We love MacDonalds Ranch! This is our happy place! We adore the animals in the petting zoo. I recommend Macdonalds Ranch to all my friends and family because it is such a rare gem in Arizona. The petting zoo is free, but they do accept donations. We enjoy petting the goats, sheep and little ponies. We were especially excited to see 3 baby goats today- they were the cutest. We love supporting this local business- go check them out! You can also hold company events or parties here too! We also love coming here in the fall for their pumpkin patch! read more

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We had a great field trip but it was just SO SMELLY I wish they picked up after the animals more. I've been to plenty ranches and they never smelled this bad :( read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Petting the Donkeys! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Went for the Pumpkin Patch season with a family I nanny for. It was my first time at McDonald's and I was impressed with how large the facility is. We paid admission and the kids wanted to do sand art- which was another fee, then a ride around the area on a tractor another fee...it wasn't a cheap day. With the pumpkin purchases it was $100 for 2 adults and two kids....which I feel is a bit pricey. They had free activities like petting zoo, a play area and of course tons of pumpkins!! It was a wonderful day and the kids definitely enjoyed it- the Mom felt it was worth it for the day out with the kiddos! Lots of horses to admire and the folks were all friendly! read more

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We had great time! Staff was fantastic and helpful. We had special needs and they were great with accommodate my needs read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Wow!!!! We did the sunset ride with 4 of us and it was absolutely beautiful. Our guide Andrew was amazing and took great pictures for us too!!!!!! The horses were all so nice and it was genuinely an experience for any age. Will definitely be going back read more

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Awesome activity for guests visiting. One recommendation - please chill the wine we purchase. The beer is chilled, so it should be easy to do. Wine is not good warm. :) read more

So so impressed with this operation! They have a little bit of everything! Horses, letting zoo, games, corporate events, etc. We went for the hose back riding and found out that the bride-to-be in the group didn't have to pay when we got there. Which I thought was such a nice touch! The horses were great, the tour via horseback was super informative. You got to take water and your phones with you to document everything. The ambiance and decor was so cute and thought out. read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Riding Uno! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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We've taken trail rides a couple times over the last few years, and have never been disappointed with this outfit. It's a very professionally run operation, always kept neat and clean and with horses that are obviously well cared for. You won't find worn out tack or sour horses here, and certainly not sour guides. On both occasions the last two years, we've taken a private one-hour ride with Emma, who was an absolute pleasure to ride with. She's patient, engaging, makes great conversation and took excellent care of us both times, as well as snapping some great photos for us during the ride. The trail ride itself is pretty much what you'd expect in North Scottsdale, i.e., desert scrub and mostly flat riding. There's a few spots where you go slightly uphill or downhill, but nothing that should worry even a novice rider. We were fortunate enough to see some lounging coyotes on our rides and some rabbits, but it was mostly uneventful (in a good way). If you're looking for more challenging terrain or more variety in the scenery, this isn't the best choice, but if you're after a pleasant, calm ride through the desert on very reliable and well trained horses, you will not be disappointed. The operation here is pretty smoothly run, but there's a couple things I would offer some feedback on. Nothing I would deduct a star for, but just minor things that would have made the experience better. Firstly, the assistants (-not- the guides) who help get you saddled up, could be friendlier. Explaining to someone how to hold the reins should not make you feel like you're being talked down to like a child. Secondly, maybe more important, on both trips the stirrup length was incorrectly set by the assistants. One time they were far too long, and the other time they were far too short. I'm a normally proportioned human being, not an NBA player or midget, so why it was that difficult to get correct stirrup length both times is a mystery to me. Again, these are minor quibbles of mine, and I'm not deducting a star for either of them. There are some pretty questionable places to trail ride in the Valley, but MacDonald's is not one of them. I would rank them as the absolute best and the gold standard, from the standpoint of the quality of the facilities, the friendliness and charisma of the guides and the quality of the horses and their tack. I very highly recommend ponying up (pun intended) for the private rides, as opposed to group outings. This way you'll get your guides' undivided attention and be able to enjoy the ride and stop more frequently for pics or to appreciate the scenery. read more

Booked the sunset ride with the family. It was lowkey and a gentle ride through the desert. Everyone had fun especially when a couple horses got ornery. Definitely something to do if you are in the area! I wish we could have gotten a family photo before we got off our horses but maybe next time. read more

