favorite breakfast was on the Mexican-themed day with breakfast tacos and chili rellenos as the clear standouts.
KidTripster Tip: The lodge serves coffee starting at 6:30 a.m. You’ll find most guests gathering early to recap the previous day’s events, talk about the day ahead or spend quiet time scrolling through the library that lines the comfortably causal, communal living room.
Lunches vary based on the activities of the day and whether you are at the lodge or on the trail. Regardless, the casual-style lunches are made up of a refreshing mix of options that fit the laidback, post-morning ride mood.
Dinners really cap off each day with a meal that varies in theme throughout the week. The lovingly prepared dinners range from Italian and Mexican to the meat-and-potato options that you’d expect to see at a ranch. Some of the standout meals for us were the steak cookout out on the patio and the chicken pot pie that greeted us on our first night. Another nightly highlight is the desserts that run the gamut from rich cobblers to refined, homemade blueberry sorbet to decadent, chocolate biscotti.
My family’s favorite meal of the entire week was on the chuck wagon lunch ride – where after a long morning of weaving through the incredible box canyon and visiting centuries-old petroglyphs, guests enjoyed barbecued chicken and ribs in the ranch’s own sauce cooked over an open fire and complimented with a full array of classic, picnic trimmings. The open-air meal with new friends in a beautiful grassy setting surrounded by cottonwoods was a fitting celebration of the week that we all has just shared. Watch here.
KidTripster Tip: Options are provided for guests looking for lighter fair or who have dietary restrictions. The kitchen can accommodate most dietary needs, but be sure to include your requirements on the online intake form prior to arrival so that the cook can prepare in advance.
Getting to Circle Z Ranch
Circle Z Ranch is an easy, 1-hour drive from Tucson or a 2-1/2-hour drive from Phoenix. Transportation to and from the Tucson airport for up to six guests is offered by the ranch for an additional $105 and must be booked two weeks in advance of arrival.
There are dozens of Dude Ranches in the U.S. Learn more about the dude ranch vacation experience here.
Writer Jason Bacon is a travel-loving creative director in Portland, Oregon who was particularly happy to combine his love of horses and adventure on this trip. He wanders regularly with his wife and three, adventurous kids who can all outride him any day of the week.
This writer received a complimentary stay for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely his own.
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