Cave Creek Trail Rides
Cave Creek Trail Rides
Cave Creek Trail Rides
5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Located just north of Scottsdale, we offer a variety of horseback rides through the beautiful Sonoran Desert. All of our horses are gentle and experienced and take great care of our guests. We specialize in family friendly horseback rides that are perfect for beginners and experienced riders alike. Our trails provide an excellent view of the local mountains and the Phoenix valley below. We offer THE best horseback rides in the Scottsdale area. Here at CCT, we are known for our warm hospitality and our well cared for horses. Our guides are always friendly and courteous and love to share their knowledge about horses, the Sonoran Desert, and Cave Creek's history. Our horses are gentle, well mannered and always well cared for. Cave Creek Trail Rides offers a true western experience! We even include cowboy boots, hats and chaps to wear on your ride or just for great picture opportunities. We are dedicated to making your trail ride with us the highlight of your trip.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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See what travellers are saying
- Rick D1 contributionYee Haw!I took my 2 Granddaughters (6 & 13 years old, who have never been on a horse) on the 1-hour trail ride. Izac was out guide, and he did an AMAZING job!!! He made sure the girls were safe and comfortable with their horses. He was very informative and gave us good instructions as well as having fun! The ride was very beautiful, and we all enjoyed it very much! I would highly recommend Cave Creek Trail rides and ask for Izac!!Thank you for riding with us and for taking the time to write us this review. We are so glad that you and your granddaughters enjoyed their ride with Izac. He is a great guide and we are thankful to have him on our team.Written 19 February 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 18 February 2024
- Christie B1 contributionGreat family rideWe took an hour trail ride with Cabe Creek and it was awesome. The hour was just right for our kids, 8 and 9 years old. Our daughter, whose idea it was to go, turned out to be afraid. But Allison, our guide, was so sweet to her. She led our daughter’s horse for most of the ride and talked to her the whole time to keep her relaxed. It was the best thing and I’m so grateful. The scenery was beautiful and the horses were well behaved. We even saw a rattlesnake which the guides took care of without anyone spooking. I’d highly recommend.Thank you for taking the time to share about your experience at our corral. We are so glad that you decided to ride with us and that your daughter ended up enjoying the ride even though she was nervous. Allison is a great guide and we are very thankful to have her on our team. We hope to see you guys again soon!Written 21 February 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 21 February 2024
- Jenn A2 contributionsBest day ever!!!AJ was such a great trail guide. Absolutely the best I would recommend him 10 out of 10. He was very kind, funny, helpful, knowledgeable and professional. We chose the 2 hour trail ride. I had a few bad experiences with horses when I was young (PTSD, the staff was so helpful and understanding with my issues and concerns and suited me with the perfect horse) 777 became my best horse friend after just a few minutes into the ride. My sisters and I will talk about and enjoy these memories for years to come! A definite must do in Cave Creek/Scottsdale!Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your 2hr ride with AJ. We hope that you will come back and ride with us again soon.Written 26 February 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 23 February 2024
- Mikaela M1 contributionHighly recommendAbsolutely incredible views, so breathtaking. The employees were kind and patient explaining everything we needed to know for the ride and eased an anxieties. The horses were so well behaved and gentle. Such a great experience and would highly recommend it.Thank you for riding with us and sharing your amazing photos. We are so glad that you had a good ride and we really appreciate the recommendation.Written 29 February 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 28 February 2024
- FellowTraveler5589433 contributionsCity Slickers go horseback ridingThree college friends went out for a horseback riding with James. We had a great time and made our first time rider very comfortable. We enjoyed the scenic Sonoran desert and relaxed atmosphere, as well as an excellent barbecue chicken sandwich after the trip. Highly recommended had a great time, we also brushed up on our ax, throwing and cattle roping with some fun games after the horseback riding.Visited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 1 March 2024
- Rebecca L1 contributionYou can't beat the 1.5 hour sunset ride in Cave Creek, this was the best thing I've done in awhile!I've been wanting to do this ride for years and I'm SO glad we finally did! We took the 1.5 hour sunset ride, the horses and views were perfect and our guide Lane was phenomenal as well. He kept an eye on everyone and would periodically check in to be sure we were all happy, comfortable, and having fun. Some fun small talk, historical information about the area, etc. definitely added to the fun and if we visit again I'll be requesting him as a guide. We stopped for a photo op as well which was a nice bonus. Can't wait to go back!Thank you for coming out to ride with us! We are so glad that you enjoyed your sunset ride with Llane. We look forward to your next visit!Written 11 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 March 2024
