FAQ's
If You Have Questions - We Have Answers
The Sprucedale Guest Ranch Staff Is Here To Help
FAQ's
If You Have Questions
We Have Answers
The Sprucedal Ranch
Staff Is Here To Help
GENERAL
A 6-day stay is customary to take advantage of all the activities during our peak summer season. However, if you can’t join us for a full week of fun during our peak summer season, we do offer a 3-day minimum stay, with NO overnight stays Saturday night to Sunday morning.
During our off-peak season, we do offer a 2-day minimum stay, and weekend stays.
Sprucedale Ranch has been family owned and operated since 1941. We encourage, and welcome, your family to come build memories with us!
Children are our future, but we understand that you may not always want to vacation with them. Please contact us and we can help figure out what dates might be best for you to visit us if you are looking for a “kid-free” week.
Yes, we need to have a completed and signed waiver for each person visiting or staying on the property – even if you do not ride our horses.
We do not have Wi-Fi available for guests. However, some cell phone carriers may get enough service for you to receive some calls, texts and emails in a limited area of the main lodge.
There is no cell phone service available throughout the ranch. However, some cell phone carriers may get enough service for you to receive some calls, texts and emails in a limited area of the main lodge. The closest 4G service is 45 minutes from the ranch, in the town of Alpine.
Yes, we have an internet and cell phone, but occasionally experience intermittent service due to weather or other service conditions.
Our phone number is: 928-333-4984 (Typically phones may be answered during the hours of 7:00 AM- 2:00 PM and intermittently throughout the evening). Due to limited phone service sometime email us is better. Our email is: sprucedale@SprucedaleRanch.com If they are unable to reach the ranch, please have them call the Apache County Sheriff at 928-337-4321.
Please contact us prior to arrival to see if we can help you coordinate hiring an outside babysitter. Sprucedale Ranch does not provide childcare. Any expenses related to hiring an outside babysitter are the guest’s responsibility.
For the safety of your pet, our ranch animals, and other guests, we strongly encourage you to leave your pet at home. For service animals, please contact us prior to your arrival.
As our dad always said “only a new comer or a damn fool would predict the weather in Arizona.” We can’t guarantee the weather, but we can guarantee a variety of activities, rain or shine. During the summer months, our days are typically warm. According to the National Forest Service, our area has an average of 76 degrees in the summer months. Our evenings are cooler and may require a light jacket. Fall brings cooler weather, with the chance of an early morning freeze, or a surprise snow storm that will melt off by mid-day. It’s always a good idea to bring your rain gear, no matter what time of year you visit the ranch.
There is a good chance you may see elk, deer, antelope, or long horn sheep during your stay. Horses, cattle, and pigs may also be seen wandering about the beautiful pastures of Sprucedale Ranch.
Base stay rates include lodging, meals, and ranch activities. Horseback rides, extended horseback rides, lessons, and clinics are an extra charge. State and local taxes are also extra. Gratuities are not included in base stay rates.
Gratuities are not included in the base stay rates. A gratuity of 15-20% of your total bill is customary and appreciated. You are welcome to add gratuities for the ranch staff to your final bill. Tipping individuals is not necessary. If you have questions about gratuities, please ask us!
LODGING & FOOD
We may be able to cater to vegetarians, low carb, and gluten free for an additional fee. Please contact us at least one month prior to your arrival. Unfortunately, our cabins do not have kitchens or refrigerators, and our ranch refrigerators have limited space. Please plan accordingly by bringing an ice chest and ice for any food and beverages you bring with you.
All meals will be served at the main lodge where you can sit and eat together, family-style. Our food is made fresh from scratch and served hot! Meals are served with fresh salads, fresh fruits, homemade breads, and delicious desserts. For medical allergies, vegetarian, or gluten options, please contact us at least one month prior to your arrival.
No. You are welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages. We encourage you to drink responsibly. Please plan accordingly by bringing an ice chest and ice for any food and beverages you bring with you.
No. Unfortunately, we do not sell ice, beverages, or snacks, and we do not have extra ice. You are welcome to bring additional food and beverages to enjoy. Please plan accordingly by bringing an ice chest and ice for any food and beverages you bring with you.
We have a generator that runs in the morning for a couple of hours and again in the evening, until lights out for the night. Please contact us at least one month prior to your arrival if you have a special request to support a medical device, like a CPAP.
We do have one handicap friendly cabin. Please contact us for more information or reservations for this cabin.
No. Each cabin is free standing with plenty of space between cabins.
No. Unfortunately, we do not have extra refrigerator space in our kitchen and we do not sell ice. Please plan accordingly by bringing an ice chest and ice for any food and beverages you bring with you.
Yes. Our water source is natural spring water that is tested for purity.
We encourage you to being bottled water if you would like to pack it on your ride.
Please contact us at least one month prior to your arrival. We have a small generator that can be placed by your cabin.
No. There are no laundry facilities or room service available at the ranch.
No. All of our cabins and buildings are smoke-free and vape-free.
You are welcome to check in AFTER 2:00pm on the day of your arrival. We typically serve dinner at 7:00pm and encourage you to arrive and get settled in before dinner. Check-out is 10:00am on the day of your departure. Please contact us prior to your arrival if you have any questions or special requests.
RANCH RIDING PROGRAM & ACTIVITIES
Yes. Each guest is carefully matched with a specific horse for the duration of their stay, based on their experience, height, weight, and riding ability.
No. Unfortunately, our insurance does not allow riding double.
Depending on what time of year your reservation is scheduled, you may come across cows on your ride that need to be moved. If you are interested in moving cows, please check out our Cattle Roundup.
We do offer advanced rides at a faster pace, where you may be able to lope or canter. Riders 13 years and older may qualify for our advanced rides. Our younger riders are encouraged to participate in our gymkhana rodeo practice. Advanced rides and gymkhana rodeo practice may be subject to change depending on availability or weather conditions.
We offer cow milking, colt leading, fishing, cornhole, basketball, volleyball, hayrides, western line dancing, bonfires, and a variety of indoor and outdoor games. Activities may be subject to change depending on availability or weather conditions.
PACKING
You should plan to bring jeans or long pants, long sleeve and short sleeve shirts, outerwear, rain gear, shorts, swimsuit, and riding boots or closed toe shoes. Layers and sun protection are suggested. We encourage you to check the weather prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. Our gift shop has t-shirts, hoodies and hats available for purchase.
TRAVEL
Albuquerque is the closest, but Phoenix usually has more flights.
It is typically 5 hours driving time with no stops.
No. We do not have fuel available for purchase. We encourage you to fuel up in Show Low or Alpine.
No. We do not provide any type of transportation to the ranch.
SPRING/FALL HORSE DRIVE
We may camp 1-2 nights during the spring horse drive. We do not camp on the fall horse drive. This may be subject to change depending on availability or weather conditions.
You need to be an intermediate rider that has ridden at least 40 hours and be physically fit and in good health.
Spring can get a little warm and Fall a little cold. There is a chance of rain or a random snowstorm. Layers, outerwear, and sun protection are suggested. We encourage you to check the weather prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. Our gift shop has t-shirts, hoodies and hats available for purchase.
No. You are welcome to ride all of the days or just a few. The Horse Drive rate includes all rides and there is no discount if you choose not to ride all of the days.
ADULT ONLY STAY
No. You are more than welcome to bring your own.
No. We run on a generator and therefore do not have an ice machine. Gusts bring an ice chest full of ice and beverages.
No. You can ride as much as you would like.
There are 13 cabins so between 15-30.
Beautiful! 80 degrees during the day and 50 degrees at night. Might get some rain.
