Swap Seats Halfway on a Sunset Buggy Run Near Scottsdale
A two-hour guided run in two-seat buggies on Tonto National Forest dirt trails, with a stop halfway to hand over the wheel.
You do the driving on this one. Each two-seat buggy follows a guide out of a staging area in Tonto National Forest, northeast of Scottsdale, and at the halfway stop for water and snacks the driver and passenger trade places.
The listing sells it as a sunset tour, and its late-afternoon start is timed for that. The same listing also sells earlier starts under the same name and the same price. The time you pick decides which ride you get.
On Viator it sells as a single option, Tour Only with no pickup, for two hours. As of October 13, 2026, the listing charged USD 175 per person, one flat rate from age 8 up, and each buggy holds two of those seats. Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Sunset ATV or UTV Guided 2 Person Offroad Tour ScottsdaleTwo hours behind the wheel of a two-seat buggy on Tonto National Forest trails, with a guide, helmets, water, snacks and photos included.www.viator.comOnly the Day's Last Start Rides Into Sunset
The listing sells two to four start times a day depending on the month, beginning at 8:00 or 9:00 AM. The last one is the sunset run, and it moves with the light. In October it leaves at 4:00 PM. The calendar moves it to 3:30 PM in November and December and out to 5:45 PM in June and July, when the only other start is 8:00 AM. The operator says its sunset rides roll out about two hours before sunset and finish at dusk.
A 9:00 AM or noon time on the booking means the daytime ride, at the same price. One traveler wrote in March 2025 that the tour "was supposed to be at sunset, but the time got switched to earlier in the day." Check the start time on the confirmation, and call the operator if it has moved.
Both of You Get a Turn at the Wheel
Each buggy seats two, and the operator says only your own party rides in your buggy: you are never paired with a stranger. The guide leads from the front. The listing puts a stop at the midpoint for water and snacks, and that is where driver and passenger swap.
By the operator's count a standard run covers 20 to 25 miles of forest trail, with five to ten buggies on a typical tour, through sandy washes and rocky stretches. The listing adds that in the rainy season the trail can cross water. One rider put it plainly in April 2026: "It's a bumpy, dusty ride!" Along the way the listing points out views of Saguaro Lake and the Four Peaks range, and the included photos are taken by the guide. The Forest Service lists the operator, as Desert Dog Hummer Adventures, among the permitted OHV outfitters for The Rolls area that this staging lot serves.
Read the Damage Agreement Before the Trailhead
Some costs sit outside the ticket price. The operator's booking notes ask one person per party to sign its 2026 damage agreement, which goes with a credit card and makes riders responsible for damage from careless driving or ignored instructions. It sets three fixed charges: USD 175 per tire for punctures or blowouts, charged automatically, USD 250 when a buggy has to be towed or recovered, and a USD 5,000 rollover fee, assessed regardless of cause.
Every participant also signs a waiver, and a parent signs for a minor. The listing advises against the ride for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or a pregnancy, and asks for at least moderate fitness. The operator turns away anyone who arrives under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with no refund.
Who Drives, Who Rides, What the Booking Allows
Drivers need a valid driver's license. The operator sets the driving age at 16 and says a learner's permit does not count. Passengers can ride from age 8, and the listing charges the same per-person rate from age 8 up. The operator says no off-road experience is needed and the buggies are automatics: gas, brake and steer.
One person can book. The listing's itinerary also states a four-person minimum for the tour, and it flags that a run can be cancelled for too few riders or for bad weather, in which case the listing's terms offer another date or a full refund. Otherwise it runs rain or shine. Guides cannot wait for late arrivals, and a no-show gets no refund. Gratuities are not included.
The operator calls the meeting point the Butcher Jones OHV Staging Area. The Forest Service lists the same gravel lot as the Pobrecito OHV Staging Area, off Bush Highway less than half a mile past Butcher Jones Road, and says parking there is free. Navigate by the operator's GPS, 33.593716, -111.543582, not by the name Butcher Jones. The Forest Service's Butcher Jones Day Use Area at the lake is a different site: a paid beach lot with no OHV access. The ride does not start at the operator's office on Shea Boulevard in Fountain Hills either. The listing says directions arrive by text within a week of the tour.
The operator puts the drive at 30 to 45 minutes from Scottsdale, asks for arrival 15 minutes early to sign paperwork, and points to the back dirt lot past the cattle guard. Cell service is spotty out there. Load the directions before leaving town. Rideshare drop-offs work, but return pickups are rare; the operator offers round-trip transport for an extra fee.
Bring a photo ID and the driver's license, closed-toe shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen, plus a light layer for the cooler air after the sun drops. Helmets and neck gaiters come with the ride. On the sunset run, the operator says, the drive back finishes as the first stars come out.