- Jenny ZHayward, Wisconsin11 contributionsBest trail ride around!So much fun! The folks at Cave Creek trail rides have a great system. They provide hats, boots and chaps if you want to wear them. I rode Ghost and my husband rode Fish, best horses they got! Our guide was AJ, he was very knowledgeable and entertaining. I would highly recommend this place!Thank you for taking the time to write us this review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your ride. We really appreciate your recommendation.Written 11 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 March 2024
- Susan I4 contributionsRainy cold absolute blast of a ride!Omg we went on a 2024 Saint Patrick's Day ride. It was so much fun and we will be laughing with the memories for years!! Was a beautiful day- right up until ride time when the clouds opened up and poured a cold soaking rain down on us!! Sloshing in our boots you could say!! Derek and Issac were the best guides ever!! We had an absolute blast even in the cold and rain! We will most definitely be back to do this again!! Thanks guys!!Such great memories! We are so glad that you braved the weather and rode with us! We will be sure to let Izac and Derek know that you enjoyed your ride. We look forward to your next visit!Written 22 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 March 2024
- Liz KWinnipeg, Canada8 contributionsA great experienceSuch a great trail ride for myself and my 8 year old daughter! Our guide (Derek) was fun, knowledgeable, and made sure my daughter was safe and comfortable. The views are amazing and the horses are clearly very well taken care of. Highly recommend!Thank you for taking the time to write us a review! We are so glad that you enjoyed your ride with Derek. We appreciate your recommendation!Written 30 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 28 March 2024
- PROSCO1 contributionAwesomeWhat a great way to end our Granddaughters vacation. What girl doesn't love horses. The stables are in the state park which were in full bloom, beautiful. The horses are very calm and well trained. The staff are friendly and kind. John, our guide, interesting and knowledgeable cowboy. He took group pictures of us and did a video for our granddaughters birthday celebration. They can't stop talking about it. Charley said I'm never washing these pants cuz I can smell "steve" her horse. We'll certainly come back.Thank you so much for riding with us and taking the time to share! We are so glad that your granddaughters enjoyed the ride. We look forward to your next visit. Charley can always request her favorite horse when you come back!Written 30 March 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 29 March 2024
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Popular mentions
5.0
680 reviews
Excellent
636
Very good
36
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Leslie H
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Couples
I took my wife on a birthday horseback ride at Cave Creek Trail Rides and it was fantastic! Why was it fantastic? From the moment we pulled into the parking area the Cave Creek Trail Rides crew was smiling. Yes...first impression and attitude IS everything in customer service. So before we even get out of the car my wife and I already feel like we will have a great experience. Cave Creek Trail Ride's epitomizes the values of old school customer service. The crew goes out of their way to ensure you have a good experience. Maya (hope I spelled that right!) was our guide and she was fantastic! She took us on an amazing sunset trail ride. My wife and I were the last two riders in the single file group. Maya regularly communicated with us to make sure we were OK. She stopped or slowed down when needed to ensure we stayed with the group. She even stopped in one of the better areas to ensure we could get some quality photos for the ride. Our horses Jackson and Wren were absolute treats for two relatively in experienced horseback riders. Jackson was my horse. He has short legs and he kind of takes his time. He's SO well trained you almost don't even need to steer him! Most of the time, when the horse in front of him stops, he stops without me pulling on the stirrups. When the horse in front of him starts moving again, he starts moving without me telling him. After the horse ride my wife told me Wren (her horse) actually wanted my wife to pet her after the ride, because my wife kind of talked to her the whole ride and connected with her. The entire experience was well worth it. My wife love it!
So...in a nutshell, if you're looking for a great horseback riding experience PLEASE don't waste your time looking at any other places, just go make your reservation with Cave Creek Trail Rides right now. Since I'm biased I'd say ask for Maya, although I can tell you ALL of Cave Creek Trail Rides crew is awesome. You can tell by their chemistry they all get a long, they have a great relationship with their horses and most importantly they're all committed to ensuring you have a great horseback riding experience.
So...in a nutshell, if you're looking for a great horseback riding experience PLEASE don't waste your time looking at any other places, just go make your reservation with Cave Creek Trail Rides right now. Since I'm biased I'd say ask for Maya, although I can tell you ALL of Cave Creek Trail Rides crew is awesome. You can tell by their chemistry they all get a long, they have a great relationship with their horses and most importantly they're all committed to ensuring you have a great horseback riding experience.
Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! Thank you for such an amazing review! We are so glad that we were able to exceed expectations and that you enjoyed your ride with Maya. Customer service is so important to us and we are glad that you felt that from the minute you arrived. We appreciate your business and hope to see you both again soon!
Written 12 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nino
Cologne, Germany94 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
This is by far the best tour operator in the area. Cave Creek is a very nice area to hike, as well as to do a trail ride. Got "Matcho" as a horse today, unfortunately this guy is a bit of work. But otherwise our male tourguide was taking it slow, gave some interesting facts about the desert and made sure we all felt comfortable. The sunset tour tonight took approx. 2hrs overall and was worth every dollar.
Make sure to wear some older clothing as it gets dusty and after the ride you smell like a horse. Safety-Equipment is provided upfront, you need to sign a waiver if you don't use it.
I can highly recommend Cave Creek Trail Rides.
Make sure to wear some older clothing as it gets dusty and after the ride you smell like a horse. Safety-Equipment is provided upfront, you need to sign a waiver if you don't use it.
I can highly recommend Cave Creek Trail Rides.
Written 27 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for riding with us! We are glad that you were able to handle Machos! He is definitely a huge horse with lots of personality. We hope that you will come back and ride with us again.
Written 3 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael R
Washington DC, DC1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Family
My wife and I and our 9-year-old daughter booked a 9 am 90-minute ride. Our guide was A. J. and he was very engaging, swapping facts and stories with our little girl the entire ride. Horses were well behaved, good as 2 of us were on our 2nd ride ever, and the trail took us to some beautiful views of the desert. Highly recommend. Happy that we booked 90 minutes as 60 minutes would fly by.
Written 30 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank for the review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your ride with AJ. He is a great guide and we are thankful to have him on our team. Thanks again for the recommendation!
Written 2 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Susan D
Syracuse, NY12 contributions
Apr 2022
I've been to Arizona numerous times and done other trail rides, nothing compares to Cave Creek Trail rides. Ironically I had reached out to another local place who didn't get back to me when someone told me about Cave Creek Trail rides, I called and they picked up immediately and got us reservations for me and my daughter for Monday of our vacation did an hour and a half ride on and decided to go back for a Sunset ride Saturday before we had to fly back home I highly recommend the sunset ride, it was simply stunning! I will say the other place got back to us FOUR days later saying they could accommodate us - well thanks but we made other arrangements and so glad we did!
You don't have to be an experienced rider to enjoy this, there was someone on our group of six who had never been on a horse and she did wonderful and enjoyed the trip.
The trail guides are amazing, especially Mac, she is so cute, friendly and knows so much about the area! It was apparent she loves working for them as she goes between their location in Cave Creek and Idaho and knows every single horse there and their temperament and which ones ride well together, etc. The horses are well trained and you can tell well taken care of!
Thank you so much for ending our vacation with a truly memorable experience and the most amazing photos to take home!
You don't have to be an experienced rider to enjoy this, there was someone on our group of six who had never been on a horse and she did wonderful and enjoyed the trip.
The trail guides are amazing, especially Mac, she is so cute, friendly and knows so much about the area! It was apparent she loves working for them as she goes between their location in Cave Creek and Idaho and knows every single horse there and their temperament and which ones ride well together, etc. The horses are well trained and you can tell well taken care of!
Thank you so much for ending our vacation with a truly memorable experience and the most amazing photos to take home!
Written 17 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! We are so glad that you found our corral and were able to ride with us. Makenna is a great guide and we are thankful to have her on our team. Thank you so much for coming back to ride with us a second time and for sharing about your experience at our corral. We hope you will come out and ride with us again the next time you're in town!
Written 18 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carrie E
6 contributions
Nov 2022
We enjoyed the hour sunset ride, and it was a perfect evening. Our guide Lane did a great job making sure everyone was having a good time and was safe and took time to make sure that each person had a sunset backdrop picture. He provided good information along the trail and the views were absolutely beautiful. We highly recommend.
Written 8 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad that you enjoyed your ride with Lane! He is an awesome guide and we thankful to have him on our team. Thanks for the review!
Written 8 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer T
6 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
Tyler took us on a relaxing hour sunset tour. Although the sunset was not as spectacular as some, the lighting was magical. 3 generations (and 3 varied levels of horse experience) enjoyed a cool evening ride taking in the beauty of the landscape and wildlife. Tyler was a great guide, informing us about our surroundings and providing engaging conversations. Thank you for a fantastic trail ride Tyler! We’ll be back!
