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Phoenix, Arizona Outdoor sports

Our most recommended Phoenix, Arizona Outdoor sports

Phoenix: Guided Self-Drive ATV/UTV Tour

1. Phoenix: Guided Self-Drive ATV/UTV Tour

Embark on a guided day tour of the famous Sonoran desert, off-roading in your single-passenger or 4-person ATV on some of the best trails in the stunning Bradshaw Mountains, located just north of Phoenix. Travel through giant Saguaro cacti, deep canyons carved by flash flooding rains, and cross the Aqua Fria River to experience the wild and vast desert terrain. Spot desert wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, deer, rabbits, quail, and even rattlesnakes. Start your tour 45 minutes north of Phoenix in the Sonoran desert near the Agua Fria River Valley. Ride along creek crossings and soak up the gorgeous views of the Arizona landscape.  Accompanied by a certified guide, learn about the plant life, wildlife, history, and climate of the area. Hear stories about the Native Americans who once farmed, hunted, survived, and evolved in this unforgiving desert.

Phoenix: Hot Air Balloon Flight with Champagne

2. Phoenix: Hot Air Balloon Flight with Champagne

Glide over the Arizona desert on a hot air balloon ride and admire the desert landscape and mountains from above. Toast to your experience with a glass of champagne once you land. The experience begins even before you rise into the sky. Help the crew inflate the balloon for a real "hands-on" adventure, or just relax and take a few pictures as the gentle giant comes alive. Once you gain altitude, enjoy vistas you have to see to believe as you float over the Arizona landscape. Phoenix lies beneath you while desert stretches to the distant mountains. The pilots are FAA-licensed and experienced in navigating with your safety and enjoyment in mind. Your pilot will also answer questions and identify points of interest during your flight. A chase crew will follow on the ground and meet you at the landing site. From there a van takes you back to the launch site. Upon your return, enjoy a celebratory toast of Champagne to cap your unique airborne adventure. You'll also be presented with a flight certificate.

Phoenix and Mesa: Self-Guided Kayak Trip on Saguaro Lake

3. Phoenix and Mesa: Self-Guided Kayak Trip on Saguaro Lake

Experience the spectacular landscapes of the Tonto National Forest on a self-guided kayaking tour around Saguaro Lake. Paddle through canyons, see beautiful desert scenery, and discover the local flora and native wildlife from a unique perspective. Escape the heat and feel refreshed by one of the most stunning lakes of Arizona. Travel at your own pace, giving you the opportunity to truly take in the picturesque views. Start with an orientation of basic safety and paddling instructions. The “sit-on-top”-style kayaks are very stable and easy to maneuver. Before you know it you’ll be paddling below thousand-foot cliffs. Explore the lake's glimmering waters and discover coves and craggy shorelines. Keep your eyes open for the native wildlife native to the Tonto National Forest.

Phoenix: Hot Air Balloon Ride with Champagne and Catering

4. Phoenix: Hot Air Balloon Ride with Champagne and Catering

Enjoy a 45-60-minute hot air balloon ride above Phoenix, Arizona. See the expansive mountain ranges and desert wildlife below as your hot air balloon reaches heights of 3000 feet. During the flight, your pilot will point out different landmarks and points of interest. See Downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain, Lake Pleasant, and State Farm Stadium from the air. Upon landing, enjoy a catered fare prepared by the award-winning Vincent’s on Camelback restaurant, right in the heart of the desert. A traditional balloonist’s ceremony follows with commemorative flight certificates to take home.

Scottsdale: Half-Day Lower Salt River Rafting Tour

5. Scottsdale: Half-Day Lower Salt River Rafting Tour

Cool off and explore the beautiful Sonoran Desert with a guided Salt River rafting trip on the Lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest. Arrive at 7:30 AM at the local supplier's office in North Scottdale, then travel 35 minutes to the start point just outside the eastern metro area. Get kitted out with all necessary equipment then head out onto the water.  The Salt River is a scenic, Class I (the easiest rating on the international scale of river difficulty) waterway which provides some of the best wildlife and bird watching opportunities in the Southwest. The water flow on the river varies seasonally, based on this your guide will choose from a number of put‐in/take‐out locations in order to ensure guests have the best river rafting experience. Whilst light paddling is required, your experienced rafting guide will do most of the work, so you can sit back and enjoy the view. Water temperatures are in the 60s in the winter and rise to low 80s in the summer months. Swimming is possible year‐round, but the water may be chilly in January. Tours typically last about 4 hours and water and snacks will be provided for the duration of the tour.

Box Canyon and Pinal Mountains Half-Day ATV Tour

6. Box Canyon and Pinal Mountains Half-Day ATV Tour

Explore the extreme northeast corner of Florence, Arizona on board a thrilling Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Located halfway between Tucson and Phoenix, the Box Canyon and Pinal Mountains make for an ideal day out from both cities. The dirt trail that will set your blood racing is about 30 miles long, and you will have 3.25 hours to play. Once your guide has equipped you with safety equipment and received a short training, head off along dirt trails that twist, turn, and bump up and down the Pinal Mountains. Climb up and over the front range of the mountains. At the same time, your guide points out Indian petroglyphs left behind by the ancient Native Americans.  Another point of interest is an old adobe building that served as a way station for the Butterfield Overland Stage Coach Company during the 1860s. For a short time, it also serviced the Pony Express on what was known as the "Butterfield Route." The real highlight of the tour is Box Canyon. You'll be in the canyon for about 6 miles. Get set for the drama of the middle 3 miles, a slot canyon with walls only about 10-20 feet apart and 900 feet high on both sides!

