MacDonald's Ranch

Horseback riding service · Phoenix

MacDonald's Ranch

Horseback riding service · Phoenix

1

26540 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

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MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null
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MacDonald's Ranch by null
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MacDonald's Ranch by null
MacDonald's Ranch by null

Highlights

Desert horseback rides, petting zoo, pony rides, cowboy dinner  

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26540 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Get directions

macdonaldsranch.com
@macdonaldsranch

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26540 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Get directions

+1 480 585 0239
macdonaldsranch.com
@macdonaldsranch

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Aug 21, 2025

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Family-owned since 1956, this working ranch leads guided horseback rides through Sonoran Desert trails, plus seasonal moonlight rides and a beloved fall pumpkin patch. A fixture in local travel coverage, it’s a welcoming way to experience Scottsdale’s Western heritage beyond Old Town.

https://macdonaldsranch.com/horseback-rides
Things to Do in Scottsdale (2025)
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Clare Lees

Google
Amazing spot to enjoy the desert and the beautiful horses. Andrew and Kyle were amazing guides and went above and beyond to help and talk to the littles ones so much, which gave them so much courage to ride the horses. I would love to go on a sunset tour or enjoy the cowboy dinner. The morning trail ride was an awesome experience for out of towners ☀️

Lidia S

Google
This was our second visit to McDonald’s Ranch, and we absolutely love it! The scenery is breathtaking, making for a beautiful and peaceful ride through the desert. The horses are incredibly well-trained, making it an enjoyable experience for riders of all skill levels. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they do. Our guide, Lauren, was amazing—so sweet, knowledgeable, and made our ride an absolute delight. She ensured we were comfortable and made the experience even more enjoyable with her kind and positive attitude. If you’re looking for a fantastic horseback riding experience in Arizona, McDonald’s Ranch is the place to go. We can’t wait to come back!

Rob Jacklin

Google
The family did the sunset trail ride and had a good time. From beginner to expert, the staff was easy to work with and very knowledgeable. Can't speak to the other activities they have on the ranch, but the trail ride was fun and worth the time.

Joey Photo

Google
This is a must experience, not fast pace but really nice horses and team that manage. Lots of horses.?the one hour tour is more than enough due to horses walking slow. Very nice for a family as well. Great nature scenery as well

Ellis Wylie

Google
As a horse owner, I’m kind of a snob when it comes to trail outfits when I’m traveling, and these guys passed muster! Horses are fit, clean, and well cared for. Staff are friendly, the trails are beautiful, and I think I saw more wildlife on this ride than I have on any other ride I’ve had in my life.

Sophia DeLapp

Google
Such an fun, special experience and kind staff. Thank you Kylie for being so responsive and fitting me in same day! Thank you Peyton, Adam, and Tanner for taking care of me and making it such a wonderful experience for a solo rider. The ranch is beautiful and the horses even more so!! 10/10 recommend!

Ashley Fienberg

Google
What a delightful place for wholesome family fun. We enjoyed seeing the horses and the petting zoo. A big space to run around and play games. Perfect place for unique pictures if you are from out of town. A must do for young kids.

Jodi Matthews

Google
MacDonald’s Ranch was a pleasure! I had researched many horse ranches, around the valley, for horseback riding. I was looking, specifically, for a place that not only had horses to ride but was genuinely friendly and had a story to share about their ranch and horses there. From my first visit, just to see the lay of the land, until I left the parking lot after my first ride I was impressed by the customer care and attention. The horses appear happy and well cared for and the trail ride was just as advertised. Easy enough for a first timer and mostly flat terrain through the Sonoran desert. A special shout out to Kelcie who answered ALL of my questions from my first visit, with a smile and genuinely kind demeanor to Mia and Danielle who managed our group with professionalism, wit and experience. I got exactly what I was looking for (a gorgeous ride in the desert on a sweet horse) and will be a repeat customer, no doubt. Last, Kelcie was sure to let me know about the new babies that had just been born and just where to see them. What an extra special treat. Thank you MacDonald’s Ranch for doing what you do, so well.
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Bill J.