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I went in early April this year while it was still cool. I've always rode horses in the mountains and even with multiple horse rides dust has been a minimal problem maybe just around the stables. I went on the 1.5 hour ride and it was solid dust the entire ride out and back. I was on the last horse of about nine horses. We rode into the desert and rode back. At the end of the trail there were some good picture spots that the guide got off her horse and took pictures for each of us which I appreciated. Other than that the not behaved horses were put up front so they would be kept moving and the well behaved eager fast horses were put in back so no horse would be left behind. Really the dust just ruined everything. I felt like I was breathing in dirt the whole time. If I ever did it again I would do the 1 hour trail ride that goes down by the lake and wrap my face in a wet handkercheif. read more

Oh my gosh! this is the best place to come with kids when you're visiting. The entire staff was SO nice, so patient and just all around made this one of the best memories for our family. I have to say, the horses were amazing, the ride was slow paced (good for kids) and we got some of the best pics which are definitely going into frames! If you want that cowboy pic on a horse with the sunset and some desert vibes going on, this is the place to do it! After the ride the BBQ was well coordinated, easy to get our food and the meat was delicious. Chicken was meh, so I suggest the steak- it was great! And the s'mores after dinner were the best thing ever for the kids! Our whole family, including picky teenagers had the greatest time and still say that was one of the most fun things we did on our Arizona vacation! We even took the kids go-karting after and they still think the horses were more fun! This entire operation is well coordinated, well priced and so fun for a big group. The petting zoo was even a highlight for us and I mean, come on, baby donkeys? My heart melted! I only have one suggestion for improvement, sell tee shirts! We would have totally bought tee shirts to remember our ride! read more

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I have done a lot of trail rides and I must say this was one of the best experiences I have had. Our guide, Mike, was so informative and helpful. The horses are very well taken care of and the staff all love their jobs. I will be back for years to come! read more

Great place for the little kids at the petting zoo. They also have a horseback riding service. Everyone we interacted with was super. read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Amazing desert trail ride experience (7 am ride in Jul 2023). The people working here really care about the horses and make sure they are not working out in the summer heat during the day! Therefore, there are only early morning rides (7 am) or evening moonlight rides during the hot summer days! They get to rest, sleep and play when it's super hot during the day. The tour guides were very informative! Ours gave lots of cool facts about the desert, and the plants that thrive in the dry desert environment! Cool horse facts as well! On the horse you will have a place to put your phone and water bottle. No texting and riding though. Stay hydrated! There's a water bottle filling station at the ranch. In case you were wondering like I was, the horses are marked with a method called freeze branding, which is supposedly much less painful for the horses (?) than the traditional method. read more

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Took my family of 7, ages ranging from16-79, for a cowboy cookout and had an amazing time! The office staff was super helpful and informative and made booking a breeze! Our guides for the trail ride, Kyle and Bill, were very knowledgeable, friendly, personable and made our 1st time riders feel super comfortable! Dinner afterwards was AMAZING! The steaks were seasoned and cooked perfectly, the sides were delicious and the s'mores at the end were the perfect ending to a perfect AZ day! I can't thank MacDonalds ranch enough for such an unforgettable family outing! read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

This is one of the cutest places we've ever been to! All the animals were so kind, gentle, and friendly. I think it's so nice that you can actually go into the enclosures with the animals. You can tell they definitely take amazing care of their animals and the ranch. We will definitely be back. read more

The whole experience was very enjoyable. The guides did a great job with the horses, the dinner was great, and the entertainment (Cowboy Mike) was exceptional. Kudos to the whole group. read more

This was a fun outing with my best ladies. Kyle was a great host. They have a petting zoo and cowboy games too

