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 try 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, 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.  Some handicapped accommodations are available. There is plenty of space for tent camping and RV parking. A new shower house for campers was built in 2018.  You can also arrange your own off-site accommodations and receive a discount on your registration fee.

Six hearty meals (Friday supper through Sunday lunch) plus delightful snacks will be provided. There is a vegetarian option.

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 ($50 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)

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

FROM CENTRAL TUCSON -1 hour from downtown
Head north for 25 miles on Oracle Road (Highway 79), continuing through the town of Catalina to the town of Oracle Junction. At Oracle Junction, bear to the right onto Highway 77 and travel for 11 miles to the town of Oracle. When you arrive at the Oracle turnoff, turn right and travel through the town of Oracle on the American Way Blvd. Continue on American Way Blvd. For 2.5 miles, then turn right at the sign to Mt. Lemmon (Old Mt. Lemmon Road). Continue on the Old Mt. Lemmon Road for 4 miles, until you reach a fork in the road. At this point, the road turns to dirt. Take the road to the right and continue for another 1.6 miles. Turn right at the YMCA Triangle Y Ranch sign. Travel on the road for a bunch of miles, go through the front gate of the camp and follow the signs.

FROM TUCSON -using I-10
Travel west to Ina Road, Exit 248. Turn right onto Ina Road and continue to Oracle Road. Turn left onto Oracle Road, continuing through the town of Catalina to the town of Oracle Junction. At Oracle Junction, bear to the right onto Highway 77 and travel for 11 miles to the town of Oracle. When you arrive at the Oracle turnoff, turn right and travel through the town of Oracle on the American Way Blvd. Continue on American Way Blvd. For 2.5 miles, then turn right at the sign to Mt. Lemmon (Old Mt. Lemmon Road). Continue on the Old Mt. Lemmon Road for 4 miles, until you reach a fork in the road. At this point, the road turns to dirt. Take the road to the right and continue for another 1.6 miles. Turn right at the YMCA Triangle Y Ranch sign. Travel on the road for a bunch of miles, go through the front gate of the camp and follow the signs.

FROM PHOENIX -2 hours and 20 minutes from downtown
Travel east on I-10 to Tangerine Road, Exit 240. Turn left onto Tangerine Road and continue to Oracle Road (about 9 miles.) Turn left onto Oracle Road, continuing through the town of Catalina to the town of Oracle Junction. At Oracle Junction, bear to the right onto Highway 77 and travel for 11 miles to the town of Oracle. When you arrive at the Oracle turnoff, turn right and travel through the town of Oracle on the American Way Blvd. Continue on American Way Blvd. For 2.5 miles, then turn right at the sign to Mt. Lemmon (Old Mt. Lemmon Road). Continue on the Old Mt. Lemmon Road for 4 miles, until you reach a fork in the road. At this point, the road turns to dirt. Take the road to the right and continue for another 1.6 miles. Turn right at the YMCA Triangle Y Ranch sign. Travel on the road for a bunch of miles, go through the front gate of the camp and follow the signs.

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

If camping

• tent (it’s been forgotten before)
• groundcloth in case of rain

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.

2024 DITD Schedule

Please check back in October for detailed 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!