Yelp
We've taken trail rides a couple times over the last few years, and have never been disappointed with this outfit. It's a very professionally run operation, always kept neat and clean and with horses that are obviously well cared for. You won't find worn out tack or sour horses here, and certainly not sour guides. On both occasions the last two years, we've taken a private one-hour ride with Emma, who was an absolute pleasure to ride with. She's patient, engaging, makes great conversation and took excellent care of us both times, as well as snapping some great photos for us during the ride. The trail ride itself is pretty much what you'd expect in North Scottsdale, i.e., desert scrub and mostly flat riding. There's a few spots where you go slightly uphill or downhill, but nothing that should worry even a novice rider. We were fortunate enough to see some lounging coyotes on our rides and some rabbits, but it was mostly uneventful (in a good way). If you're looking for more challenging terrain or more variety in the scenery, this isn't the best choice, but if you're after a pleasant, calm ride through the desert on very reliable and well trained horses, you will not be disappointed. The operation here is pretty smoothly run, but there's a couple things I would offer some feedback on. Nothing I would deduct a star for, but just minor things that would have made the experience better. Firstly, the assistants (-not- the guides) who help get you saddled up, could be friendlier. Explaining to someone how to hold the reins should not make you feel like you're being talked down to like a child. Secondly, maybe more important, on both trips the stirrup length was incorrectly set by the assistants. One time they were far too long, and the other time they were far too short. I'm a normally proportioned human being, not an NBA player or midget, so why it was that difficult to get correct stirrup length both times is a mystery to me. Again, these are minor quibbles of mine, and I'm not deducting a star for either of them. There are some pretty questionable places to trail ride in the Valley, but MacDonald's is not one of them. I would rank them as the absolute best and the gold standard, from the standpoint of the quality of the facilities, the friendliness and charisma of the guides and the quality of the horses and their tack. I very highly recommend ponying up (pun intended) for the private rides, as opposed to group outings. This way you'll get your guides' undivided attention and be able to enjoy the ride and stop more frequently for pics or to appreciate the scenery.
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Olivia R.

Yelp
Wow!!!! We did the sunset ride with 4 of us and it was absolutely beautiful. Our guide Andrew was amazing and took great pictures for us too!!!!!! The horses were all so nice and it was genuinely an experience for any age. Will definitely be going back
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Cassandra P.

Yelp
We love MacDonalds Ranch! This is our happy place! We adore the animals in the petting zoo. I recommend Macdonalds Ranch to all my friends and family because it is such a rare gem in Arizona. The petting zoo is free, but they do accept donations. We enjoy petting the goats, sheep and little ponies. We were especially excited to see 3 baby goats today- they were the cutest. We love supporting this local business- go check them out! You can also hold company events or parties here too! We also love coming here in the fall for their pumpkin patch!
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Harmony D.

Yelp
I went in early April this year while it was still cool. I've always rode horses in the mountains and even with multiple horse rides dust has been a minimal problem maybe just around the stables. I went on the 1.5 hour ride and it was solid dust the entire ride out and back. I was on the last horse of about nine horses. We rode into the desert and rode back. At the end of the trail there were some good picture spots that the guide got off her horse and took pictures for each of us which I appreciated. Other than that the not behaved horses were put up front so they would be kept moving and the well behaved eager fast horses were put in back so no horse would be left behind. Really the dust just ruined everything. I felt like I was breathing in dirt the whole time. If I ever did it again I would do the 1 hour trail ride that goes down by the lake and wrap my face in a wet handkercheif.
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Carissa N.

Yelp
So so impressed with this operation! They have a little bit of everything! Horses, letting zoo, games, corporate events, etc. We went for the hose back riding and found out that the bride-to-be in the group didn't have to pay when we got there. Which I thought was such a nice touch! The horses were great, the tour via horseback was super informative. You got to take water and your phones with you to document everything. The ambiance and decor was so cute and thought out.
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Danielle V.

Yelp
Booked the sunset ride with the family. It was lowkey and a gentle ride through the desert. Everyone had fun especially when a couple horses got ornery. Definitely something to do if you are in the area! I wish we could have gotten a family photo before we got off our horses but maybe next time.
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Carrie U.

Yelp
Oh my gosh! this is the best place to come with kids when you're visiting. The entire staff was SO nice, so patient and just all around made this one of the best memories for our family. I have to say, the horses were amazing, the ride was slow paced (good for kids) and we got some of the best pics which are definitely going into frames! If you want that cowboy pic on a horse with the sunset and some desert vibes going on, this is the place to do it! After the ride the BBQ was well coordinated, easy to get our food and the meat was delicious. Chicken was meh, so I suggest the steak- it was great! And the s'mores after dinner were the best thing ever for the kids! Our whole family, including picky teenagers had the greatest time and still say that was one of the most fun things we did on our Arizona vacation! We even took the kids go-karting after and they still think the horses were more fun! This entire operation is well coordinated, well priced and so fun for a big group. The petting zoo was even a highlight for us and I mean, come on, baby donkeys? My heart melted! I only have one suggestion for improvement, sell tee shirts! We would have totally bought tee shirts to remember our ride!
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Michael G.

Yelp
Great place for the little kids at the petting zoo. They also have a horseback riding service. Everyone we interacted with was super.
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Kristy G.

Yelp
Took my family of 7, ages ranging from16-79, for a cowboy cookout and had an amazing time! The office staff was super helpful and informative and made booking a breeze! Our guides for the trail ride, Kyle and Bill, were very knowledgeable, friendly, personable and made our 1st time riders feel super comfortable! Dinner afterwards was AMAZING! The steaks were seasoned and cooked perfectly, the sides were delicious and the s'mores at the end were the perfect ending to a perfect AZ day! I can't thank MacDonalds ranch enough for such an unforgettable family outing!
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Robert T.

Yelp
Crazy venue for large gatherings of family and friends on weekends but also perfect for small groups earlier in the day and on weekdays. A quick list of things we were able to do around noon: petting zoo with goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, and peacocks, ring toss game and cornhole, huge children's play area with tons of toys, see the horses and horse rides. The party areas look like they can accommodate hundreds of people. There's a food truck, stores, and other buildings that get setup when they're busier. We had a great time here!
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Rebekah S.

Yelp
What a beautiful ranch! Definitely worth every penny. The horses are gorgeous and so well trained!! The guides are very knowledgable and do a great job of making it a positive experience riding horses in the desert! The dinner we had was delicious! The tables had pretty flower arrangements on each table and at the end of evening you get to have smores over the campfire! They even had a cowboy singing cowboy ballads! If you are thinking about booking reservations, I highly encourage all!
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LJ J.

Yelp
If ever wanting to go horse back riding I would totally recommend this Ranch. Everyone was very friendly and knew what they were doing. Beautiful horses and a great 1 hr trail ride. We saw a rattlesnake and heard one but our guides were absolutely amazing and kept us all safe & out of harms way.
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Samantha C.

Yelp
Amazing desert trail ride experience (7 am ride in Jul 2023). The people working here really care about the horses and make sure they are not working out in the summer heat during the day! Therefore, there are only early morning rides (7 am) or evening moonlight rides during the hot summer days! They get to rest, sleep and play when it's super hot during the day. The tour guides were very informative! Ours gave lots of cool facts about the desert, and the plants that thrive in the dry desert environment! Cool horse facts as well! On the horse you will have a place to put your phone and water bottle. No texting and riding though. Stay hydrated! There's a water bottle filling station at the ranch. In case you were wondering like I was, the horses are marked with a method called freeze branding, which is supposedly much less painful for the horses (?) than the traditional method.
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Don B.

Yelp
McDonald's was a very well run operation. The steak dinner was actually very good. Lots of attention to detail to create an authentic experience.
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Sandra G.

