Nestled in the Tonto National Forest, minutes from Saguaro Lake and all its natural attributes and unfettered access to the Salt River and its wildlife, the Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch is an idyllic oasis of peace and pristine beauty where nature fully flaunts all the assets of true Arizona desert living.
And with all of these assets, the destination manages to do the near impossible in a technology-dependent 21st century—persuade guests to leave their phones in their cabins while they explore.
“You’d be surprised at how many people really do unplug here,” says Holly Hamlin, guest experience coordinator for Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch. “We want people to connect with nature and other people.”
Images that greet guests from the moment they arrive are very convincing. The rural environs, movie set-like nature scenery, and mélange of landscapes make a strong case for abandoning Wi-Fi and not obsessing over how many bars show up on the cellphone.
The sprawling property is centered around 20 uniquely rustic historic cabins. These are void of televisions and phones but boast no shortage of stunning panoramic views and creature comforts like comfy king and queen beds, climate control, refrigerators, microwaves, and artwork and touches that ooze vintage Western charm.
The Tonto National Forest flaunts not only a diverse ecosystem but also the opportunity to indulge in your pick of outdoor recreational activities spanning kayaking, paddleboarding, rafting, horseback riding, and more.
A variety of outdoor activities await. Sign up for a two-hour unguided kayaking trip or a guided rafting trip to explore the Lower Salt River. Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl and saddle up with wranglers on a trail ride. If getting on a horse isn’t your thing, chow down at a seasonal cowboy cookout, offered October through April, with mesquite-grilled rib-eye steak, roasted chicken legs, traditional cowboy beans, and other "ranch-inspired" sides.
Guests who opt to hit the ranch during the summer can take advantage of the Bed & Breakfast special that offers fuel for the day with a hearty ranch breakfast. Also available are boxed lunches comprising the chef’s signature sandwiches that come with chips, veggies and dip, fresh fruit, and a homemade sweet treat. Totally portable, they are easy to tote for a picnic or outdoorsy adventure.
Bird watchers, fishing fans, or anyone who relishes quietly observing desert wildlife will be able to do it all along the lower stretch of the Salt River, which runs along the grounds, when they come lodge at the ranch.
Visitors hail from near and far. Travelers from Europe and Asia wishing to experience the Southwest they’ve seen and envied in movies or Western novels find what they’re looking for here. However, more Arizona residents have been steadily flocking to experience a different kind of staycation that’s just 45 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 40 minutes from Chandler, and 25 minutes from Scottsdale.
“When you are here, it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere … in a whole other world,” Hamlin says. “It’s really beautiful to have people come here and experience the wild Sonoran Desert.”
Originally established as a work camp in 1928 to support the workforce building the Stewart Mountain Dam, the ranch invites guests to relive true Arizona history, which is not all that common in a state known for recent construction.
The main lodge—which is the original building—functioned as the mess hall, ice house, and commissary for the construction crew, and workers called the cabins lining the roadway to the new dam home.
“There’s a lot of history here,” Hamlin says. “It’s almost 100 years old so, while it’s very clean and well-maintained, our main lodge still has that really rustic Southwest charm that you don’t see in buildings anymore.”
The Durand family has owned the ranch for more than 75 years, having purchased it in 1948. Today, the third-generation of the family helms one of the extremely rare mom-and-pop boutique hotels around.
“You get a real sense of family and inclusiveness when you’re here, something that you don’t really get at hotels these days,” Hamlin says.
And whether you’re coming out for an activity or staying overnight, a visit to Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch offers a welcoming world-away peaceful retreat just minutes from home.
“Here, it’s all about easy living,” Hamlin says. “We want you to feel like family and want you to take a step back into a simpler time.”
“When you are here, it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere … in a whole other world.”
“You’d be surprised at how many people really do unplug here. We want people to connect with nature and other people.”