Our April 2011 trip to Hideout Ranch in Portal Arizona (on the AZ/NM border) marked our third trip…read moreto the ranch in one year. Yes, it's that good! Hideout Ranch is all about riding, and their horses are fabulous. Head Wrangler, and Owner, Craig Lawson carefully hand-selected our mounts to suit our riding experience. He knows his horses, that's for sure! Each morning, after our home-cooked, hearty breakfast (cooked over an open fire, with plenty of piping hot coffee,) we loaded our horses and trailered out to a new destination. Each new day welcomed us to a wonderful new adventure. The area surrounding the ranch is chock-full of American history. During our stay, we rode to Horseshoe Canyon, Fort Bowie, the Chiricahua National Monument, and, on our last day, rode right off the ranch property into Owl Canyon. Each ride was more spectacular than the one before it. The scenery and terrain changed dramatically from ride to ride, and the horses took it all in stride. We had the opportunity to ride in places most Americans only read about in history books or watch in Western movies. Hideout Ranch owners, Craig and Tamara J. Lawson are horseman first and foremost, and just genuinely GREAT people. It doesn't matter whether you're at the ranch for a short stay or a long stay, you're going to have an awesome time.

I was looking for a horseback riding adventure and I stumbled upon the Hideout Ranch with Craig and…read moreTamara Lawson. Well, what a find! If you're looking for a true Ranch experience, this is it! This is a working ranch with horses and cattle and they're taken care of by the Lawsons. It's rustic, wild, and homey at the same time. I was comfortably nested in one of the bunkhouses that Craig built, and enjoyed 3 homemade meals plus delicious desserts every day! The horses are amazing! They're all friendly, affectionate, well taken care of, beautiful health and wonderful to ride on! I wanted to truly learn more about horses and improve my riding and I found that Tamara teaches the Centered Balance Riding technique and that topped off this place for me! I got everything I wanted and more - a chance to truly work with horses, experience breathtaking trails, improve my riding technique, rest and relaxation, and new friends! The Lawsons keep their groups small to ensure that you get the level of attention and care you deserve. You are working with salt-of-the-earth, experienced wranglers, I trust both Craig, Tamara, and their farm hand(s). They endeavor to make you a part of their family and you'll come away richer than when you arrived! The location is remote and you get to enjoy the desert, the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the stars at night are beautiful, and the drive to the Ranch brings your through gorgeous landscapes. **Note:- Ahem! Watch your speed on I-10...nuff said!**

Aspen Lodge recently hosted my 40+ member family for a reunion over July 4th. We rented the entire…read moreBunkhouse and Chalet buildings with queen, king, and shared twin bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as one of the cabins. At this size rental, the owners allowed us full use of the industrial kitchen and lodge. At the time of our stay, the kitchen was completely ready for cooking with every pot/pan/utensil we could need to prepare meals, and the lodge had a lot of fun stuff to keep us busy: volleyball net with volleyball, pool table, board games, and a ton of seating for hanging out. The common areas of the Chalet and Bunkhouse also had a seating area with board games, and a TV with DVD player and DVDs, and a kitchenette w/ fridge and microwave for making coffee/tea and heating food. The owners of Aspen Lodge could not have been more kind and accommodating. They got about a dozen or more of us in for horseback riding while we were there. The horseback riding trail was beautiful and fun. I highly recommend staying at Aspen Lodge, especially if you are a big group and want to stay together and get lots of quality time. The rooms had a lot of charm and character with very sweet unique decor & art in each. The accommodations are not fancy or luxurious. The room felt much more like staying in a family's house than a hotel (i.e., the bed, linens, towels were not fancy, but they were clean, the bed was a bit worn in - probably not amazing for someone with a really sensitive back). All that said, you and your family will have a fantastic time here!

We arrived for our Honeymoon and were very welcomed by the Lowey family. Their son kept the…read morebeautiful fire place going as Dyan and Joe were getting us ready for a memorable ride. The horse were spectacular and perfect for new riders. We arrived at the site and they had prepared a wonderful lunch and had a table and white linen overlooking the beautiful forest. A fire was made and we enjoyed our new friends. If there was a rating higher I would give it! A perfect and memorable experience and my new wife is already talking about another trip there next year.

Great experience! Our guide Bob was so informative and fun…read more You can't ask for better scenery!

Wrangler Bill was great. He educated me about the people, culture, history, flora and fauna in the…read morearea. It was beautiful. My horse was super chill and easy to ride. I had a great time!