What a beautiful ranch! Definitely worth every penny. The horses are gorgeous and so well trained!! The guides are very knowledgable and do a great job of making it a positive experience riding horses in the desert! The dinner we had was delicious! The tables had pretty flower arrangements on each table and at the end of evening you get to have smores over the campfire! They even had a cowboy singing cowboy ballads! If you are thinking about booking reservations, I highly encourage all! read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Little donkeys - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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I've had this placed bookmarked quite sometime and I finally made it over to the pumpkin patch this year. We made the hour drive and it was easy to find once we got close. The parking situation was a bit hectic with people not knowing how to park / drive around the lot. Its also not paved, its all dirt. The entrance is cute and there was a cute photo op that included scarecrows hay stacks, a wagon, and pumpkins. The ticket ladies were very friendly and luckily there was no line for tickets. Once inside, we figured that we would start with the activities on the left hand side. We saw pony rides, a train ride, and face painting for an additional cost. Also saw a fake bull riding ring but not sure if this was free or not. There was a cow milking prop and a petting zoo. The small cup of feed was extra money. We skipped the pony rides due to my nephew being too small and so we headed on over to the train ride. The train ride was $5 per adult and $3 for kids. The ride was pretty boring and there was really nothing to see. The only good thing about it was that it was covered. We walked around, bought some pumpkins, kettle corn, two large sodas, and two cheeseburgers with fries for lunch. The cheeseburgers were a good size and they were actually pretty good. The sitting area was under shade and there was plenty of tables available. We spent about two hours and spent about $100. Overall, I would definitely visit this place again next year! read more

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Old MacDonald had a ranch Ee yi ee yi oh And on this ranch he had some pumpkins Ee yi ee yi oh With a petting zoo here And a barrel train there Here a chicken There a pony Everywhere a horse horse (Is a horse of course of course) Old MacDonald had a ranch Ee yi ee yi oh Also included: - Gold panning - Lawn games (Jenga, Connect Four, Cow milking) - Hay bale maze - Pedal cars - Playground area - Water pump rubber duck racing - Hay bale climbing mountain We took the tiny tyke here for her first pumpkin patch experience. She loved it so much she didn't want to leave and we had to basically drag her out at closing time lol. The gentleman at the petting zoo was so friendly and kind, helping our toddler out with feeding the little goats. One of her favorite experiences here was the barrel train. The person driving it makes it a very exhilarating experience! There were many pumpkins to choose from and so many activities for kids to play with you could spend hours here. Details: - Pumpkin patch from Oct 1- 30, closed on Halloween - Open every day except Tuesday 9-5 - $13 per person, adults and children over 1 - Free admission for 1 year olds and younger - Pumpkins supplied by local AZ farmers - Food and drink available from Blazin' BBQ and Snack Shack - Pumpkins $2-60 depending on size - Purchase tickets at the entrance - Same day re-entry allowed - Free parking (Dirt lot) - Discounts: - $2 off for veterans, active military, first responders, teachers, senior citizens (55+) & clergy - $1.00 off per person for food drive donation (Canned or non-perishable food) - Thursdays $2.00 off for parents & grandparents read more

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Literally SO MUCH FUN! Me and 2 friends did the cowboy cookout, it was just the 3 of us and our guide (Kyle - who is awesome, love you Kyle) on our horseback ride and it was perfect. None of us had rode horses since we were little kids, all the ranchers made it easy and were super friendly. Dinner was EXCEPTIONAL (get the steak) and smores at sunset was to die for. If you're considering booking with MacDonalds, DO IT! Would absolutely go again, all the workers were so friendly and accommodating!! read more

If ever wanting to go horse back riding I would totally recommend this Ranch. Everyone was very friendly and knew what they were doing. Beautiful horses and a great 1 hr trail ride. We saw a rattlesnake and heard one but our guides were absolutely amazing and kept us all safe & out of harms way. read more

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The 'ol pumpkin patch! This one is close by and reasonably priced. We really like all of the different activities they have. A corn maze, playground, gold mining, pony rides, petting zoo and of course the pumpkins. Such a good time! read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Sunset from the tractor ride - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Crazy venue for large gatherings of family and friends on weekends but also perfect for small groups earlier in the day and on weekdays. A quick list of things we were able to do around noon: petting zoo with goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, and peacocks, ring toss game and cornhole, huge children's play area with tons of toys, see the horses and horse rides. The party areas look like they can accommodate hundreds of people. There's a food truck, stores, and other buildings that get setup when they're busier. We had a great time here! read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Petting zoo goats with baby goat - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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This was a beautiful experience! The staff were organized and very pleasant. The horses were all gorgeous. The food was good. Our children all had an amazing time. If I am ever back in the area I will return. Thank you! read more

What a great experience I had at MacDonald Ranch. I wanted to do something different for my birthday and found them on Yelp. I had only been horseback riding once before, so I was a little nervous. I got there, and I was the only rider. They picked out June for me to ride. A nice larger horse. The trail is 4.5 miles. My guide Kyle provided the comfort I needed to allow me to enjoy the scenery. He was very knowledgeable about the plant and wildlife. I got to see jackrabbits and birds, and thank goodness no snakes. I will definitely be back!! read more

