Top Things to do in Central Arizona
Top Hotels in Central Arizona
- 1. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 2. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport
- 3. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Happy Valley
- 4. Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas
- 5. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 6. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
- 7. Gila River Resorts & Casinos - Wild Horse Pass
- 8. The McCormick Scottsdale
- 9. The Wigwam
- 10. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe
10 Nature & Wildlife Areas in Central Arizona That You Shouldn't Miss
Home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and its more than 3.4 million residents, Central Arizona offers an amazing array of museums, cultural venues and outdoor adventures. The Valley of the Sun boasts hopping nightlife and a thrilling selection of restaurants, resorts and spas. Discover Old West and Native American history. Hike among the cactus in the Sonoran desert. Try your hand at ranching in Glendale. Drive the Superstition Mountains. Visit Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West in Scottsdale.
Restaurants in Central Arizona
1. Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery
2. McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,114 reviews
Reviewed By 110edwardf
We visited the preserve on two different days from two different trailheads. Both Gateway and Lost Dog Wash trailheads had good parking, restrooms and trails. There were good maps and well marked trails in good condition. The trails were interlinked loops, so you could start on one but switch to another if you wanted to see different territory. For example at the Lost Dog Wash trailhead, we started in the Ring Tail trail. But at a junction at a choice to stay on that trail that had city views, but switched to Lost Dog Wash to hike into a different little valley with more birds, plants and cactus to see. WeSaw lots of people both days, but it didn’t feel crowded at all.
3. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 503 reviews
Tours by appointment only. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit rescue and rehabilitation facility specializing in wild mammals. Over 70% of the animals that come into our center are returned to the wild. For those that cannot be released, we offer a home for life in our sanctuary. We conduct guided tours of our sanctuary by appointment only. Reservations are required and can be made on our website under the Visit Us tab.
Reviewed By nf0x - Denver, United States
Fun and educational experience for all ages. Passionate and well informed volunteers lead you through this animal sanctuary for Arizona rescued animals. Up close opportunity to see and learn about a variety of animals. See Mexican Gray Wolves that the center plays a role in their repopulation in the southwest US. Tours are outdoors and in the shade.
4. Wild at Heart
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Maps51178036658
Wild at Heart is an amazing place, that does absolutely fantastic work with our native wildlife. I have been volunteering with them since the spring, and I just wanted to post on here a couple of updates! Although the weather is nice out right now, there are no walk-in/public hours in which you can tour the facility at this current time. Be sure you contact them if you are interested in seeing the facility They are not currently conducting tours or public hours due to COVID-19. Please be sure to contact them before arriving. The staff and volunteers are wonderful and accommodating. If you have an injured bird of prey that needs assistance, you can call the number in the listing as well.
5. Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
The Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is a statewide facility that includes a surrender facility, education program, summer camps and rescue and rehabilitation. Visit over 1700 reptiles in their natural habitat while expert guides describe origin, diet, and conservation status. Students may even interact with some critically endangered animals. See more than 230 venomous snakes in the Venom & Research Lab as well as alligators, crocodiles, Galapagos tortoises, Gila monsters, just to name a few.
Reviewed By Daryl0591 - Sanibel Island, United States
Must make appointment. Great to do with kids. Extensive collection of alligators, crocks, turtles and snakes. Took 2.5 hours.
6. Spur Cross Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By 57gwenc - Prescott, United States
This area displays the Sonoran Desert at its finest! The trails are wide and clearly marked. We hiked the Spur Cross to Dragonfly Trails. These take you across the Flowing Cave Creek on a wooden plant bridge, from the desert to the mountains with awesome views, through a saguaro forest, past petroglyphs , down to along a riverbed ( dry at this time of year) past an old mine tunnel and back up to a large dirt parking area approx 3.5 miles. There are many hiking trails and you can add to the length of your hike should you want to. The conservation area is staffed by volunteers who are extremely friendly and helpful. For $3 each they provide you with a trail map. If you’ve already paid to visit Cave Creek Regional Park or are camping there you don’t need to pay the fee. It is an amazingly beautiful area and we look forward to returning next year perhaps toward the end of February in hopes of seeing the desert wildflowers in full bloom.
7. Liberty Wildlife
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
Liberty Wildlife is a non-profit rescues, rehabilitation, education and sustainability organization located just south of Sky Harbor Airport. Tucked inside Phoenix city lines, we have an amazing backdrop along the Rio Salado. Tour through our sustainable building and get a glimpse of how our hospital treats the sick, injured and orphaned wildlife that arrive daily. Also walk through our education trail where you will see non-releasable birds of prey, including native hawks, owls and even bald and golden eagles. Each day that we are open to the public there is a presentation in our amphitheater at 11:15. You'll get an up close experience with some of the wildlife that we care for.
Reviewed By lisasS8477XZ - Sedona, United States
Liberty is a wildlife rescue rehabilitation and conservation organization. The education side of the facility is open to visitors several times each week (check the website for specific days and times). The education side houses animals that could not be released due to the nature of their injury or illness. This is the best place to see and photograph native birds of prey up close. Open hours usually include an opportunity to see an eagle feed and listen to education about eagles. You will see volunteers handling, caring for, and interacting with the birds. They can help you get an unobstructed photo of the birds and tell you all about the history of each animal. Many of the volunteers will help you snap a picture with a bird. There is also an interactive room with displays that can be touched as well as reptiles and a Pygmy owl named Newton. Along the rehab side of the facility you can watch surgeries through a window as well as new intakes coming into the facility and being examined by volunteers. Be sure to say hi to ravens Lenny, Beaker, and Clarence. They thrive on the attention!
8. Woodchute Wilderness Area
9. Verde River Access Point (TAPCO)
10. Red Rock State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,542 reviews
Red Rock State Park is a 286 acre nature preserve and environmental education center with stunning scenery. Trails throughout the park wind through manzanita and juniper to reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. Green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. The creek meanders through the park, creating a diverse riparian habitat abounding with plants and wildlife. This riparian habitat provides the setting and the opportunity for the park to offer a focus on environmental education. Red Rock offers a variety of special programs for school groups and private groups. There are a number of daily and weekly park events. The park offers a visitors center, classroom, theater, park store, ramada and hiking trails.
Reviewed By BLtrvl - Glenview, United States
Picked a perfect fall day for a hike through the park, starting at the visitor center, which was very detailed, and came equipped with a board listing recent wildlife sightings. A couple of trail segments were closed but we still got to see a lot of the park.
