Can-Am Rentals in Apache Junction: Rent the Maverick X3 for a Half Day, Full Day or Extended Day

Rent a Can-Am Maverick X3 in Apache Junction

Wave and Ridge Jet Ski, Boat, and UTV Rentals rents the 4-seat Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo DS from our shop at 724 E Scenic St in Apache Junction. You can book it for a half day, a 6-hour full day, an 8-hour Extended Day or overnight. Helmets and goggles for four, an iPad with offline trail maps and a hands-on walkthrough come with every rental. The X3 is street-legal in Arizona, so after the walkthrough you drive it from our lot to Bulldog Canyon instead of loading a trailer.

Why the Maverick X3 is the only machine we rent

We rent one side-by-side on purpose. The trails around Bulldog Canyon and the Tonto National Forest are not groomed paths. You get loose rock, sand washes, ledges and washboard. The X3's 135-horsepower Rotax turbo means the machine does not struggle on climbs, and 20 inches of suspension travel keeps the cabin smooth over rough ground. Every one of the four seats has a 3-point harness, not just the driver's, so passengers stay secure through rocky sections.

It also means every renter gets the same machine. There is no guessing which unit you will be handed at the counter.

What a Can-Am rental day looks like

1. Arrive 30 minutes before your start time. That covers paperwork, the walkthrough and helmet fitting, so your rental time is spent riding.
2. Walkthrough, 15 to 20 minutes. We cover the throttle, brakes, four-wheel-drive modes, how to read the terrain and which trails suit your group.
3. Drive to the dirt. The iPad goes on the dash mount with routes for Bulldog Canyon, the Apache Trail and the Tonto National Forest loaded, and it works without cell service.
4. Bring it back. At the end of your rental you have a 30-minute grace period to get the X3 back to the shop. Use it for traffic or a slow last mile, not as extra trail time.

Half day, full day or Extended Day

• Half day, 4 hours. Starts at 8 AM or 2 PM. A good first loop in Bulldog Canyon.
• Full day, 6 hours. The whole canyon without watching the clock, with time for lunch on the trail.
• Extended Day, 8 hours. Bulldog Canyon in the morning and the Apache Trail after lunch.
• Overnight, 24 hours. Keep the X3 at camp and ride two mornings. Overnight rentals start Monday through Friday.

Current rates for each length are on our pricing page. We are open Monday through Saturday from 7 AM. Monday through Thursday rentals also get Weekday Gas on Us, so the X3 can come back at any fuel level.

Who can drive and who can ride

The renter and every driver must be 25 or older with a valid driver's license. The X3 seats four, and we have had families with young kids, groups of friends and retirees who want to see the desert at their own pace. If your group is bigger than four, contact us before you book and we will talk through options.

When you have a date in mind, reserve your Can-Am X3. Wave and Ridge opens at 7 AM, and early starts give you the coolest air and the quietest trails.

I have been riding UTVs in this part of Arizona for over fifteen years. I have spent time behind the wheel of RZRs, Talon 1000Rs, older Can-Am Commanders, and plenty of other machines through friends and riding partners. When I started Wave and Ridge and had to pick one machine to put customers in, I chose the Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo. In my experience, nothing else comes close.

The reason is simple: the X3 handles the terrain out here better than anything else I have driven. The trails around Bulldog Canyon and the Tonto National Forest are not groomed paths. You get loose rock, deep sand washes, ledges, washboard that will rattle your teeth, and elevation changes that make low-power machines struggle. The 135-horsepower Rotax turbo engine means you are never underpowered on a climb, and the 20 inches of suspension travel keeps the cabin remarkably smooth over the rough stuff.

Just as important for a rental operation: every seat has a 3-point harness that keeps passengers locked in place. Not just the driver, all four seats. Every person in this machine is strapped in properly, which matters when you are bouncing through rock gardens and sand washes at speed.

Who Rents a UTV (and Who It Might Not Be Right For)

I see five main groups come through for UTV rentals:

Families with kids. We've had families with kids in carseats all the way through young adults. A day on the trails is one of the most fun things you can do together in Arizona that does not involve water. The rear seats put passengers right in the action, and the suspension makes it comfortable enough that younger riders are not getting beaten up.

Groups of friends. Bachelor parties, birthday trips, out-of-town visitors who want to do something different. Four people fit in one machine, and a day in Bulldog Canyon or out on the Apache Trail is a genuine experience, not a manufactured tourist attraction.

First-timers who are curious. You do not need any off-road experience. I walk every group through the machine before they leave, cover the controls, explain how to handle different terrain, and send them out with GPS trail maps on an iPad. Most first-timers come back grinning and asking how to book again.

Experienced riders who want a capable machine. If you ride your own UTV at home but do not want to ship it across the country, or if you want to try the X3 before buying one, this is a chance to spend a full day in a turbocharged Can-Am X3 on genuinely challenging Arizona trails.

Sightseers and scenic cruisers. You do not need to be an adrenaline junkie to enjoy this. A good portion of our rentals go to older couples and retirees who want to see the Apache Trail and Bulldog Canyon scenery at their own pace. The 20 inches of suspension travel actually makes the X3 more comfortable on rough forest roads than most cars and SUVs, and the 3-point harnesses keep everyone secure without having to brace themselves. You control the speed. If you want to cruise at 15 mph and stop for photos every half mile, that is a perfectly good way to spend the day.