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We had the greatest day everyone was so happy. 10/14/24 I took my daughter and my 2 daughter laws and all 4 of my grandbabies. My grandchildren loved it all so much. Rode horses, painted faces milked cows. They especially loved the trains. Mostly because we had the best train guys engineers Blake ,Parker, Caleb & Javier made our trip to the ranch fabulous. They were polite, kind, experts at what they do!! Making children have fabulous days !!! I wanted to personally thank everyone at MacDonald's FAMILY Ranch for a glorious day. It's our family tradition every year for so many years i want At least 100 more years of MacDonald's Ranch best place ever !! Also crazy my baby grandson Bear rode a horse named Bear that's amazing right! ~ Dee Dee read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Happy Kids At MacDonald's Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

McDonald's was a very well run operation. The steak dinner was actually very good. Lots of attention to detail to create an authentic experience. read more

Such a fun experience. We did horseback riding and the cowboy cookout with two little kids and it was magical for them! MacDonald's has beautiful well trained and well mannered horses and their staff were respectful, knowledgeable and made our day memorable. Keep up the great work! read more

Just want to add that if you want an amazing ride choose Kyle for your guide. I went a second time a year later and wished I had requested Kyle but did not. The guide was sweet but definitely wasn't as fun as when Kyle was my guide. Plus they had her on a spooky horse when we were supposed to be on an advanced ride which isn't safe in my opinion. I felt bad for the guide and wanted to go at her pace due to young horses behavior. All in all it was fun my brother's girlfriend had fun and that's all that mattered. I was sad to hear that Winston the horse I rode last time passed away. He was the best horse I've ever met. Today I rode Dakota and he was a very good boy. If you ride here and want a fun advanced ride definitely choose Kyle. read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Winston and me - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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This place is fun for all ages! Fall fest is what we went for, and we spent 5 hours here. Wow!!! My 5 year old loved having the free range of exploring, climbing all over the hay stacks and maze, peddling on the kids carts (that were in exceptional working order), large petting zoo, pumpkin picking, horse back and bull rides, festival games, and train rides. Witnessed many couples on dates, also. Seriously, fun, fun, fun! BBQ food truck on premise was surprisingly good! Had the brisket sandwich, hubby had the pulled pork, and kid had the chicken tender meal that came with a tiny water or capri sun. I would not recommend the slaw, it was flavorless. The 2 pieces of chx in the kids meal was exceptionally meaty and juicy! The fries are shoestring style and may want to tell em to hold all the salt. Brisket wasn't fatty and was cooked to perfection. BBQ sauce was sweet and tangy and very good. Prices were very reasonable considering the portions and quality. Bring lots of water!!!!! There is no refill water station. Pumpkins are plentiful in selection and were affordable. No squashes for sale tho. There was an awesome young lady vendor that crafted fun & fuzzy pumpkins for purchase! Staff were all friendly. ESP the cowboys This ranch appears well taken care of and i took notice of the feeling of pride they take in their clean, organized, and eventful farm! read more

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My hubs looked around for horseback rides for our vacation and found this ranch. He left a message and got a call back quickly. Every single time we had a question, we got a very quick response. Our family visited in July 2022 and had the most amazing experience. We chose a later ride so we could see the sun set while we were riding. It was AMAZING. Our guides, Steve and Amy were both wonderful. I was directly behind Steve and his horse Applesauce. He answered all my questions and wasn't short with me at all. Very kind gentleman. He also pointed out all the fun critters we may not have seen otherwise. Amy came up unsolicited and asked if we'd like pics taken. She took my phone and rode around to get a lot of pics of my family. There were five of us so it was some work. :) This ranch exceeded our expectations. My husband I took a similar ride 19 years ago and this was even better. My daughter (21) has wanted to do this for years and she said it was the best experience and her favorite part of our vacation. Our youngest daughter (17) said she had way more fun than she thought she would. Even our son (19) who is more about gaming and sports really loved the experience. I would highly recommend this ranch to anyone who is able to ride. They chose our horses perfectly and paid attention to all the details. I sincerely hope to return. read more

