Saddle Up, Skeet Shoot, and BBQ Under the Stars at This Arizona Dude Ranch

03.01.2024 - 12:57 / matadornetwork.com

As a true city slicker, I’ve long wanted to experience a weekend ranch getaway. Arizona’s Rancho de los Caballeros delivered pure Southwest perfection from the moment I arrived.

I visited the desert resort with my husband and six-year-old daughter. Rancho de los Caballeros is located an hour and a half from Phoenix by car in the town of Wickenburg, where the West is still wild. Driving up the long and winding road to the property, we were greeted by horses, the earthy smell of creosote bushes, and lots of cowboy hats and belt buckles.

Inside the ranch, my husband, a former professional pool player, was immediately drawn to the massive pool and poker tables in the game room while my daughter was captivated by the wood-burning fireplace in the lobby, quickly getting cozy among the couches, saddles, and grand piano. Within minutes of settling in at Rancho de los Caballeros, all three of us knew that we were in for a special weekend.

Photo: Rancho de los Caballeros

Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, Rancho de los Caballeros has 79 rooms, including 67 casitas and 12 suites that open to views of saguaros, wild flora and fauna, and breathtaking sunsets. Room rates range from $390 to $615 per night depending on the season.

My family and I stayed in one of the Maricopa Suites, a 750-square-foot private casita that was perfect for our three-person family. The spacious living area contains a queen-size Murphy bed, a dining table, a fireplace, sofas, and a writing desk, as well as a private balcony. Maricopa Suites also come with a cute kitchen, a private bedroom with a king bed, and a double-sink bathroom with a jetted tub and large walk-in shower.

Photo: Rancho de los Caballeros

While my family enjoyed one of the ranch’s most spacious casitas, even the smallest 310-square-foot rooms at Rancho de los Caballeros can fit up to three guests, with your choice of a king bed or a double-twin combo. All of the accommodations share the same charming Santa Fe-style decor, with interior touches such as Mexican tiling and Southwestern paintings to create the charming ambiance of an authentic yet elevated dude ranch.

Photo: Rancho de los Caballeros

When you’re not relaxing in your casita, there’s a wide variety of activities to experience at Rancho de los Caballeros. To start, the ranch has its very own championship-caliber 18-hole golf course that will have you teeing off in view of the rolling Bradshaw Mountains. The ranch also hosts tennis and pickleball courts; guided excursions such as bike, jeep, and ATV tours; and wellness amenities such as yoga and spa offerings.

But if you’ve come for the true ranch experience, you’d be remiss not to saddle up and take a horseback trail ride into the Sonoran desert. The 1.5-hour trail ride