Only an hour and a half from Tucson and two hours from Phoenix, the Triangle Y Ranch Camp is located in the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. At a 5000 foot elevation, the camp’s 400 acres provide beautiful scenery and ample facilities. Dance on our custom-made, resilient wood floor, and enjoy the amazing view of the San Pedro River valley from the dining hall. Hike and explore the surrounding Coronado National Forest in the Arizona sunshine.

Check-in opens at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Please plan to arrive before dark (5:30pm) to get settled in your cabin or camping spot.  Camp begins with supper, followed by a dance. We start Saturday with a hearty breakfast, then prepare for a full day of workshops for dancers, singers, and musicians. Saturday night’s gala dance will be followed by late night jamming. Sunday morning features more music and dance workshops, and the weekend concludes with a dance after lunch on Sunday. Camp closes at 3:00 p.m.

Rustic cabins each house up to twelve campers in bunks and share nearby rest rooms and shower houses. Cabins are designated family, mixed-gender, or single gender, and will be available on a first-come basis at camp.   There is plenty of space for tent camping and RV parking.   You can also arrange your own off-site accommodations in nearby Oracle or Catalina and receive a discount on your registration fee. If you have further questions about accommodations, send a message through the contact form below.

Six hearty meals (Friday supper through Sunday lunch) plus delightful snacks will be provided. There are both omnivore and vegetarian options. Campers with more specific dietary needs should plan to provide their own food.

Other than the musicians and callers, Dance in the Desert is entirely run by volunteers. Each camper is asked to do one chore at camp. Let us know in advance if you have any special needs or talents.

A limited number of Work Trade positions are available ($60 off for approximately 3 hours of work) for those needing financial assistance. Please note on the registration form if you wish to request the work trade option.

$290 per person
Includes:

• 2 nights lodging
• 6 meals
• All dancing
• All workshops
• Snacks
• Music jams
• Camaraderie and fun with old friends and new

Discounts for: (only greatest discount applies)

• Participants under 30 years old ($100 off)
• First timers ($25 off)
• Arrange your own off-site lodging ($70 off)
• A limited number of  Work Trade positions are also available ($60 off/~3 hours work)

Cancellation/Refund Policy: Through October 24th, you can receive a refund minus a $20 cancellation fee. If you are sick before the weekend, please do not come. You will receive a full refund.

Triangle Y Ranch Camp: 34434 S. Y Camp Rd, Oracle 85623

FROM CENTRAL TUCSON -1 hour from downtown

• Travel north on Oracle Rd. (Hwy. 79), continuing through the town of Catalina.
• At Oracle Junction, bear to the right onto Hwy. 77 and travel for 8 miles to the town of Oracle.
• At the Oracle turnoff, turn right and travel through the town of Oracle on American Ave. for 2.5 miles.
• Turn right at the sign to Mt. Lemmon (Mt. Lemmon Hwy.); continue for 4.8 miles.
• Turn right on Campo Bonito Rd., marked with a sign for Triangle Y Ranch Camp; continue for another 0.3 miles.
• Bear left through the Triangle Y Ranch Camp gate. Follow the signs the last 0.6 miles to camp, bearing left at any forks in the road.

FROM SOUTHERN ARIZONA -using I-10

• Travel west on I-10 to Miracle Mile, Exit 255.
• Travel east on Miracle Mile for 1.5 miles to Oracle Rd.
• At Oracle Rd., turn left, continuing for 30 miles through the town of Catalina.
• At Oracle Junction, bear to the right onto Hwy. 77 and travel for 8 miles to the town of Oracle.
• At the Oracle turnoff, turn right and travel through the town of Oracle on American Ave. for 2.5 miles.
• Turn right at the sign to Mt. Lemmon (Mt. Lemmon Hwy.); continue for 4.8 miles.
• Turn right on Campo Bonito Rd., marked with a sign for Triangle Y Ranch Camp; continue for another 0.3 miles.
• Bear left through the Triangle Y Ranch Camp gate. Follow the signs the last 0.6 miles to camp, bearing left at any forks in the road.