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We LOVE LOVE LOVE MacDonald's Ranch!!! There is no comparison in AZ, this place has it ALL!!! Friendly customer service, great prices, delicious food, and so much fun for kids of all ages (and yes, I do mean ALL ages!!). Gold mining, horseback riding, pony rides, a petting zoo, hay mazes, duck races, and SO many cute photo ops for your little ones!!! You could spend HOURS in this fun fest, and I recommend you plan to do just that! Our favorites were the train rides, the petting zoo (baby goats, need I say more), and supporting local farming!! A new must-hit on our fall bucket list, we will most definitely be back year after year!! read more

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It was our first time out to Macdonalds ranch this past week and we were just looking for a fun hour of riding in the desert, but what we got was so much more than that. We had the hour group ride lead by Patrick and Beau and they could not have been any friendlier or knowledgeable about the surroundings, the horses, and the ranch in general. They were so much fun to talk with and had tremendous patience for us and other riders who might not have known too much about riding. The ranch was beautiful, all the horses were well mannered, the petting zoo area was adorable for children and adults, and the entire staff was incredible. We will definitely be making this a staple stop whenever we return to Scottsdale in the future. Cowboy hats off to Patrick and Beau!! read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

We had a sunset tour and Kyle, our guide was fantastic. My two relatives came from Croatia and had never been on a horse before. he was extremely patient and they were so happy. I can't recommend this business anymore as Kyle was great. We will be back and when we do we will ask for him. read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Sam and Mia waiting for our ride to begin - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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I am honestly not sure why I haven't written a Yelp review for MacDonald's Ranch until now, this is my families absolutely favorite place to visit during October. If you want a parking spot that is somewhat near the entrance I suggest getting there early because all of the good spots fill up quickly! Sometimes the lines inside can be a bit long but they usually aren't too bad. We've been to their Pumpkin Patch every year for the last four years and we've gone during the off season to do horseback riding as well. PLUS did you know you can book a wedding on their property? My favorite part of the property is the petting zoo! It is one of the cleanest petting zoo's I've seen anywhere and that includes the actual zoo. All of the animals look healthy, well taken care of, clean and well groomed. The petting zoo is free with admission and you can buy food cones to give the animals. Right as you come out is a place to wash your hands. There are a ton of free fun little games across the property like soccer using brooms and a pumpkin, rubber duck racing, bikes for the small kids, ring toss, and more. There are also several fun places to take photographs in wood cut out frames. Hungry? They have a place for fun or for snacks. The bathrooms are clean and the lines generally aren't bad anytime I've gone to use them. The pumpkin patch itself is fun to get to because you have to hitch a ride on a stage coach or wagon and it has an assortment of pumpkin sizes. When we went horseback riding it was a pleasant experience even for my husband who has never been horseback riding, the trail was great for starters and the horses were all well behaved. We had a lot of fun! I am sure I am forgetting something as they have a lot to offer so I suggest heading out to check them out. read more

MacDonald's Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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We love starting our Fall fun here even when it's still 100 degrees out! The staff is so friendly and good with kids. Tons of activities and photo ops. The horses are sweet and great with kids as well. Fun petting animals area and train ride is also a nice area to take a minute to rest from all the fun. read more

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My family (2 adults, 2 kids, - ages 11 and 9) went on a moonlight ride at MacDonald's Ranch in October 2023, and it's one of the best things we have done in a long time! It was a beautiful setting and an informative experience... a memory we will always treasure! We had the most AMAZING guide - Andrew - who made sure we were all comfortable on our horses, talked about the history of the ranch and gave us insight into what it was like to live and work on the ranch. Our horses - Barney, Gypsy, Tom-Tom, and Slim-Shady - were selected for us, based on our experience and comfort level. They were a perfect match for each of us... we all fell in love with our individual horses throughout the ride. It is very apparent that the horses are well cared for and the guides are very experienced. The ride itself made us feel like we were out in the middle of the desert, with no noise or light pollution, in an absolutely gorgeous setting. I couldn't recommend this experience more, and we all look forward to returning again in the future!!! read more

Overall, our experience was a really fun one. The stable was very clean and the horses were all very healthy and well cared for. The staff was extremely friendly. The best part of the ride was at the top of the mesa with breathtaking views of saguaro lake to one side, and the towering rock walls looming over the salt river. There were only two things that were less than perfect, but nothing major. First, i had to struggle quite a few times with my horse who really wanted to snack along the way (no fault of the stable, animals will be animals). Also, being at the end of the group, we couldn't hear anything our guide was saying. We missed out on all the fun facts and info. Overall, I would definitely recommend this stable, especially on a clear beautiful day so that you might enjoy the scenery. read more