Yelp
Such a fun experience. We did horseback riding and the cowboy cookout with two little kids and it was magical for them! MacDonald's has beautiful well trained and well mannered horses and their staff were respectful, knowledgeable and made our day memorable. Keep up the great work!
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Dee Dee S.

Yelp
We had the greatest day everyone was so happy. 10/14/24 I took my daughter and my 2 daughter laws and all 4 of my grandbabies. My grandchildren loved it all so much. Rode horses, painted faces milked cows. They especially loved the trains. Mostly because we had the best train guys engineers Blake ,Parker, Caleb & Javier made our trip to the ranch fabulous. They were polite, kind, experts at what they do!! Making children have fabulous days !!! I wanted to personally thank everyone at MacDonald's FAMILY Ranch for a glorious day. It's our family tradition every year for so many years i want At least 100 more years of MacDonald's Ranch best place ever !! Also crazy my baby grandson Bear rode a horse named Bear that's amazing right! ~ Dee Dee
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Christa M.

Yelp
I've had this placed bookmarked quite sometime and I finally made it over to the pumpkin patch this year. We made the hour drive and it was easy to find once we got close. The parking situation was a bit hectic with people not knowing how to park / drive around the lot. Its also not paved, its all dirt. The entrance is cute and there was a cute photo op that included scarecrows hay stacks, a wagon, and pumpkins. The ticket ladies were very friendly and luckily there was no line for tickets. Once inside, we figured that we would start with the activities on the left hand side. We saw pony rides, a train ride, and face painting for an additional cost. Also saw a fake bull riding ring but not sure if this was free or not. There was a cow milking prop and a petting zoo. The small cup of feed was extra money. We skipped the pony rides due to my nephew being too small and so we headed on over to the train ride. The train ride was $5 per adult and $3 for kids. The ride was pretty boring and there was really nothing to see. The only good thing about it was that it was covered. We walked around, bought some pumpkins, kettle corn, two large sodas, and two cheeseburgers with fries for lunch. The cheeseburgers were a good size and they were actually pretty good. The sitting area was under shade and there was plenty of tables available. We spent about two hours and spent about $100. Overall, I would definitely visit this place again next year!
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Karen W.

Yelp
Old MacDonald had a ranch Ee yi ee yi oh And on this ranch he had some pumpkins Ee yi ee yi oh With a petting zoo here And a barrel train there Here a chicken There a pony Everywhere a horse horse (Is a horse of course of course) Old MacDonald had a ranch Ee yi ee yi oh Also included: - Gold panning - Lawn games (Jenga, Connect Four, Cow milking) - Hay bale maze - Pedal cars - Playground area - Water pump rubber duck racing - Hay bale climbing mountain We took the tiny tyke here for her first pumpkin patch experience. She loved it so much she didn't want to leave and we had to basically drag her out at closing time lol. The gentleman at the petting zoo was so friendly and kind, helping our toddler out with feeding the little goats. One of her favorite experiences here was the barrel train. The person driving it makes it a very exhilarating experience! There were many pumpkins to choose from and so many activities for kids to play with you could spend hours here. Details: - Pumpkin patch from Oct 1- 30, closed on Halloween - Open every day except Tuesday 9-5 - $13 per person, adults and children over 1 - Free admission for 1 year olds and younger - Pumpkins supplied by local AZ farmers - Food and drink available from Blazin' BBQ and Snack Shack - Pumpkins $2-60 depending on size - Purchase tickets at the entrance - Same day re-entry allowed - Free parking (Dirt lot) - Discounts: - $2 off for veterans, active military, first responders, teachers, senior citizens (55+) & clergy - $1.00 off per person for food drive donation (Canned or non-perishable food) - Thursdays $2.00 off for parents & grandparents
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Brian B.

Yelp
The 'ol pumpkin patch! This one is close by and reasonably priced. We really like all of the different activities they have. A corn maze, playground, gold mining, pony rides, petting zoo and of course the pumpkins. Such a good time!
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Tyler J.

