Hundreds of wild horses seek water and shelter along the Lower Salt River

The spirit of the Wild West remains alive in some parts of Arizona by bands of horses that roam and graze freely.

While it’s estimated that fewer than 500 mustangs remain in Arizona, people who visit known refuges for the horses have a good chance of spotting them. One such concentration of these wild horses is along banks of the Lower Salt River.

The images below were captured near the Butcher Jones Beach at Saguaro Lake. After a number of close calls with humans at the swim beach and reports of water contamination by the horses, the band of horses that once called Butcher Jones home were led downstream along the Lower Salt River.

Wild horses at Saguaro Lake Arizona

Want to see these horses in person? Try this spot:

For the protection of the horses, it’s important to keep your distance. Don’t approach them or try to feed them.