10 Things to do Adventurous in Central Arizona That You Shouldn't Miss

March 26, 2022 Misti Hsu

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 Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale.
Restaurants in Central Arizona

1. Guidance Air

Excellent
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5.0 based on 356 reviews

Guidance Air

Sedona's Premier Helicopter Tour Service. Guidance Air is the Ultimate Off-Road Adventure! Let us show you Sedona as you’ve never seen it before! Regardless of your destination, our friendly tour experts are ready to help you make your visit to the Grand Canyon State unforgettable. Let us guide you to your next adventure. We are the #3 Helicopter Tour in the Nation by USA Today!

2. Cathedral Rock

Yavapai County, Sedona, AZ 86351 +1 928-203-7500 https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55264
Excellent
85%
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13%
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5.0 based on 5,917 reviews

Cathedral Rock

Towering red rock formation, part of the Cathedral Rock Trail.

Reviewed By Cristine4412 - Pittsburgh, United States

It's a relatively easy hike to the base of Cathedral Rock, and from there you can choose the more challenging hike up the rock, or take the flat Templeton trail around the base.

3. Off-Road Jeep Adventures

Excellent
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5.0 based on 748 reviews

Off-Road Jeep Adventures

Scottsdale’s 2019-2020 #1 ranked Trip Advisor outdoor activity. We offer off-road Sonoran desert Jeep tours and other various outdoor activities in the Scottsdale area.

4. Western Destinations Canyon Creek Ranch - Tours

Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,595 reviews

Western Destinations Canyon Creek Ranch - Tours

Canyon Creek Ranch is nestled on 130 breathtaking acres in Cold Water Canyon, just twenty miles north of Phoenix in Black CanyonCity, Arizona. The ranch is surrounded by 71,000 acres of National Monument land, featuring rugged hills, fantastic volcanic formations, ancient Native American petroglyphs and the Agua Fria River. The ranch offers great views of the surrounding mountains and miles of natural Sonoran desert to explore and enjoy.

5. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours

Excellent
93%
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5.0 based on 3,715 reviews

Arizona Safari Jeep Tours

Arizona Safari Jeep Tours offers a variety of excursions to explore this wonderful land. Our tours range from mild to wild all of them scenic and exciting, We have a tour for everyone!. Go on a rugged off road adventure into the Western canyon lands, climb the scenic beauty of the Mogollon Rim, or experience the magic of a Sedona’s famous Vortex energy. Explore the amazing red rock formations and the secrets they hold. How will the vortices empower you? Come experience the natural side of Arizona!

6. Desert Wolf Tours

Excellent
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5.0 based on 2,625 reviews

Desert Wolf Tours

Desert Wolf Tours is Scottsdale's #1 Ranked desert off-road and firearms Adventure! Better yet, we were named THE BEST OFF-PREMISES EXCURSION IN THE WORLD by TravelGolf and were just inducted into the TripAdvisor HALL OF FAME for earning their prestigious Certificate of Excellence for the 6th year in a row! At Desert Wolf Tours, YOU get to drive an authentic military-grade TomCar UTV. A Tomcar is smooth, fast, maneuverable and drives like no other off-road vehicle. Even if you've driven consumer grade UTVs and ATVs made by Polaris, Kawasaki, Yamaha, etc., you've never driven a military-grade UTV! They glide over the rocky terrain, leaving all others in the dust!! (Here is an added benefit - UNLIKE MOST AREA ATV TOURS, YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR A HELMET ON OUR TOURS! So, no need to worry about that horrible "helmet hair".) As Arizona's #1 ranked self-drive tour outfit, Desert Wolf Tours provides unique tours to proprietary attractions that no other company offers. Because we're so near to most Scottsdale/Phoenix resorts, you'll be able to spend more time in the desert and less time in somebody else's van. We use the world's most comfortable off-road vehicles, have the best Adventure Guides and play in the most interesting terrain. With access to hundreds of thousands of acres of Desert Wilderness just North of Phoenix full of Cowboy history and gorgeous vistas, our guests leave our tours with awesome memories that last a lifetime? BOOK TODAY and we'll guarantee that you'll have a Great Time! NOTE - ALL OF OUR DESERT OFF-ROAD TOURS LEAVE FROM THE ROADRUNNER RESTAURANT AND SALOON, JUST A FEW MILES NORTH OF PHOENIX ON I-17.

7. Stellar Adventures

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5.0 based on 688 reviews

Stellar Adventures

Get ready to explore the unique Sonoran Desert with our Arizona outdoor adventures & tours! Let Stellar Adventures help you experience this hidden treasure of the Southwest. Since 1997, Stellar Adventures is an outdoor adventure company that specializes in a variety of unique desert off-road adventure tours. Tame the rugged desert landscape on a H1 Hummer, Military M1009 (M-10-oh-9) Blazer or a guided ATV/UTVtour - Looking to add a unique experience? Test your marksmanship with the Stellar Shooting Experience alongside our NRA Certified Range Safety Officers. Spot nocturnal wildlife on a Night-Vision tour and let our professional astronomer take you on a tour of the universe with our breathtaking Stargazing tour. In addition, Stellar Adventures offers several corporate teambuilding activities and culinary experiences that can be bundled with any of our adventures.

8. Bear Mountain Trail

Fr 152C, Sedona, AZ +1 928-203-2900 http://www.redrockcountry.org/recreation/trails.shtml
Excellent
84%
Good
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5.0 based on 249 reviews

Bear Mountain Trail

Reviewed By rachelwY6652YZ

Love this hike. It's definitely difficult, with steep sections that require trail runners or hiking boots to do safely. Hiked in spring and recommend carrying 3.5L water because most of the trail is exposed. Views are stunning and worth the effort!

9. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

27026 N 156th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262-9524 +1 480-471-3621 [email protected] http://southwestwildlife.org
Excellent
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5.0 based on 503 reviews

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center

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.

10. Broken Arrow Trail

Morgan Road, Sedona, AZ +1 928-527-3600 http://www.sedonahikingtrails.com/broken-arrow-trail.htm
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5.0 based on 1,400 reviews

Broken Arrow Trail

Reviewed By geridicola - Chicago, United States

We took the Broken Arrow trail to the High on the Hog, Hog Heaven to Hog Wash back to Broken Arrow it was about a four mile Hike that was absolutely amazing. bring water and a snack so you can stop and soak it all in.

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