Bulldog Canyon UTV Rental: Ride the OHV Area in a Can-Am From Apache Junction

Renting a UTV for Bulldog Canyon

The simplest way to ride Bulldog Canyon without owning a side-by-side is to rent a street-legal Can-Am Maverick X3 from Wave and Ridge Jet Ski, Boat, and UTV Rentals at 724 E Scenic St in Apache Junction. Buy your Tonto National Forest OHV permit on Recreation.gov before the day, pick up the X3 at our shop, and drive it from our lot to the canyon. Helmets and goggles for four and an iPad with Bulldog Canyon routes loaded come with the rental.

How a Bulldog Canyon day works from our shop

1. Buy the permit first. The permit is not part of the rental. Get your Tonto National Forest OHV permit on Recreation.gov before your ride, and do not leave it to the morning of.
2. Arrive 30 minutes early. That time covers paperwork, helmet fitting and a 15 to 20 minute walkthrough of the X3.
3. Drive to the canyon. The X3 is street-legal, so there is no trailer to hitch. The iPad maps work offline, which matters because cell service in the canyon is limited.
4. Ride your loop and head back. You have a 30-minute grace period after your rental ends to return the X3 to the shop.

Is Bulldog Canyon OK for first-timers?

Yes, with the right route. Bulldog Canyon runs from flat, easy dirt roads to moderately technical rocky sections, so you choose your difficulty. You are never far from the way back if you want to cut the day short. During the walkthrough, tell us how much experience your group has and we will point you to loops that fit.

A few things help on a first visit:

• Start easy. Take the dirt roads first and get a feel for the steering and brakes before any rocky climbs.
• Keep everyone harnessed. Every seat in the X3 has a 3-point harness. Use it the whole ride.
• Stay on mapped routes. The iPad shows the roads and trails we have loaded for the area.
• Turn around early. If a section looks beyond your comfort level, go back the way you came.

The permit in plain terms

Bulldog Canyon is a permit area inside the Tonto National Forest. The permit you need is the Tonto National Forest OHV permit, sold on Recreation.gov. You buy it yourself, before your rental day, and carry it with you. Our Bulldog Canyon permit guide walks through it step by step.

Which rental length to book for Bulldog Canyon

• Half day, 4 hours (8 AM or 2 PM start): a first loop through the canyon.
• Full day, 6 hours: the whole canyon without watching the clock, with a lunch stop.
• Extended Day, 8 hours: Bulldog Canyon in the morning and the Apache Trail after lunch.

Rates for each length are on our pricing page. We are open Monday through Saturday, and the coolest months, October through April, book up first on weekends. For loop-by-loop detail, read our Bulldog Canyon trail guide, then book your X3.