From Scottsdale: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Day Tour

7. From Scottsdale: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Day Tour

Travel in a spacious and airconditioned van day trip from Phoenix or Scottsdale to Lower Antelope Canyon and take a walking tour with a Navajo guide. Discover the natural beauty of the Horseshoe Bend on a self-guided hike. Be picked up from your hotel in Phoenix or Scottsdale in the morning and relax in the van on the drive to Page. Along the way, your guide will tell you about a number of interesting sites and the history of the state of Arizona. Reach Page and head to Lower Antelope Canyon where you can capture pictures of the slot canyons and their colors and formations. Travel into the canyon with a Navajo guide. Stop to refuel with a delicious lunch before going to Horseshoe Bend.  Take a self guided hike at Horseshoe Bend for 80 minutes and explore this horseshoe-shaped curve in a canyon carved out by the flow of the Colorado River. Return to your hotel in Phoenix or Scottsdale at the conclusion of your tour.  .

From Scottsdale: Sonoran Desert & Tonto National Forest Trip

8. From Scottsdale: Sonoran Desert & Tonto National Forest Trip

Take a break from the streets of Scottsdale and get out of the city to discover the Sonoran Desert. Drive by jeep to the Pinnacle Peak neighborhood and see an old stagecoach station. Meet wild horses by the Verde River after walking through Tonto National Forest. Make your way to the Village at Pinnacle Peak to meet your friendly guide and group for the day. Jump in the jeep and admire the picturesque Arizonan landscape as you head towards the desert. Learn about local wildlife as your guide points out the different species you come across. Enter the Sonoran Desert and pass by a stagecoach station as you stroll around in the arid landscape with growing cacti and distant mountain peaks. Continue to the Tonto National Forest and begin walking along the winding tree-lined path. Find your way to the roaring Verde River to have the chance of watching wild horses playing on the riverbanks, before returning to Scottsdale.

Sonoran Desert: Beginner ATV Training & Desert Tour Combo

9. Sonoran Desert: Beginner ATV Training & Desert Tour Combo

Discover the Sonoran Desert on an ATV tour with personalized training. Get to grips with your ATV on a beginner course full of bumps, turns, and hills before heading out into the wilderness on the Centipede Tour with a local guide. Begin your day with a go on the beginner Sidewinder ATV Training course. Start with a safety briefing before learning how to drive an ATV on the Sidewinder course, designed to mimic the bumpy roads of the desert. Once you've got the hang of it, head out into the desert on the adventurous Centipede Tour. Follow your local guide deep into the Sonoran Desert, through canyons, and over mountains on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Marvel at the breathtaking views of the Bradshaw mountains and see the local wildlife as you drive through the desert. Throughout your tour, learn about the Sonoran Desert wildlife and history and desert survival techniques from your guide.

From Phoenix: Apache Trail & Dolly Steamboat Day Trip

10. From Phoenix: Apache Trail & Dolly Steamboat Day Trip

Come join us on an adventurous tour along the Apache Trail and into the Sonora desert, then take a cruise on Dolly Steamboat through Canyon Lake. Driving into the Superstition Mountains, you will visit Tortilla Flat, a quaint Arizona town with a population of 6! Next, relax on a 90-minute cruise over picturesque Canyon Lake, with its magnificent desert surroundings. Don't forget your camera, as this is the ideal platform from which to snap postcard-perfect landscape photos. Your guide will then lead you into the desert for an explanation of the local flora, including the majestic Saguaro cactus and Arizona's state tree, the Palo Verde.

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What people are saying about Phoenix, Arizona

Overall rating

4.0 / 5

based on 1 reviews

This tour was awesome! All the guides had very fun personalities. The balloon set up was effective and interesting to watch. Our balloon was one of the last to go up, so it was really interesting to see everyone load-up first. When we took off, everything felt safe. Our guide, Phil, appeared to be very skilled. We believe we had one of the best rides of the night. The landing was the scariest part, but it was still incredibly fun!

We are coming from Quebec, Canada It was our first experience with this tour and really enjoy hit! Rich, our guide, was very kind and interesting and gave us a lot of information about the beautiful region and botanical as well during our 2h tour! it was appreciated by everybody! This tour worth the price and we recommend it absolutely!

Tim and Jason are amazing. We had a blast on the Segways and learned so much while wheeling through the desert. We had family from 12yr to 80yr and we ALL had a blast. Very organized, very fun....worth every penny!! Book this tour asap!

Very interesting amd informative. This was the first time I went off Roading and I accomplished my goal to do so and took my daughter too. We had an amazing time but it was a bit cold too see any of the wildlife except for a Donkey .

Excellent experience, would highly recommend! Our guide, Jesse, answered all questions & had a great sense of humor.