Yelp
Just want to add that if you want an amazing ride choose Kyle for your guide. I went a second time a year later and wished I had requested Kyle but did not. The guide was sweet but definitely wasn't as fun as when Kyle was my guide. Plus they had her on a spooky horse when we were supposed to be on an advanced ride which isn't safe in my opinion. I felt bad for the guide and wanted to go at her pace due to young horses behavior. All in all it was fun my brother's girlfriend had fun and that's all that mattered. I was sad to hear that Winston the horse I rode last time passed away. He was the best horse I've ever met. Today I rode Dakota and he was a very good boy. If you ride here and want a fun advanced ride definitely choose Kyle.

Sam W.

Yelp
We had a sunset tour and Kyle, our guide was fantastic. My two relatives came from Croatia and had never been on a horse before. he was extremely patient and they were so happy. I can't recommend this business anymore as Kyle was great. We will be back and when we do we will ask for him.
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Jessie Z.

Yelp
This place is fun for all ages! Fall fest is what we went for, and we spent 5 hours here. Wow!!! My 5 year old loved having the free range of exploring, climbing all over the hay stacks and maze, peddling on the kids carts (that were in exceptional working order), large petting zoo, pumpkin picking, horse back and bull rides, festival games, and train rides. Witnessed many couples on dates, also. Seriously, fun, fun, fun! BBQ food truck on premise was surprisingly good! Had the brisket sandwich, hubby had the pulled pork, and kid had the chicken tender meal that came with a tiny water or capri sun. I would not recommend the slaw, it was flavorless. The 2 pieces of chx in the kids meal was exceptionally meaty and juicy! The fries are shoestring style and may want to tell em to hold all the salt. Brisket wasn't fatty and was cooked to perfection. BBQ sauce was sweet and tangy and very good. Prices were very reasonable considering the portions and quality. Bring lots of water!!!!! There is no refill water station. Pumpkins are plentiful in selection and were affordable. No squashes for sale tho. There was an awesome young lady vendor that crafted fun & fuzzy pumpkins for purchase! Staff were all friendly. ESP the cowboys This ranch appears well taken care of and i took notice of the feeling of pride they take in their clean, organized, and eventful farm!
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Mariah L.

Yelp
Had a good time at the pumpkin patch overall the patch itself is 7/10 a bit over priced for the size but its western theme is very Arizona and cute. However their check in staff in my opinion was very rude and uneducated on the Arizona laws for ADA (service dog) never have I ever been questioned so intently and with such rude and obvious skepticism. The ADA legally only allows you to ask a person 2 questions being "Is it a service animal and what what service do they provide" there is no such thing as a "card" and not every disability is visible. I have a medical disability and my dog has saved my life several times he has gone everywhere with me always I have him for medical alert and response and image having to play 20 questions and explain my medical history to a stranger everyday all day long THATS WHY THERE IS LAWS AGAINST IT! I get some people try and make any dog pass but it's pretty clear when a dog is at perfect heel with obvious full focus and in a vest that says in red "required by law no exception" that it's a service dog. The law does however allow you to ask people to leave if they have an animal that behaves badly and is clearly untrained and not working and I totally support that but to prejudge a handler based on their appearance is just wrong and it set a really bitter taste in my mouth and we honestly probably won't go back next year just because it was so embarrassing and stressful.

Susan F.

Yelp
Andrew was our wrangler at Camp Courage this year. He was professional, entertaining, and contributed thoughtfully to the enjoyment and education of the kids as they rode the horses. I'd love to have him back next year! YeeHaw!!!

Pam M.

Yelp
Horses have been my love and my business for over 30 years. I have worked with dozens of outfitters and riding establishments. MacDonald's Ranch is #1 by far. Well trained, well maintained horses...I lease 15 horses at a time to work with children and adults at a camp for burn survivors. The horses take exceptional care of their human, as young as 6 years old, both while riding and on the ground. The owners, and staff of MacDonald's take great pride in their work. Knowledgeable and compassionate, they go above and beyond to meet the desires of the situation. I lease horses for a camp- MacDonald's brings in everything including the fencing to make the program flawless. Special shout out to the wranglers. Andrew stayed with the horses at camp attending to their every need. He also became a beloved member of camp- shooting hoops with the campers, joining in camp activities in his down time. Polite, fun, a true co-leader of the experience, I don't want to do camp without him and the awesome people and horses of MacDonald's Ranch.
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Jen M.

Yelp
My hubs looked around for horseback rides for our vacation and found this ranch. He left a message and got a call back quickly. Every single time we had a question, we got a very quick response. Our family visited in July 2022 and had the most amazing experience. We chose a later ride so we could see the sun set while we were riding. It was AMAZING. Our guides, Steve and Amy were both wonderful. I was directly behind Steve and his horse Applesauce. He answered all my questions and wasn't short with me at all. Very kind gentleman. He also pointed out all the fun critters we may not have seen otherwise. Amy came up unsolicited and asked if we'd like pics taken. She took my phone and rode around to get a lot of pics of my family. There were five of us so it was some work. :) This ranch exceeded our expectations. My husband I took a similar ride 19 years ago and this was even better. My daughter (21) has wanted to do this for years and she said it was the best experience and her favorite part of our vacation. Our youngest daughter (17) said she had way more fun than she thought she would. Even our son (19) who is more about gaming and sports really loved the experience. I would highly recommend this ranch to anyone who is able to ride. They chose our horses perfectly and paid attention to all the details. I sincerely hope to return.

H H.

Yelp
My party of 10 all agreed it was a fun experience. We chose the hayride because we were able to include my 82yr old mom with ease. The food was amazing! Plenty for everyone. Hot and tasty. The atmosphere was very "cowboy". Will definitely bring our visitors here for the experience. Also, I want to mention the folks who answered the phones were friendly, informative and excited. If I could just add, the hayride driver could have been a bit more engaging :) Still rate a 5 though.
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Janet B.

Yelp
We love starting our Fall fun here even when it's still 100 degrees out! The staff is so friendly and good with kids. Tons of activities and photo ops. The horses are sweet and great with kids as well. Fun petting animals area and train ride is also a nice area to take a minute to rest from all the fun.
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Angelique M.

Yelp
What a great experience I had at MacDonald Ranch. I wanted to do something different for my birthday and found them on Yelp. I had only been horseback riding once before, so I was a little nervous. I got there, and I was the only rider. They picked out June for me to ride. A nice larger horse. The trail is 4.5 miles. My guide Kyle provided the comfort I needed to allow me to enjoy the scenery. He was very knowledgeable about the plant and wildlife. I got to see jackrabbits and birds, and thank goodness no snakes. I will definitely be back!!

Tracy L.

Yelp
My husband booked a private ride for me and it was absolutely wonderful. Emma was my guide and she was just delightful. I am an experienced rider and I wanted a ride that wasn't a typical trail ride. We trotted and loped through hundreds of acres of beautiful desert land. Emma's horsemanship knowledge was superior, and she was so fun to talk to. When I arrived, the owner asked me questions to help determine a good match of a horse to ride. I ended up with Tequila, which was one of the owner's personal horses. Perfect match for me. While I was waiting, I watched the wranglers prepare for group rides. They carefully picked horses for the wide variety of riders--age, size, experience, etc. I am sure this made a great ride for everyone involved. Every staff member that I encountered was courteous, enthusiastic, and helpful. It was a real pleasure, seeing people that actually enjoy what they are doing. I have used several other horse companies in the valley, and this was by far one of my favorite experiences. I would highly recommend McDonald's ranch. I will definitely be back.
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Stacey P.

