Authentic Experience in Tucson
Half-day itineraries showcasing some of Tucson's most classic adventures
Mountain Biking, Cattle Driving & Horseback Riding
Southwest Trekking - Mountain Biking Around Tucson
It's no secret why top athletes and savvy travelers place Tucson high on their list of favorite places to mountain bike. Southwest Trekking offers many diverse and fun adventures on mountain bikes throughout the Tucson area, from hammering the dirt hills in the Rincon Mountains to a leisurely ride through the serene Santa Rita Mountains. Expert guides, bicycles, water bottles, helmets, and transportation to and from the course are provided.
Attendees: 100 max.
Length: 4 hours
Contact: John Heiman - john@swtrekking.com
Southwest Trekking
P.O. Box 57714, Tucson, AZ 85732
(520) 296-9661
www.swtrekking.com
Cocoraque Ranch & Pavilion - Cattle Drive & Cowboy Cookout
You've seen it in the movies, now here is your chance to experience the real cowboy spirit of the Old West. Be part of a cattle drive at a century-old working cattle ranch. The cowboys at Cocoraque Ranch will mount you up on a ranch horse and lead you across acres of unspoiled desert terrain. With some wrangler teamwork, help drives a herd of cattle from one pasture to another. The ranch hands and wranglers will teach you how to keep the herd together and provide the unique language of the open range (YIP! YIP!). Once the mission is complete, take a leisurely ride back to the ranch house, dust off your boots, enjoy some delicious cowboy grub, and watch a spectacular Tucson sunset.
Attendees: 12 min./50 max.
Length: 3-4 hours, including meal
Sample Menu: Mesquite-grilled chicken and steak, homemade beans, corn salad, homemade salsa, homemade flour tortilla, seasonal beverages, and dessert.
Contact: Jesus Arvizu, owner - jearvisu@msn.com
Cocoraque Ranch & Pavilion
6255 N. Diamond Hills Ln., Tucson, AZ 85743
(520) 682-8594
www.cocoraque.com
Old Tucson - Explore 'Hollywood In The Desert' On Horseback
Tucson Mountain Park is a spectacular Sonoran Desert natural preserve featuring an excellent saguaro cactus forest, something that can be experienced only in Southern Arizona within the United States. Within its boundaries are legendary Old Tucson, the award-winning movie location, and film set. Experience both on this horseback tour. Begin early at Old Tucson and ease onto the scenic trail, where you'll see native wildlife stirring as the sun rises over Golden Gate Mountain. After a 1½-hour journey, your group of vaqueros will return for a hearty cowboy breakfast at the Grand Palace Hotel & Saloon. By that time, the park will be open and filled with cowboys.
Attendees: 20 min./50 max.
Length: 2 hours (plus time in park)
Times: Daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Reservations: At least two weeks in advance, with 50%-nonrefundable deposit.
Special Instructions: Package price includes the Sunrise Trail Ride and admission to the park. For $5 per person, group photos with a Western duo are available at selected settings, including the High Chaparral Ranch set, the Old Tucson Lines Stagecoach in Town Square, and the Reno locomotive engine.
Contact: Joe Camarillo - jcamarillo@oldtucson.com
Old Tucson
201 S. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ 85735
(520) 883-0100 ext. 264
www.oldtucson.com
Video: Old Tucson
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