Sedona Horseback Rides At Dead Horse Ranch With River Crossing

It’s a great experience and guides and staff were ready to make the process enjoyable, particularly for novice horse people. Two suggestions: 1) Include a photo op so families can get a photo together on their horses. 2) Update event info to say you have to pay a park entry fee. Just good to know up front, instead of a surprise. Still a great event!.

The hosts were great, took pictures of us while riding and were very knowledgeable of the land. Gave great recommendations for things to do while visiting.

Amazing trail and amazing guides. I think their names were Tim, Bill and Josh all super funny country guys. Josh was the caboose guide and made a point to get to know everyone in the lineup, Tim (I think) was the leader guide and was cracking jokes left and right, even the horses were chuckling. I loved my horse Freckle, funny lil guy and gave me a run for my money lol. Would definitely go again

We had a great experience with the tour guides, horses, scenery and weather, the entire experience was top notch and would definitely recommend them to everyone.

Great staff and beautiful horses paired up with each person riding. The hour and half ride was perfect. We went through the river 2 times, that was fun. We could of galloped, not sure why that was not on the menu. One thing I will comment on is we should have the option of a quiet ride to enjoy scenery or a full hour and half of jokes, nice guy but not into jokes.

The horses were great and the ride was fun. I wouldn’t bring children on the ride because our guide was crude and inappropriate at times.

We have a really good time on the 1.5 hour loop riding horses. The guide was great. There were some really nice views.

Seriously, all skill levels can do this! The horses do have their own personalities but overall content, well trained and willing animals. (Shout out to Ace!!). The guides were great at their directions, suggestions and using “regular” vocabulary for us less-accomplished riders. (They called the reins our steering wheel—-lol). We had a gorgeous day and it was a very enjoyable activity.

We had a wonderful experience riding the horses! My husband and I along with my daughter, son-in-law, and 3 grandsons (ages 11, 11, and 6) enjoyed riding on the trails. After about an hour, my 6 year old grandson started to get tired, and Jim (one of the guides) was attentive and worked well with young children. He was amazing and made the ride very enjoyable!

We had a great time with our group of 10. Staff was professional and fun to be around. The horses were healthy and easy to ride. I would recommend to everyone.

Go early it warms up fast. Fun and beautiful views!

My husband and I had a great time. All of the wranglers had great personalities & senses of humor. We didn’t get to see the national monument or cross the creek, but had a great time nonetheless.

My daughter and I went on the 1.5-hour ride and it was nice. The views were pretty the ride was fit for a person of any age and experience level. The older gentleman who greeted us was very friendly & funny. I was lil' disappointed that the trail guides didn't offer to get a pic, I felt with all the money spent plus tip I left that wouldn't be a problem. I didn't even ask after hearing response of one of the guides being ask from another rider. He was like "well we really can't get a pic of every group on tour with so many people". We had 14 people on our tour, I think of the 14 there were 4-5 groups (meaning 4-5 pics) over 1.5 hr tour. I will say the rider didn't let it go, and they got one of his group before they got off their horses at the end of our tour. So, if I had insisted I am sure they would have taken one, but I really felt it was putting him out. People are on a tour they will probably never take again, and one pic from their experience means a lot and riders should be offered at least one pic at the end if nothing else. I have taken several horseback tours in and outside of the USA, and they all offered at least one or two pics.

Wonderful horses and they are very experienced trail riders. The wranglers who work with the horses, organize and lead the trail ride are all professional, experienced, and supportive of your skill level with horses and riding.

Enjoyed the countryside and glimpses of wildlife and wild flowers along the trail.

Horses are in very good condition. There are .plenty of helpers for experienced or beginner riders. would recommend

We had a wonderful time on this tour. Kevin and Jim were wonderful tour guides, full of knowledge and a lot of corny jokes. The river crossing was great and the scenery beautiful. Would definitely recommend. Keep in mind though that it’s located in a state park and the entrance fee is $20 per vehicle.

The people are welcoming, the horses are well trained, the atmosphere is spectacular. Wonderful experience.

The experience was as advertised. Ranch owner knew a great deal about the local history which was great. Horses were well trained. Bring water. The horses hold bags for your water/keys/phone. Definitely wear pants and closed toed shoes. The vibe on the walk was great. It was a reasonable pace and length, stopping just short of being overly sore the next day. Great for all groups and parties of different sizes, but horses are line animals so stand near people you like!