Yelp
My family (2 adults, 2 kids, - ages 11 and 9) went on a moonlight ride at MacDonald's Ranch in October 2023, and it's one of the best things we have done in a long time! It was a beautiful setting and an informative experience... a memory we will always treasure! We had the most AMAZING guide - Andrew - who made sure we were all comfortable on our horses, talked about the history of the ranch and gave us insight into what it was like to live and work on the ranch. Our horses - Barney, Gypsy, Tom-Tom, and Slim-Shady - were selected for us, based on our experience and comfort level. They were a perfect match for each of us... we all fell in love with our individual horses throughout the ride. It is very apparent that the horses are well cared for and the guides are very experienced. The ride itself made us feel like we were out in the middle of the desert, with no noise or light pollution, in an absolutely gorgeous setting. I couldn't recommend this experience more, and we all look forward to returning again in the future!!!

Kim B.

Yelp
I love being at the ranch. The people are so genuine and friendly! The food was amazing!! My steak melted in my mouth!! Next year I'm doing the horseback ride!!! Highly recommend...

Hailley O.

Yelp
Amazing staff and pricing! Everyone was very friendly and knew what they were doing. Beautiful horses and a great 1 hr trail ride.
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Scott M.

Yelp
Fun western themed spot to take the kiddos with fun games, hay maze, pedal cars, petting zoo, grub, horseback riding and tchotchke barn. Our family goes every year for the pumpkin patch. They have great prices on some great pumpkins! The kids love it!

Melissa C.

Yelp
The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, the scenery was spectacular, and the horses were well cared for! Highly recommend!
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Sam H.

Yelp
It was our first time out to Macdonalds ranch this past week and we were just looking for a fun hour of riding in the desert, but what we got was so much more than that. We had the hour group ride lead by Patrick and Beau and they could not have been any friendlier or knowledgeable about the surroundings, the horses, and the ranch in general. They were so much fun to talk with and had tremendous patience for us and other riders who might not have known too much about riding. The ranch was beautiful, all the horses were well mannered, the petting zoo area was adorable for children and adults, and the entire staff was incredible. We will definitely be making this a staple stop whenever we return to Scottsdale in the future. Cowboy hats off to Patrick and Beau!!
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Jessica A.

Yelp
We LOVE LOVE LOVE MacDonald's Ranch!!! There is no comparison in AZ, this place has it ALL!!! Friendly customer service, great prices, delicious food, and so much fun for kids of all ages (and yes, I do mean ALL ages!!). Gold mining, horseback riding, pony rides, a petting zoo, hay mazes, duck races, and SO many cute photo ops for your little ones!!! You could spend HOURS in this fun fest, and I recommend you plan to do just that! Our favorites were the train rides, the petting zoo (baby goats, need I say more), and supporting local farming!! A new must-hit on our fall bucket list, we will most definitely be back year after year!!
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Victoria R.

Yelp
Happy to have discovered this ranch while visiting Arizona! My cousin and I decided last minute we wanted to go horseback riding and we were able to make a reservation just a few hours before for the sunset ride. All the staff were extremely sweet and helpful, Amy was one of our trail guides and she was great!! She made the ride fun and enjoyable. All the horses here are loved and well taken care of and each have their own personalities which was great to see. Overall amazing experience and would definitely come back again!
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Fernando A.

Yelp
Got to check out this ranch after hearing my sister-in-law talking about it. Since we enjoyed Schnepf's Farm last time out, let's give this place a shot. It was a big disappointment with what was available to see and do. The entry fee of $13 was more than fare for what you got, but the food.........that was the biggest let down ever. Blazin Barbeque should be shut down for the garbage they are selling. For $14 for just a burger (no fries included), you expect it to be a good size and be fresh. But it's not even close. First you have the frozen store-bought Angus patty on a slightly stale bun that's smaller than a Big Mac. It was a BS shop there to sell crap to the masses. This food truck is a 1 star at best. Then you have the tractor train ride. You think you will be touring the whole ranch or maybe at least half of it. But your left disappointed when see that they do a figure 8 and then your back at the pumpkin patch to get off. Then you go on the ATV small train ride and the guy is trying to give you whiplash every chance he gets with the sharp turns he takes. Overall, this part of the ranch gets low marks and needs a huge improvement to be a better touristy spot. I will definitely not recommend it.
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Susan F.

