Grand Canyon Horse Riding

Geronimo Trail to the Grand Canyon
Arizona USA
Special Offer Available!!

The rugged country along the Mogollon Rim was once roamed by Geronimo and the site of many a skirmish between the Apaches and the U.S. Army. Today, the Rim running through the Tonto National Forest contains a great area for horsemen that want to traverse steep, rocky and trails. We will take you along this breathtaking countryside and ride all the way to the edge of the Grand Canyon. This is a camping ride with vehicle support starting from the Mazatzal Wilderness "Land of the Deer" (it stretches over 252,500 acres of the Tonto and Coconino National Forests) and along the Mogollon Rim to the Geronimo trailhead. From here we follow the rim and magnificent canyons with Ponderosa Pines to the small logging towns of Pine and Strawberry before going onto the Colorado Plateau toward our destination. The second week goes from Strawberry to Williams into the Kaibab National Forest on historic cross country trails and tracks, then north through the Babbitt Ranch to reach the edge of the Grand Canyon above Moqui Stage Station. An unforgettable experience. You choose to do either Week One or Week Two, the adventure is up to you!

Although this is a “Point to Point” ride with some “lay-over” days, there will be some camp moves. You will only be requested to tend to your personal luggage during the move. The guides, wranglers, and camp jacks will see to everything else. We want this to be a fun and memorable experience. Only work you’ll perform will be tending to your trail partner for the ride (grooming and tacking your horse).

The trails and routes selected will give you the most picturesque and interesting ride you can experience and the final reward of seeing the Grand Canyon will make it the most memorable.

Camping Ride with vehicle support
Meeting: Phoenix for Week 1
Flagstaff for Week 2
Airport: Wk 1:Phoenix/Flagstaff
Wk 2: Flagstaff/Flagstaff
Transfer: Wk 1: Pick up Phoenix 7 PM. Drop off Flagstaff
Wk 2: Pick up Flagstaff 7 PM, drop off Flagstaff.
Riders: Min 5 riders
Max 10 riders

+1 604-323-1141

Itinerary / Highlights

Itinerary Week 1: Mogollon Rim - Geronimo Trail
Day 1 Sat. Pick up Week One riders at the airport in Phoenix at 7 PM and transfer to the Houston Mesa camp (90 minutes). A late dinner and gazing at the wondrous sky ends the day.

Day 2 Sun. After a hearty breakfast we’ll select our horses and ride the Houston Mesa loop for a nice and leisurely ride where you will get acquainted with your horse (~15 miles). Same camp as the night before. This area consists predominantly of rough desert mountains, sometimes broken by narrow, vertical-walled canyons.

Day 3 Mon. We’ll leave Houston Mesa horse camp to the East Verde river. On the way we’ll visit the ancient Anasazi village Shoofly and continue on to the Highline trail which will take us to our camp by Geronimo trailhead ( ~ 28 miles). Camp is on a seasonal creek in a beautiful pine covered canyon. Average elevation of this undulating rim and plateau country is about 7000 feet.

Day 4 Tues. We continue along the highline trail to the logging community of Pine, then we follow the Arizona trail east into and out of Oak tree Canyon towards the Mazatzal wilderness area (~26 miles).

Day 5 Wed. Today we'll take a ride into a beautiful side canyon of the Verde River down to Fossil Creek. An artesian spring with a blue lagoon will invite everyone for a swim before we climb out of the canyon again to return to last nights camp in Strawberry (15 miles).

Day 6 Thurs. Today we’ll transfer camp to the Overland trail south of Williams. On our way through Flagstaff we’ll stop for some last minute shopping before leaving the city life again.

Day 7 Fri. We’ll ride north on the Overland trail used by native Americans as well as later on by farmers and soldiers to cross the rim from the lower desert regions to the high alpine regions. Aspen, Pine and Fir trees as well as elk and antelopes will be our constant companions along the way. We’ll camp in a large meadow along the trail (~30 miles).
Riders on Week One will transfer after dinner to a hotel in Flagstaff for overnight.

Day 8 Sat. Departure by hotel shuttle after breakfast.

Itinerary Week 2: Grand Canyon Trail
Day 1 Sat. Pick up Week Two riders at the airport in Flagstaff at 7 PM and transfer to the camp. Dinner and gazing at the wondrous sky ends the day.

Day 2 Sun. Today we will continue the ride to and across the interstate and further into elk country. Camp will be in a hunters camp along the great western trail. Lots of trots and canters along the way with plenty of opportunities to see large herds of Elk and Antelope (~ 28 miles).

Day 3 Mon. A loop ride along the Beale Wagon route is on today's program (~18 miles).

Day 4 Tues. On we ride following the Great Western trail north out of the heavily wooded areas into the cedar covered hills and endless plains leading to the Grand Canyon (~ 30 miles).

Day 5 Wed. A long ride to Moqui Stage Station. (Historic Stage coach stop from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon in the 1800s). The terrain offers ample chance for long trots and canters again. We’ll cross the historic Babbitt ranch (29 mi).

Day 6 Thurs. From Moqui Stage Station we continue along the Arizona trail to Grand View tower. Along the way we’ll have some stunning views of the north rim of the Grand Canyon (16 miles).

Day 7 Fri. We’ll undertake a ride through the wooded areas along the rim with plenty of chance to view the abundant wildlife and in the afternoon you’ll get a chance to visit the Grand Canyon village for some souvenir shopping and a sunset at the Canyon. After a farewell dinner at the camp you’ll spend your last night in a lodge in Grand Canyon Village.

Day 8 Sat. Week two riders, your advenutre ends with departure to Flagstaff after a “continental” breakfast at the Lodge.

subject to change

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Roomy two man, three season tents w/cots and pillows (we also have spare sleeping bags for anyone needing the extra warmth on the cold desert nights). A shower facility in one of the support vehicles. Hot water is always available from a large pot and wash basins to accommodate those wishing only to shave or freshen up. Although there will always be water to use, please remember that it is a precious commodity here in the desert so conservation is the key word.

Wholesome tasty meals prepared in a modern day chuck wagon are served in a variety of menus throughout the ride. Beef, pork, chicken, or spaghetti, with fresh vegetables, bread or rolls, potatoes or rice and an occasional southwest meals for dinner are served family style around a table. Breakfast menus consist of eggs, pancakes, toast, Biscuits, potatoes and gravy, bacon and sausage, juice and a lot of coffee, tea, and cocoa.

Drinking water and water bottles are provided; flavored drink mix (iced tea and fruit punch) and electrolyte supplements are also provided and you are encouraged to use them here on the warmer dryer days.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.