FULL RANCH EXPERIENCE
A 6-day stay is customary to get the full Sprucedale Ranch experience, and take advantage of all the activities and fun offered during our peak summer season. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. All meals will be served at the main lodge where you can sit and eat together, family-style. Our food is made fresh from scratch and served hot! Meals are served with fresh salads, homemade breads, and delicious desserts. For medical allergies, vegetarian, or gluten options, please contact us at least one month prior to your arrival.
Typically each day, we offer a morning horseback ride for all of our riders, an afternoon ride for our advanced riders, and afternoon gymkhana rodeo for younger riders, except on Thursday when we offer an “all-day” ride down to the Black River to enjoy a packed lunch and swimming, before we ride back. Our advanced rides may be at a faster pace, where you may be able to lope or canter. Riders 13 years and older may qualify for our advanced rides. Our younger riders are encouraged to participate in our afternoon gymkhana rodeo. All riders mush be at least 6 years old. Horseback rides, advanced rides, and gymkhana rodeo may be subject to change depending on availability or weather conditions. Horseback rides and advanced rides are an additional charge and not included in the base stay rate. There is no additional charge for gymkhana rodeo for our younger riders.
We offer cow milking, colt leading, gymkhana rodeo, fishing, cornhole, basketball, volleyball, hayrides, western line dancing, bonfires, and a variety of indoor and outdoor games. Activities may be subject to change depending on availability or weather conditions.
ADVENTURE WEEK
No. We do not camp on the adventure week. Accommodations will be our cabins at the ranch.
Each ride is 8-12 miles. We will depart for our rides in the morning, eat a packed lunch on the trail, and return to the ranch in afternoon.
We have a variety of beautiful destination rides and will either ride from the ranch or trailer to a location. This may be subject to change depending on availability or weather conditions.
You need to be an intermediate rider that has ridden at least 40 hours and be physically fit and in good health.
CATTLE GATHERING
We do not camp on the cattle gathering.
You need to be an intermediate rider that has ridden at least 40 hours and be physically fit and in good health.
Fall can be a little cold. There is a chance of rain and/or snow. Layers, outerwear, and sun protection are suggested. We encourage you to check the weather prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. Our gift shop has t-shirts, hoodies and hats available for purchase.
No. You are welcome to ride all of the days or just a few. Unfortunately, there is no discount if you choose not to ride all of the days.
Typically, we ride twice a day. The length of our rides can vary depending on where we go looking for cows.
We may walk, trot, lope or canter while looking for cows.
FALL AT THE RANCH
No. Not all activities are available during the fall due to staffing and weather conditions. However, please ask if there is activity you would like to participate in, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Due to the limited activities, fall prices are discounted from our normal rate.
We may camp 1-2 nights during the spring horse drive. We do not camp on the fall horse drive. This may be subject to availability or weather conditions.
Spring can get a little warm and Fall a little cold. There is a chance of rain or a random snowstorm. Layers, outerwear, and sun protection are suggested. We encourage you to check the weather prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. Our gift shop has t-shirts, hoodies and hats available for purchase.
No. You are welcome to ride all of the days or just a few. The Horse Drive rate includes all rides and there is no discount if you choose not to ride all of the days.
You need to be an intermediate rider that has ridden at least 40 hours and be physically fit and in good health.
FALL HORSE DRIVE
FALL CATTLE ROUND UP
We do not camp on the cattle round up.
You need to be an intermediate rider that has ridden at least 40 hours and be physically fit and in good health.
Fall can be a little cold. There is a chance of rain and/or snow. Layers, outerwear, and sun protection are suggested. We encourage you to check the weather prior to your arrival and plan accordingly. Our gift shop has t-shirts, hoodies and hats available for purchase.
No. You are welcome to ride all of the days or just a few. The Horse Drive rate includes all rides and there is no discount if you choose not to ride all of the days.
Typically, we ride twice a day. The length of our rides can vary depending on where we go looking for cows.
We may walk, trot, lope or canter while looking for cows.
Please feel free to reach out for reservations
or with any additional questions you may have:
(928) 333-4984
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