Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
Your own private chef
One of the few properties offering private chef services.
Sleeps 4•1 bedroom•1 bed
Popular amenities
Private pool
Onsite parking available
Pet-friendly
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Explore the area
Scottsdale, AZ
Tom's Thumb Trail
Place, Tom's Thumb Trail
23 min drive
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Place, McDowell Mountain Regional Park
24 min drive
Troon North Golf Club
Place, Troon North Golf Club
28 min drive
Phoenix, AZ (DVT-Phoenix Deer Valley)
Airport, Phoenix, AZ (DVT-Phoenix Deer Valley)
57 min drive
Rooms & beds
1 bedroom (sleeps 4)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest
Awarded LUX Magazine 2020 "Most Serene Desert Accommodation & Horse Boarding Facility - Southwest USA and recognized by MillionMile Magazine as one of the top 10 unbelievable places to celebrate a 10th Anniversary! Additionally, Miranda Lambert selected the ranch for a photo shoot, VRBO picked Rio Rancho Verde (one of 5 locations out of 3700 vacation rentals in Scottsdale) to film a social media promotion on YouTube, we've been featured on a Hulu series and booked for a Western film production. This beautiful and remote 62 acre ranch is located on the Tonto National Forest, 20 minutes from Scottsdale! We offer an exclusive, upscale Western equine experience which includes horse boarding, or you can rent a horse down the road at the local stable. Join in on the day to day operations of a first class equine facility, watch as we feed the horses, learn about barn operations, engage in manure management or take a roping lesson from our resident cowboy! Enjoy breathtaking views, pristine scenery, awe-inspiring Arizona sunsets and Southwestern desert skies filled with stars!! Hike, bike or ride right out from the back gate into hundreds of miles of Sonoran desert trails, explore the Verde River (9 miles away through desert washes), explore the Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve, 1/2 mile from our gate, offering over 32,000 acres and 215 miles of trails in untouched, natural desert. You can stay a month and never see the same trail twice! Discover century old window rocks, double crested saguaros, Anasazi ruins, and experience local wildlife sightings, including javelina, coyotes and baby bobcats. Our 800 square foot fully furnished Western bunkhouse/casita, features a combination of Southwestern/Western upscale décor, complete with a private patio with BBQ, offering the perfect setting for a cool cocktail at the end of the day. Amenities include a full kitchen with microwave/convection oven, stove, frig, big screen TV, king size bed and separate bathroom. Enjoy a glass of wine on the outside veranda as the sun sets and dine al fresco surrounded by native desert plants overlooking the organic garden, (help yourself to seasonal veggies) or start your morning with coffee in the barn as the horses wait for their breakfast! Dogs are allowed (sorry no cats) with a $75 non-refundable pet fee. Cleaning fee increases by $50. Dogs must be crated in the owner's absence unless prior arrangements have been made with owner. The owners are on site 24/7 and always available to help with suggestions on trails, local attractions and desert information. Please note that we board horses, with the owners on site (usually Jan - March). We also have 2 other short term rentals here so there are other guests on property. There's something for everyone - come share the adventure and experience an authentic Arizona vacation at Rio Rancho Verde! Reboot, recharge, relax and rejuvenate! Please note, the attached VRBO video highlights our 2 bedroom suite with a short viewing of the bunkhouse/casita. The pool featured in the video is only for use by the guests of the 2 bedroom suite and is not available for guests of the bunkhouse/casita. If this is booked, please try our other listings 766813, or 763667.
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No events
No additional overnight guests without prior reservation
No 3rd party bookings
Important information
You need to know
Property # 652267vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Scottsdale
Located in Rio Verde Foothills, a neighbourhood in Scottsdale, this apartment is in a rural area. McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Tonto National Forest reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include George "Doc" Cavalliere Park and Arizona Powerchutes. Ready for a night out? Consider Highlands Church and Harold's Cave Creek Corral. Take some time off to enjoy the health/beauty spas in the area, or get some fresh air with adventures like horse riding, rock climbing and mountain biking nearby.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park - 24 min drive - 13.4 km
Troon North Golf Club - 28 min drive - 19.4 km
Pinnacle Peak Park - 29 min drive - 19.8 km
Westworld of Scottsdale - 45 min drive - 34.3 km
Getting around
Phoenix, AZ (DVT-Phoenix Deer Valley) - 51 min drive
Restaurants
Needle Rock Kitchen And Tap - 27 min drive
Apache Clubhouse - 41 min drive
Raven’s View Wine Bar - 38 min drive
Constantino's at Desert Mountain Club - 40 min drive
Spa Walton - 20 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest?
As of 20 Aug 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest on 24 Aug 2026 start from AU$747, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest?
Checkout is at 12:00 PM.
Where is Serene & Secluded, Heart of the Sonoran Desert, 62 acre EcoRanch on Natl Forest located?
Located in Rio Verde Foothills, this apartment building is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Tonto National Forest and within 9 miles (15 km) of McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Tom's Thumb Trail. Golf Club Scottsdale and George "Doc" Cavalliere Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).
About the host
Hosted by Carmela Lizzo
My husband and I love living in the desert and enjoy sharing this incredible space with our guests. We've made some amazing friends who return year after year and who love to ride their horses with us to discover new trails and places. We're both avid horseback riders, Joe's a roper, and we also like mountain biking and hiking on the trails outside our gates. We have an organic garden on site, we compost and are big on reduce, reuse, recycle and re-purpose! We like being sustainable, we're on a well so we're always mindful of water consumption, and the veggies in our garden could feed an army - so feel free to help yourselves!
Why they chose this property
Why do we own this property? We wanted to live as far out in the desert as we possibly could, but still have the conveniences of town. We specifically looked in the Rio Verde Foothills area because we wanted to live on the National Forest and have neighbors who were close enough to become friends but far enough away to give us our space. (we have awesome neighbors!!). I was born and raised in Chicago and on every vacation we ever took, I was the little girl in the car looking out the window at the wide open spaces and the cowboy riding the range and wishing that was me. Rio Rancho Verde is truly our dream come true. Why should you select Rio Rancho Verde for your next trip? There's truly nothing else like it! When you see how beautiful our land is you'll know immediately that it's a very special place. We're incredibly blessed and grateful to call this home and we love to share it with guests who love the outdoors and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. It's an amazing place with 360 degree views that feature mountain vistas, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, skies full of stars and a peaceful serenity that gets right down in your soul. It's the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city/corporate/daily life - we have a annual visitor who told us "I may reside in Missouri, but I LIVE here on the ranch".
What makes this property unique
We are 30 minutes away from 4 MILLION people, and we pretty much have the trails and the desert all to ourselves. This is a remote location that gives you the sense of total wilderness, yet only 20 minutes from a gas station, Walgreens, pizza and a beer! The sunrises and sunsets are almost spiritual, they're picture postcard pretty, and the sense of being able to wake up and look at the Four Peaks Wilderness area is humbling. We're not for everyone and if you don't like dirt roads (the last 2 miles), are looking to party hardy and hit the bar scene, or enjoy watching TV 8 hours a day, we're probably not for you. However, if being outside recharges you, if you appreciate the beauty and solitude of the natural desert and if your idea of a life well lived includes the path less traveled, you're in the right spot. It doesn't get much better than this!
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests