Sedona: Dead Horse Ranch Horseback Ride & River Crossing

4.64

(148 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the horses or even the red hills — it was the sound of water somewhere ahead, kind of muffled by cottonwoods. We met our guide, Cody (who had that sun-creased face you only get from years outside), and he helped me up onto a horse named Daisy. My boots felt awkward at first but nobody seemed to mind. The air smelled like dust and sweet grass — I guess that’s just how it is out here in Cottonwood, not far from Sedona.

We set off slow, hooves crunching over dry ground, and Cody kept tossing out stories about Dead Horse Ranch State Park — apparently it’s not as grim as it sounds. He pointed out Tuzigoot Monument in the distance; I squinted, trying to see what he meant. The light kept shifting on those old stones. When we reached the river crossing (the part I’d secretly worried about), Daisy just plodded right in without hesitation. My heart thumped a little faster than I’d admit — cold splash up my jeans, but honestly? It felt good. Cody grinned back at me like he knew.

Somewhere along the higher trail, you could see Sedona’s red rocks way off past the valley. The wind picked up and I tried to say “Verde Valley” like Cody did — Li laughed at my accent (I probably butchered it). There was this moment where everything went quiet except for birds and that soft clinking of tack. Not sure why but I still think about that view sometimes.