Written 24 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for riding with us and for taking the time to share about your experience. We are so glad that your whole group enjoyed the ride and we look forward to your next visit!
Written 25 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ramagnano Family
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Friends
AMAZING! We have done many trail rides over the years, at several different places, with no complaints, but this experience was BY FAR the best. I can’t put into words how beautiful both the scenery AND the horses are. This is clearly a group of people who love what they do, take care of their animals, and take pride in creating an excellent experience for their guests. In a world where not much lives up to our expectations anymore, Cave Creek Trail Rides exceeded them. Shout out to our guide John - he shared a lot of great knowledge about the area and really went about above and beyond with taking great pictures for us to commemorate the experience. This will top our list of things to do with out out of town guests. Thank you John, Cora, McKenna & the rest of the group for being AMAZING!!!
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! Thank you so much. This review made me tear up. I really appreciate your kind words and that you noticed all the hard work and passion that goes into our corral. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for recommending our company to your guests. We look forward to your next visit!
Written 14 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Terry L
Sun City, AZ5 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
I so wish I knew the name of the ride guide who gave the 5 Somali Bantu refugee kids (young men) I am hosting such a great 1 1/2-hour trail ride. My guests had a last a lifetime (not exaggerating) memorable experience. They had the greatest time because this guide had the patience and understanding to provide this exceptional ride. My bad for not noting your name, but you are so appreciated, and I hope I conveyed that to you! Thank You!
Written 22 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for riding with us! We are so glad that everyone in your group enjoyed the ride with their guide. We hope to see you again soon!
Written 22 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pam S
175 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We took the 2 hr ride and absolutely loved it. We own horses and ride regularly, but found this plenty of saddle time to experience the Sonoran Desert's beauty. Once at the top of the trail, it felt like you could see forever, and the quiet was something not often experienced these days. The horses were well trained and well behaved. The terrain is rough and there were a few steep drop-offs, so wouldn't recommend this particular ride to beginners. The company does, however, offer shorter easier rides that still offer the same desert experience. Guides are professional, offering enough instruction without being overbearing. Horses are well cared for. Highly recommend this group!
Written 17 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam, thank you for riding with us and taking the time to write us a review. It is sounds like the 2 trail was the perfect ride for you guys. We appreciate your kind words and recommendation. We hope to see you again on your next visit.
Written 17 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mallory A
10 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Absolutely wonderful experience! We had a great ride with Chaz on 3/28/22. We had done two other trail rides on our month long stay in Arizona and Cave Creek surpassed them both and is the first I would recommend! The scenery is absolutely gorgeous, you are in the mountains, not just on a straight path. The horses were great and everyone in our family enjoyed it. We have 3 kids ages 13 to 7 and they all loved it. Chaz was a very fun and engaging guide, we enjoyed chatting with him on our ride. Highly recommend, you won’t be disappointed!
Written 28 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! Thank you so much! We are so glad that you enjoyed your ride with us and were able to exceed expectations. That means a lot to us! Chaz is a great guide and we are thankful to have him on our team. Thanks again for riding with us!
Written 31 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Will you be offering any trail rides in May, 2023?
Written 5 March 2023
Joe G
West Palm Beach, Florida
Are there any Horseback riding ranches in the area where you can briefly gallop the horses, or are they ALL just walking tours?
Written 30 October 2022
Thanks for reaching out to us! At our corral, we only allow single file, walking trail rides. We do not allow anything faster than a walk. That being said, we do take a lot of experienced riders on our more advanced trails that gain quite a bit of elevation and offer great views and they really enjoyed them.
Written 3 November 2022

Sonali B
55 contributions
Hello do you have stallions that I can ride on this tour?
Written 31 December 2017
I don't know if they have stallions, but this is a actual trail. That question makes me think you may have unrealistic expectations for the experience. The horses plod along in a line, nose to butt, on a trail surrounded by desert and cactus and rocks and they don't venture off the trail at all. This is not an opportunity to explore your inner horseman. It's more for the scenery and sitting on a horse.
Written 4 January 2018
Do you get the chance to ride at a pace faster than walk?
Written 1 November 2015
No, the pace was slow. But, you did have to watch out for thorns from the cacti catching you as you passed by!
Written 2 November 2015
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