RANCHO DE LA OSA – LIVING THE COWGIRL LIFE AT ARIZONA’S DUDE RANCHES

The wind in your hair, the gentle clop-clop of hooves, the sway of your hips in the saddle, the sun lighting up the world round you, and the vast, far-reaching views of the Arizona desert – all from the back of your horse as you take a lazy hack along the trails. Bliss.

And this bliss is absolutely achievable if you book a stay at one of Arizona’s dude ranches.

For us Brits, ‘dude ranch’ doesn’t really mean anything. A ranch just for ‘dudes’? Fortunately, not, it’s simply a ‘guest ranch’ – a place where city dwellers and rural lovers alike can come together and ride, cowboy style, in some stunning scenery.

I visited two very different dude ranches in Arizona; Rancho de la Osa (close to the Mexican border) and White Stallion Ranch (not far from Tucson).

Rancho de la Osa

Located in the grasslands of the high Sonoran Desert and surrounded by the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Rancho de la Osa is tucked away off a long dirt road.

It is a small, in terms of guest numbers, ranch, with private rooms set around a large  open area – ideal for hanging out, gathering around a firepit at night, or simply lazing on the chairs and watching the skies as the birds give way to the twinkling stars.

My room, with ensuite bathroom, had an open fireplace that allowed me to fall asleep to the crackle of dancing flames in the hearth.

And, of course, I was completely seduced by the ranch cat who decided my bed was the best place to sleep (after having been turned away at the door of my neighbour).

There is a sprawling main house, a Spanish-style hacienda, with communal dining room – the perfect place to get to know your fellow dude-ranchers. Plenty of home cooked food with a Mexican theme (think Burritos, beans, tacos etc.), good conversation, and a lot of laughing. It’s the place where friends are made.

Perhaps the most interesting building of all is the original adobe structure built in 1722 by Jesuit missionaries. This now serves as a communal ‘hang out’ with an honesty bar, saddle seats, open fire, tables and chairs (ideal for conversation or cards), and a central area that turned out to be perfect for a line dancing class!

Cattle ranching was first introduced to North America by the Spanish and La Osa operated as a cattle ranch through the 1800s. It welcomed its first dudes in the 1920s. Since then, it has hosted prominent politicians, Hollywood actors, and authors – many setting their novels at the ranch. It has even provided the location for 23 Hollywood movies!

Rancho de la Osa is located next to the 117,464-acre Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. Known for its high desert grasslands, it also features riparian areas with seasonal marshlands, meadows, cottonwoods and mesquite groves, providing rich habitat for a large variety of wildlife. This makes the ranch a birder’s paradise, so if you don’t fancy riding every day, bird watching, hiking, or just hanging out are other options.

For me, the main reason to visit a dude ranch is to ride. And there are plenty of opportunities to do just that with two rides available most days. I was paired with a lovely mare who, although being a joy to ride with, wasn’t overly keen on certain of her herd-mates and liked to be closer to the front of the line whenever possible.

The horseback riding, suitable for all abilities, took us out into the grasslands, along winding trails, up onto high plateaus with sweeping views, past rocky outcrops with evidence of human occupation dating back to 8000 BCE, and, right up to the infamous border wall between the United States and Mexico.

There is the opportunity to do a faster ride for those with the necessary riding skills (everyone has to take a simple riding test so the wranglers can assess your level), but I choose to stick to the gentler rides and enjoy the scenery, the sound of the birds, and quiet munching of the horses each time they managed to snag a few grasses.

There is no reason to leave the ranch during your stay – it’s a lovely place to hang out, to curl up with a book, grab a drink, or chat with your fellow guests, but should you fancy a trip out then head into town. Or perhaps more accurately, head to the tiny row of houses that make up Sasabe where there appears to be more abandoned homes than occupied ones. And yet somehow, in that almost deserted wilderness Sasabe Store thrives.  And every Saturday from 1pm to 6pm the back of the store becomes a bar – looking like something straight out of a movie. Honestly, it’s worth the short drive just to see it!

I spent just two days at Rancho de la Osa and would loved to have stayed there longer.  It’s a unique mix of Native American, Spanish and Mexican culture with great food and some wonderful riding. What’s not to like!?

For more information, and to book Rancho de la Osa (bookings via Frontier America) see: frontier-america.co.uk/contact-us*.
*Only a selection of ranch holidays available through Frontier America feature on the website. Please contact the tour operator directly for more options.

Read about White Stallion ranch here: white-stallion-ranch

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chantal Cooke is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and co-founder of PASSION for the PLANET. Chantal is passionate about tourism being used as a force for good

 

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Website: frontier-america.co.uk
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