Reliving the wild west in Arizona

Immerse yourself in Arizona’s colorful culture and live out those wild west fantasies.

From dude ranches to raucous saloons and rodeos, in Arizona you can become true Western legends. Check out these top wild west experiences.

Dude Ranches
Stay at a dude ranch along Arizona’s Dude Ranch Heritage Trail. Master barrel racing and team penning at Circle Z Ranch in Patagonia before a horseback ride to a chuck wagon BBQ dinner. Build an unbreakable bond with your horse at Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch in Yucca where visitors can saddle, ride, groom and feed their horse after sleeping in their own pioneer wagon. Check out some of the more unique horseback riding options that pair breathtaking views of the Sonoran Desert with tasty treats including wine tasting at White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, beer and Cheetos at Tombstone Monument Ranch in Tombstone or a blueberry pancake breakfast at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson.

Cowgirls Getaways
Enjoy a Cowgirl Weekend at Flying E Ranch in Wickenburg or join the Cactus Girl Program Event held by White Stallion Ranch in Tucson. Here, learn the ropes of the western life through the event’s breakfast horseback ride, leather tooling class, guided hike through the desert and margarita party that kicks off the weekend. Those seeking self-discovery and establishing wellness in their lives can join White Stallion Ranch’s Embrace Your Cowgirl Spirit Equine Retreat which incorporates riding and yoga.

Saloons
Enjoy Arizona’s historic saloons where legendary cowboys once roamed. Expect Old West evenings filled with revelry, live music, poker and the occasional brawl. Passing through the swinging doors of Arizona’s oldest saloon, The Palace Saloon on Prescott’s famous Whiskey Row is truly like taking a step back in time. Follow in the footsteps of the legendary Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp at the popular Big Nose Kate Saloon in Tombstone. Embrace the wackier side of the west at Rustler’s Rooste in Phoenix by eating fried rattlesnake and riding down its famous slide at this mountain top saloon and steakhouse.

Rodeos
Witness the best of the best compete in barrel racing, roping and bull riding at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott. Cheer on the bull riders and watch kids riding sheep. This is The World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo, held in Payson. Combining traditional rodeo with African American culture at the Arizona Black Rodeo in Scottsdale which highlights African American cowboys and cowgirls of the past and present. Attending the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the Tucson Rodeo & Parade will be the ultimate western experience in 2025 as the rodeo celebrates its centennial. It continues to host the longest non-motorised parade in the world.

Western dancing hot spots
Grab a partner to swing dance the night away after watching, or even trying, bull riding at the rustic Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek, This is a saloon with an outdoor mini-rodeo and free swing dancing lessons under the skies. Let loose at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Scottsdale, one of the few country bars in Scottsdale’s Old Town, dancing to the live country band, or head to their Gilbert location to master line dancing for free. Country dancing among ghosts is the norm at the Museum Club on Route 66 in Flagstaff, a haunted 1930s wooden roadhouse with live music.

Embrace authentic western style
Every Western legend needs a cowboy hat and boots. For over 70 years, the family-owned Paul Bond Boot Company in Nogales has made one-of-a-kind artisan leather boots that celebrities and ranchers are proud to wear. Make a new pair of boots with master bootmaker Paul Krause, owner of PK Bootmaker in Prescott, at his boot making class where you can transform leather into your very own custom boots. Discover the craftsmanship of a custom handcrafted cowboy hat at Watson’s Hat Shop in Cave Creek. Created the old-fashioned way, these beaver fur felt hats are adorned with either leather, braided horse hair or silver bands. Or create a glitzy wide-brim hat at the Rancher Hat Bar in Old Town Scottsdale where guests build their own hat, selecting vibrant ribbons and feathers.

Western Museums  
Uncover the ways of the West at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West exploring artefacts, art, jewellery and pottery exhibits from the greater western US region. Hum along at the Rex Allen Museum in Willcox that honours the famous hometown singing cowboy and tells the stories of the grittiest cowboys in town in its Cowboy Hall of Fame. Dedicated to sharing the diverse stories of the west, experience the annual Cowgirl Up! Exhibition & Sale at Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg. This supports contemporary female artists. Admire a trove of paintings and bronze sculptures at the Phippen Museum in Prescott before creating your own western masterpiece at the museum’s Art & Wine class.

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