FROM PHOENIX -2.5 hours from downtown via I-10

• Travel east on I-10 to Tangerine Rd., Exit 240.
• Turn left onto Tangerine Rd. and continue to Oracle Rd. (about 13 miles.)
• Turn left onto Oracle Rd., continuing for 18 miles through the town of Catalina.
• At Oracle Junction, bear to the right onto Hwy. 77 and travel for 8 miles to the town of Oracle.
• At the Oracle turnoff, turn right and travel through the town of Oracle on American Ave. for 2.5 miles.
• Turn right at the sign to Mt. Lemmon (Mt. Lemmon Hwy.); continue for 4.8 miles.
• Turn right on Campo Bonito Rd., marked with a sign for Triangle Y Ranch Camp; continue for another 0.3 miles.
• Bear left through the Triangle Y Ranch Camp gate. Follow the signs the last 0.6 miles to camp, bearing left at any forks in the road.

What to bring checklist

• masks if desired (or required due to high transmission rates)
• several changes of loose, comfy clothes for dancing; dress in layers to be prepared for both hot and cold
• everyone finds they need extra pairs of cushy socks!
• perhaps something special to wear for the Saturday night dance
• sweater/coat/raincoat – the weather can be quite variable in Oracle this time of year
• hiking boots and binoculars if going on nature walk
• clean, soft-soled shoes for dancing (no spike heels please, they hurt our dance floor)• regular, sturdy shoes for walking around camp – you’ll walk on a lot of gravel and dirt
• bedding (pillow, pillowcase, sleeping bag or sheets & blankets, if in cabin; sleeping bag, pillow, pillowcase, air mattress if camping)
• towels/washcloth/shower shoes
• toiletries, and something to carry them in (include moisturizing lotion, lip balm, sunscreen, and any medications you might need)
• sunglasses and extra glasses or contact lenses
• musical instruments !
• flash light, extra batteries and robe for that middle-of-the-night run to the restroom• money if you want to purchase raffle tickets, t-shirts, CDs
• a copy of the online map and directions in case you get lost on the way
• if you have special dietary needs other than the omnivore and vegetarian diets we provide, then you’ll need to bring your own food
• new/gently used clothing and shoes for the exchange rack
• items to donate for the raffle
• a charged power bank/brick for charging cell phones and other small devices

  If Camping

• tent (it’s been forgotten before)
• groundcloth in case of rain
• air mattress/cot/whatever you prefer to sleep on

WHAT NOT TO BRING

• pets
• alcohol

We reserve the few electrical outlets in the camping area for those with electrical medical equipment. If you’re one of these folks, please let us know now, so we can make sure one will be available for you. Otherwise, those camping out should plan to either leave the appliances behind, or to carry them up to the shower house and use them there.

Dance in the Desert Health Safety Policy

We will not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. We do recommend that attendees receive the latest COVID vaccination, which lowers the risk of serious illness and hospitalization. In the event of a spike in COVID transmission which might cause a cancellation of our weekend, we may require a negative Rapid Antigen Test for entry. We intend for masking to remain an individual choice. Please do not attend if you are experiencing illness.

Dance in the Desert Schedule
Check back mid-October for the 2025 Schedule !

A favorite Saturday evening event during camp, our raffle helps offset the cost of producing Dance In The Desert. Contribute in two ways: First bring and donate new and/or gently used items you know others would be happy to have, then buy plenty of raffle tickets so you can win new treasures to take home . Wonderful hand made soap, fine pottery, hand made walking sticks, beautiful embroidered wall hangings, and lovely home made skirts are only a few of the things previously offered and available at a fraction of their cost by purchasing raffle tickets! 

We also host a clothing exchange: bring new or gently used clothing to hang on the exchange rack – leave some, take some.  Enjoy!