We ended up camping near these beautiful horses and saw a sign that you could schedule a horseback…read moreride. It was really easy to set up online. There is no cell service but they have star link set up right there so you can do everything on the website. Kevin was really nice and explained everything. It was out first time riding and he made us feel comfortable. It was a beautiful ride. Highly recommend if you're staying near in and around Greer.

From the owner: I have the best horses on the planet!read more

Wow, what an authentic, real life experience of journeying into the wilderness -and my first time…read moreriding a mule! Sally was a wonderful animal and as surefooted as they say! I felt so able to be present and witness the shifting light of the day and the rare and beautiful wildflowers (a favorite of mine) in the Gila Wilderness from the back of my steady steed. I slept so well after the long day rides and woke refreshed and ready to go again at dawn. As a person used to boring backpacking food that I have to carry myself, I was delighted to have real milk in my coffee and butter on my toast. What a treat! I enjoyed how the plans of the trip evolved and changed based on he knowledge the crew had of the area and the weather- this was a living, changing real life journey, not some dude ranch style packaged and predictable experience designed for your typical US traveler who wants a pre-determined concept of comfort and certainty that checks all the usual comfort based boxes. Those places exist and would probably be fun too, (I love spas!) but this was a real adventure! The horses were all so well cared for that some could even be released to wander around the camp area- this was astonishing to me and really spoke to the leader Jim's connection and care of his animals. I learned so much from Jim, who must have grown tired of all my questions about how he managed and got to know such a large heard of individual personalities. I will certainly be back when I am able to explore more of the area! What a treat!

What a great experience! A friend and I just got back from a five day packing trip that exceeded my…read more(already pretty high) expectations. Stellar horses and mules (I loved that little miss Bombs Away). Friendly and knowledgeable guides Bridget., the cook and a guide as well, was super nice and full of interesting stories. She brought her fiddle so we had live music too! Great swimming holes and campfires every night. Can't recommend enough....

Fantastic experience Superior wranglers…read moreDelicious food friendly service Wonderful to see owners socialize with guests Will return!!

Just returned from my fifth trip. The other trips I would have given 5 stars, but this time did…read morenot live up to the other years. The food was not nearly as good as previous years. Italian night was not a great change. The food was mediocre. Go back to fajita night instead. I did a morning hike from 7-9:30am. Concerned about getting breakfast, I asked at the front desk the night before and they assured me I would be able to get breakfast when I got back. There was no food available before we left at 7, and when we returned all that was available was soggy cut fruit and tiny containers of cereal. Not enough for a hot day after a long hike. Even after a good lunch, I felt bad the entire day and had to cancel my afternoon ride because I felt like I might pass out. This ruined the whole rest of my day at a very expensive dude ranch. I didn't get to ride one of my days- at a dude ranch!- because of the lack of food available. When I complained, all I got was a "thanks for letting us know and we'll try to do better" response that felt insincere.

Great Horses and Company! Allen obviously cares for his horses, they are his own personal horses…read more The desert landscape is very nice, we even saw coyote. V.Z. Mn.

The horses are well cared for and Allen thoughtfully matches his horses to riders based on rider…read moreskill and experience. I've had great rides, good conversations, and enjoyed scenic views. I've come back to ride with them each year I've come to AZ.

If you're looking for a western getaway, I can't recommend Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch enough…read more The whole place feels nostalgic -- like you've stepped straight into the Old West. The views are phenomenal and the rooms were super clean and comfortable. The staff was incredibly welcoming and helpful from the moment we arrived. The western ambiance is spot on, and they even offer horseback riding for beginners and novice riders, which made it easy (and fun) for everyone to try. Breakfast was delicious, the bar is a great spot to wind down, and Saturday night they had an amazing live band that made the whole place come alive. Great people, great vibes, incredible views, and a really fun experience all around. Highly recommend if you want a little western adventure.

Amazing experience. The staff was so nice and friendly and helpful. The room was themed. They're…read moreall themed differently. The beds were so soft and the sheets were so soft. Breakfast was good and there's always hot water for tea and coffee available. There are ranch kitties!! Don't let them stay in your room haha. Horseback riding was cool. Unless you pay all inclusive, it's a separate charge. They offer 3 rides a day. Beginner, intermediate and advanced. They have a bar that opens at 3:30 and offer dinner as well. Would love to come back and stay more than 1 night.