The contrast between raw desert terrain and a 135-horsepower turbocharged machine is something you do not forget.

Where to Ride: Arizona's Best UTV Trails

Bulldog Canyon

Bulldog Canyon is the closest riding area to our location and the most popular destination for our UTV rentals. It is a designated recreation area within the Tonto National Forest with a network of trails ranging from flat, easy dirt roads to moderately technical rocky sections. A permit is required (buy your Tonto National Forest OHV Permit on Recreation.gov before you ride). It is a great fit for first-timers and families because you can choose your difficulty level, and you are never more than a few miles from the trailhead.

Apache Trail and Surrounding Area

The Apache Trail is an out-and-back route that takes you past Canyon Lake, through Tortilla Flat, and up close to Apache Lake. The scenery shifts from beautiful plateau views to dropping down into the canyon, and the road itself is part of the experience. This is a longer ride with more elevation change and stretches where you will not see another vehicle for miles. I recommend it for riders who have at least a few hours of seat time or who finished a morning loop in Bulldog Canyon and want something bigger in the afternoon.

Four Peaks Area

For advanced riders who want mountain terrain and higher elevation, Four Peaks offers some of the most challenging and rewarding riding in the region. Expect steep grades, loose rock, and trail conditions that change with the weather. The views from up there are worth it. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Phoenix metro. But this is not a beginner route. I will be honest with you during the briefing about whether it is a good fit for your group.

Tonto National Forest (Broader Network)

The Tonto National Forest covers nearly three million acres and has hundreds of miles of forest roads and trails. Beyond Bulldog Canyon and the Apache Trail, there are routes through the Goldfield Mountains and along the base of the Superstition Wilderness. I preload the best routes on the iPad maps, but if you are an experienced rider and want to explore, this is an enormous playground.

What a Typical Day Looks Like

Morning start. We strongly recommend an early start, especially from March through October. I open at 7 AM specifically because the desert is a different place at 7:30 in the morning versus noon. Cooler air, golden light, and you will have the trails mostly to yourself for the first couple of hours.

The briefing. The day starts at our Apache Junction shop with a 15-to-20-minute walkthrough. We cover the throttle, brakes, four-wheel-drive modes, how to read the terrain, and where to go (and not go) based on your experience level. The iPad goes over the dash mount so you have GPS maps for the full ride.

On the trails. Most people spend four to six hours riding, depending on the route and how many stops they make. Bulldog Canyon has loops that range from easy dirt roads to rocky technical sections. The Apache Trail area has longer routes with more elevation change and some genuinely remote stretches. We will match the trail recommendation to your comfort level during the briefing.

Lunch break. Pack a cooler. There is storage behind the rear seats, and a shaded wash or overlook is a much better lunch spot than any restaurant. I tell everyone to bring more water than they think they need. A gallon per person minimum if you are going out during warmer months.

Return. Bring the machine back by the agreed time. Return it full, or pay the cost of fuel plus a $20 refueling fee, and you are done. The X3 takes 91 octane or higher. Monday-Thursday rentals get Weekday Gas on Us: bring it back at any fuel level and we skip the fuel charge.

Down for the winter? Cooler months are prime Can-Am season and weekdays are wide open. See the winter visitors page for the season rundown and the $50 send-a-friend reward.

What I Tell People Before They Book

I would rather you know what to expect up front than have a bad day because something caught you off guard. Here is what I make sure every customer understands before they commit.

Towing requires a real tow vehicle. If you add a trailer rental, the X3 on its trailer weighs around 3,200 lbs. You need a 2-inch hitch receiver and a vehicle rated for at least 3,500 lbs of towing. A Camry cannot do it. A RAV4 cannot do it. If you are not sure, call us and we will figure it out. Most riders do not need a trailer at all since Bulldog Canyon is a short drive from our shop, but if you want one, make sure your vehicle can handle it.

Summer heat is serious. From June through September, trail-level temperatures routinely exceed 110 degrees. The X3 has no air conditioning (no UTV does). If you book during peak summer, plan to ride at first light and be off the trail by noon. We open at 7 AM specifically to accommodate early starts. Bring significantly more water than you think you need.

The Bulldog Canyon permit takes planning. You cannot just show up at the gate. The permit is not part of the rental. Buy your Tonto National Forest OHV Permit on Recreation.gov in advance (3-day $10, 6-month $60, annual $80).

Dust and dirt are part of the deal. You are driving a UTV through the Sonoran Desert. You will come back covered in fine desert dust. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty, bring a bandana or neck gaiter for dusty sections, and be prepared to rinse off when you get back to your car.

Cell service is limited. Large portions of the Bulldog Canyon and Apache Trail areas have no cell service. The iPad GPS maps work offline, but iPads can overheat in extreme heat, so download the onX Offroad app on your phone as a backup. You will not be able to stream music, check email, or make phone calls in the canyons. Some people love the disconnect. Others find it unsettling. Either way, know it going in.

This is real off-road terrain. Even the "easy" trails have rough patches, loose rock, and sand washes. If you have back or neck problems that are aggravated by bumps and vibration, please talk to us before booking. I would rather point you toward a different rental (our wakeboat time on the lake is much smoother) than put someone in a situation that is not right for them.