Santa Rita Lodge

Update: it looks like the owner has stepped up his game in terms of running the Lodge for the satisfaction of guests. Things have improved significantly since we stayed here 4 years ago. More and better-trained staff, upgrades to cabins, and there is a more guest-centric emphasis.

I do not understand the lower than 5 star ratings. Staying here is like sleeping in the wilderness in style! Great little efficiency kitchen. No oven but coffee maker, two burner stove, & mini fridge. Plenty of hot water for a normal 3-5 minute shower. Great little heater / air conditioner keeps the room at your desired temperature. Comfortable bed. We were in Casita # 6. I like how close you can park to your room for super easy loading and unloading. We saw Coatamundi tracks when we arrived at night. Snow was on the ground. Elf Owl & Whiskered Screech Owl calling near by. My only wish was that the hummingbird & other feeders were full. We woke to snow! And the road closed below the lodge!

A very great place to stay if you love wildlife. The newly remodeled lodge will delight the weary traveler. The kitchens are not stocked super well but adequate. Bring everything you need.

This place is definitely "for the birds." The casita had a microwave, coffee maker, and mini-fridge as well as the basic utensils, plates, and cups. The feeder area was a wonderful place to spend each morning with a cup of coffee and binoculars. Be sure and bring a nectar and seed feeders as others do to be hung outside your room.

A birders' paradise. I enjoyed my visit and hope to revisit soon. Good trails And gorgeous views. A good companion is also a must! Keep your ears open!!

These are very old cabins (somewhat modernized, not too much) inside a national forest, paneled in a kind of knotty pine that I don't think you can even get any more. Our cabin was one big room with a well-appointed kitchen alcove, though the tableware was kind of odds and ends. Advantage: hummingbirds feeding at a feeder hanging just outside the window looking into the woods.No restaurant or market -- bring your own food or drive 25 minutes to Green Valley. It's a real housekeeping cabin: you get what you need when you arrive, and there's no further service in your unit till you leave. At least not in our experience. But when we ran out of coffee for the coffee maker, which IS provided, we were immediately given more.But you don't come here for the accommodations -- you come for birding or hiking the canyon, especially to look for the rare trogon (that's a bird, but if you don't know what it is you probably won't like this place). At dusk this spring many of the guests and some visitors gather at the birdwatching area to wait for an elf owl to emerge from a hole in an old/unused telephone pole and go out to catch moths to eat. During the wait the birders all compare notes on what they saw or photographed and where others can find it. A really friendly atmosphere. This place is famous among birders, for the trogons and many other rare species.

I would NEVER recommend this place...the lady...owner perhaps? was delightful...the man was extremely rude...when you are in the hospitality business there is a proper way to correct a potential guests innocent error...being extremely rude is not one of them

Charming place in a delightful setting. Wonderful staff. Right price for a cabin overlooking a creek. The company of deer, turkey, beautiful hummingbirds, and the ever present delight of acorn woodpeckers added to a joyful stay. Relaxing and peaceful. Looking g forward to going back.

The room was clean. The employees were polite. The bird feeders often ran dry. I would not recommend a stay here to a fellow birder.

We have stayed a couple of times and during our most recent stay we observed that our cabin was recently remodel/updated along with several areas of the lodge property. The lodge is located in Madera canyon an excellent location for birding and hiking. Our cabin #11 was equipped with a full kitchen and separate bedroom. The cabin had a private deck, AC, WiFi, Satellite TV. It's location provides us a quick getaway from the Phoenix metro area and it's summer temperatures. The staff is very helpful and the owner is nearby if needed. Only drawback is the fact that your in a canyon which may cause cell phone issues. Understand that the lodge is on the rustic side vs a typical resort. If you like nature your in the right place.