This was so much fun!! I took my 10 yr old grandson who hadn’t done this before and barely been in a horse and he had the best experience! It was riding up some inclines, down the other side, through the river and through a beautiful area. Everyone was so kind, helpful and just created a great, safe environment.

Fantastic guides and great experience overall

If this is on your bucket list then what are you waiting for??? I am petrified of heights and motion while in the air. I can’t even step on the second rung of a ladder without breaking into a sweat. Trust me…. You will be amazed that the basket doesn’t move and you feel like you are floating on cloud nine. Thank you Jonathan and crew. Enjoy my pics.

I'm a lifelong equestrian who rides almost every day (and was formerly a trail boss in a vacation town) and this was one of the highlights of my trip to Sedona. The horses are well cared for, equipment appeared safe, the directions were easy and the guides are great. We weren't able to cross the creek due to the heavy rains, but the walk into the mountain areas was so beautiful with amazing views, a neat gravesite tour, some sun and some shade and just a super relaxing time in a place that made us feel like we'd walked into an episode of Tombstone. Do note: when you enter the park, you have to pay a day fee that's unassociated with the trail ride, but it allows you access to the park for the day. Cottonwood is nearby with great places to shop and eat. It was a beautiful and peaceful morning and one of the highlights of our trip.

Excellent! The guides were friendly with a great sense of humor, and worked really well with the horses. Check in was easy. The horses were well behaved and very healthy. The setup they have to mount and dismount was safe and easy. And the trails were beautiful! I highly recommend them.

We had a great time! The guides were awesome and it was great scenery. Would definitely recommend!!!

Was on a girls trip and we got one of my friends on her first horse ride. The horses were in great condition and the views were breathtaking. Were disappointed we couldn't cross the river due to flooding a few days earlier.

This is a slow pace easy ride with just a few small hills to navigate. The water crossing was a nice change of pace.

Was a very pleasant nice breeze- the wranglers were knowledgeable and kind of funny. I had a very nice horse. Overall great experience.

This was so fun! I went with a girlfriend and we had the best time. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique Sedona experience!

We arrived at our scheduled time and was told that it would be a minimum of 1 hour and 30 minutes behind on starting. We were not notified of this prior to arriving. There was another guest waiting in the lobby who was requesting a refund because she said the ride was unsafe. She also said that her guide would come over and punch the horse and that the reason the horse wasn’t walking was because she needed to punch it. For those two reason, we decided that we wanted a refund. I sent a message through Viator and the woman responding apologized for not notifying us ahead of time and said she would process a refund. It has now been 2 weeks and she has not answered my follow up message or processed my refund. They are holding onto about $400. I have had to request a charge back from my bank.

This was such a fun adventure! It was my first time on a horse and I was nervous at first; but Jim and Josh both were so helpful and patient. They helped us make a great memory that will last a long time. We would highly recommend this tour!

My boyfriend and I were first time horse riders and we booked this experience to enjoy the scenery. Our horses were very sweet and easy to manage. Jim made the experience amazing as well with his funny jokes and good character.

Called twice and left messages. Never got a callback from operator. Down $238.

Our guide was very friendly, very knowledgeable and brought so much excitement to our experience as first time horse back riders. I highly recommend to beginners and advance riders.

I had an absolutely terrible experience with Sedona Horseback Rides at Dead Horse Ranch. We drove all the way from Phoenix to escape the heat, but unfortunately, we arrived 20 minutes late due to being pulled over by the police on the way. When we arrived, the older gentleman in charge was incredibly unprofessional and aggressive. He immediately began yelling at us and was extremely rude, refusing to listen to our explanation or offer any alternative solutions, such as rescheduling for later, coming back another day, or even discussing a cancellation. His demeanor was hostile and he even used inappropriate language. Despite our efforts to reason with him, he took us for a rushed 15-minute ride just around the immediate park area before abruptly telling us to get off the horses and leave. It was a completely unacceptable and horrible experience. I would strongly advise against booking with this operator.

An absolute gem of a home. They left no stone unturned. The property is well kept. The decor and furniture were modern and comfortable. The home included games, a working jacuzzi, a charging station for portable devices, a portable speaker, a nicely equipped seasoning rack, comfortable bedding, large closets. Even the little things like the water pressure in the shower were incredible. Thank you for sharing this lovely, comfortable and thoughtful space. We’ll be back soon! 🫶

Me and my wife first time doing horseback and it was fantastic. Jim our instructor was super knowledgeable, kind, funny, and engaging throughout the entire ride. He fed us information about the history of the trail and asked questions to keep everyone engaged and interested. I’ll definitely do it again.

Great experience! Would highly recommend it if you are in the area. We went with 5 adults and 1 child.

Had a wonderful 1 hour trail ride at Dead Horse State Park. Kevin made our ride fun and interesting . He kept us talking and had a ton of stories to tell us. All the wranglers were very friendly and fun. The horses were beautiful and well trained. Onyx was a great horse to ride. My heart is happy! Highly recommend!

We did a 1hr ride early morning with Kevin. One of the best rides I’ve done. All the guys were friendly, horses were great and the trail thru Dead Horse State Park was beautiful. We will be back again for the vineyard tour.

Pretty dull, unfortunately. Tail to nose walk through dusty terrain. Not much to see. Very limited interaction with the young gal leading the ride, except for when she chased her horse around the pen at the beginning of the ride.

It was great to get back on horse and watch my wife have a blast. Horses are great and staff if wonderful.

In a state park must pay to get in but the r8de was slow easy informative great guide name bill he will video or take pictures

We were staying locally and booked a trail ride and so glad we did! There is a fee to get in to the state park, but please note, if you are a veteran, it is less. The stables are easy to find, plenty of parking. Helmets are available, not required. Bring sunscreen, water, a hat. The cowboys are helpful, funny, polite, and will help you get on and off if need be, and give you the basics of how to ride. The trail is pretty, through the woods, the horses cross the creek, which is fun. We saw a bald eagle soaring above, a hollowed-out tree full of bees and honey. We got some good pictures and really enjoyed our ride. We’d recommend for any age group. Please note there is a tip jar inside, and the cowboys share the tips.

What a great day! The horses were so well trained and gentle, honestly the best I’ve ever experienced on an excursion of this kind. The guides were so funny and engaging! Has the very best time. I rode Blu who was my spirit animal… a little bossy and hardheaded so we got along like old besties!

Terribly unorganized! Paid for a 2 hour ride which was supposed to start at 10. The horses were not ready and we did not leave u til 10:40!!! The trip was only 1 1/2 hours. Disappointing to say the least for the price I paid for 2 people!! 🥹 I’ve been on many horseback rides in different states and the horses are all ready to go on time! Aside from that my horse was walking close to the horse infront of me and apparently I didn’t pull him hard enough to push him back and the girl told me “don’t be nice to him” 🥹 I’m not going to be super mean to a horse, he was fine and not hard to manage. Other than that the other guys riding w us were great and the views were spectacular!! The horses were super sweet!!! ❤️❤️

Loved the experience!! The only thing I would mention, there’s a fee to enter the park that isn’t included in the fee for the excursion. Still well worth the extra $20 per car to enter the park.

Scenery was beautiful, guide was very friendly and helpful on the trail. Will definitely go back the next time we want to ride.

We enjoyed our morning ride on Ranger and Honey Horse. Our wranglers were knowledgeable and personable and John had all of the dad jokes you could ever want. We got a full introduction to riding horses and all of the horses were manageable by inexperienced riders (my husband and I included). Others have commented on the tack and the horses seeming tired or not well-maintained. The tack shows wear, as one would expect of anything being used daily several times a day, but it was in good shape. Stirrups fit well and our tack was tightly cinched. The horses are trail horses so they are used to following the horse in front of them. I have been on a trail ride (many years ago at an operation in Nevada) with a horse that was too tired and shouldn't have been ridden. That horse barely walked and eventually just stopped and would not go further. My horse here didn't struggle and neither did my husband's. When we arrived they were all feeding on hay or alfalfa spread in the corral and they all appeared to be in good condition. Some of the horses are adopted, which is nice to know. We didn't see any rough handling and when a horse got a little saucy, they were called a "turd" (LOL). The wranglers rode the most recently adopted horses to get to know the horse and evaluate them prior to putting inexperienced riders on them. We had a perfect morning for riding and saw some nice scenery. The river crossing was fun, especially if you have never done that on a horse. None of the horses the guests rode hesitated to cross the water. My husband and I agreed we had a wonderful time and we both thoroughly enjoyed our ride. I would not hesitate to recommend this operation to inexperienced riders. And, keep in mind, it's a trail ride. It's supposed to be relaxing.