Yelp
Bring your family and have some nice outdoor time with them. Besides Halloween, it is free to visit every day. Has a petting zoo, picnic tables, pony rides and a small play zone. Pumpkin Patch is an event that is not free.
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Clara T.

Yelp
My mom and I were looking for a trail ride where you could trot if you knew how to ride( canter too). This place was perfect. I rode Captain, my mom rode Zoro. They were so well behaved and great trail horses. Our guide Emma was super nice and talked to us pretty much the whole time. We went to the petting zoo and had fun there too. Definitely a fun place, I recommend!
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Vikki G.

Yelp
100% YES!!!!! Seven years in a row, we have visited McDonald's Ranch for their Halloween Pumpkin Patch and for and for seven years in a row it has been nothing but fabulous!!!! We absolutely love all the games and activities the kids can play - they have great snacks, a great train ride, mining for gold, duck races, cow milking, petting zoo, hay mazes, hay climb, horseback riding, mini tractor riding, bull riding, and so much more!!!! Everyone there is so nice and so kind to the kids. So much to do and so much to see and great photos because at almost every turn, "Insta Perfect" background drops are everywhere!!!!
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Mario L.

Yelp
Great experience with my team, (50 people or so), as we went there for my NSM last Nov. Food, drinks and personnel was A1! I even left my cigar case and was shipped back to my home in FL immediately. If you have your next company event, have it at MacDonlad's Ranch. ML
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Thomas G.

Yelp
First time horseback rider here! What an awesome experience here at the ranch! Staff was truly amazing and friendly! The staff was super patient and took time to explain all the need to knows! The one hour ride was really peaceful and fun. I highly recommend coming here, especially if you are a first timer!
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Amy W.

Yelp
There were 8 of us that did the horseback ride and cookout and it was so fun! The food was fabulous! Before the cookout we were also able to enjoy the petting zoo. Fun was had by all, thanks so much!
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christin f.

Yelp
Overall, our experience was a really fun one. The stable was very clean and the horses were all very healthy and well cared for. The staff was extremely friendly. The best part of the ride was at the top of the mesa with breathtaking views of saguaro lake to one side, and the towering rock walls looming over the salt river. There were only two things that were less than perfect, but nothing major. First, i had to struggle quite a few times with my horse who really wanted to snack along the way (no fault of the stable, animals will be animals). Also, being at the end of the group, we couldn't hear anything our guide was saying. We missed out on all the fun facts and info. Overall, I would definitely recommend this stable, especially on a clear beautiful day so that you might enjoy the scenery.
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Susan R.

Yelp
We have been coming here for the pumpkin patch event year after year, it has plenty to keep a child entertained. The petting farm is very interactive but it seemed the goats have had too much to eat and they were over it, Train rides, games, lots of photo ops. Definitely worth the price and the time!!!!
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Logan H.

Yelp
Took my 2 year old to the ranch today for the pumpkin patch and the petting zoo. Awesome selection of pumpkins (multiple varieties) and the petting zoo was just awesome. They have the gentlest baby goats - My daughter was able to feed them out of her hand. Also had pot belly pigs, sheep, mini horses, and large goats. The ranch has chickens and horses too. Highly recommend going during the week if you're looking for something to do with the kids. They are closed on Tuesday's but open every other day of the week!
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Nikki's Mom R.

Yelp
I have been to the ranch 3 times now, let me tell you, it has been the BEST EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME!!! The staff are so easy to talk to, Eva is the best!!! She even pulled my favorite horse from a Parade the day I came, JUST FOR ME!!! The customer service at the ranch is top notch, and I love keeping up with their ranch stories on social media. Great place to ride and visit, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND MACDONALDS RANCH!!!