Horseback Riding in Sabino Canyon

For my birthday, my husband scheduled a horseback ride in Sabino Canyon with Spanish Trail Outfitters.

We arrived around 5:15 pm, saddled up and set out at 5:30 for an hour-and-a-half sunset ride. I rode a male horse named Shiprock who had quite a healthy appetite for desert vegetation. My husband, who hadn't been on a horse in over two decades, rode a decommissioned military horse (literally a war horse) named General.

Our guide, Valerie, was a delightful lady originally from Amsterdam who has been around horses her whole life and even competed in the Olympics. The ride brought us through dry streams, up and down some fairly steep rock beds and up close to the many varieties of cacti in the Sonoran desert - the most plentiful being the giant saguaros. Watching the sun set while immersed in nature is a beautiful experience which we intend to repeat when the monsoon season arrives. In the summertime, rides are only offered in the early morning and the late afternoon/ early evening and you'll need to stay well hydrated for the ride.

For further information, contact: Spanish Trail Outfitters 8500 East Ocotillo Drive Sabino Canyon Road & Sunrise Drive Tucson, AZ 85730 520-631-3787