Things To Do

Hike Camelback Mountain

As one of the most popular hikes in Scottsdale, Camelback Mountain has a few different trail options of varying difficulty for beginner and experienced hikers. Locals tend to recommend starting this hike in the early morning to catch a view of the entire Scottsdale area as the sun comes up. 1. Pinnacle Peak – If you want some gorgeous views on a moderately challenging trail, Pinnacle Peak is a local favorite that’s accessible to hikers of all levels. 2. McDowell-Sonoran Preserve – This nature preserve on the outskirts of town has tons of day use desert trails you can explore.

Scottsdale Wine Trail

The Scottsdale Wine Trail is a collection of four wine tasting rooms dotted throughout the Old Town Scottsdale area. The included wineries are: Aridus Wine Company Carlson Creek Tasting Room LDV Winery Tasting Room Salvatore Vineyards Tasting Room All of these tasting rooms feature wines from Arizona and many offer flights to sample a variety of different grapes and blends.

Golf Courses

1. TPC Scottsdale is a 36-hole golf complex in Scottsdale, AZ. The resort is part of the Tournament Players Club network of golf courses operated by the PGA Tour. 2. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club has two award-winning golf courses set in the untouched Sonoran Desert just outside Scottsdale, Arizona.

Visit Old Town Scottsdale

Check out the museums, gardens, bars, and restaurants that the city’s central district has to offer. If you arrive in time for lunch, I recommend hitting up either The Mission (their table-side guacamole is art in itself) or Craft 64 for woodfired pizza and craft beer. You can also grab a sweet treat at Super Chunk (known for their cookies) or Sugar Bowl (an old-school ice cream parlor serving up shakes, malts, and floats).

Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Desert Botanical Garden

Horseback Riding: MacDonald's Ranch

MacDonald’s Ranch has horseback riding tours. They offer rides through the desert terrain ranging from 1-2 hours, including moonlight riding.

Off-Roading

You can book a 1-2-hour guided ATV tour through the desert trails to explore the mountains, if hiking isn’t your thing!

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a 30,500-acre nature preserve where 5 major trailheads connect to more than 200 miles of desert hiking trails. It's only about 20 minutes from Scottsdale.

JoyRidesAZ Scottsdale Tours

Take a tour with JoyridesAZ, they have a ton of different types of tours to choose from, from the classic Urban Historic tour, to Instagram tours, to a Sip Like a Local drinks tour.

Lower Salt River Kayaking Tour

Kayak down Salt River, a 200-mile-long river in Arizona. You might even see some of the wild horses that live within the nearby Tonto National Forest.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument is on the way from Scottsdale to Sedona. Here you can view pre-Colombian cliffside dwellings built into a limestone cliff (pictured above). Montezuma Castle is located off Interstate 17 about 90 minutes north of Scottsdale.

Agua Fria National Monument

Agua Fria National Monument: You can see over 450 Native American structures including large pueblos and petroglyphs. Agua Fria is located off Interstate 17 one hour north of Scottsdale, on the way to Sedona!

Red Rock State Park

Red Rock State Park is a popular place for hiking and enjoying the surrounding red rock formations. There are several miles of hiking trails within the park that are considered easy to moderate difficulty making them suitable for just about any ability. While mountain biking is prohibited on most of the park’s trails, there are some Forest Service trails running through the park that are bike friendly. Ask at the Ranger Station where to access these if you’ve got your bike with you.

Pink Jeep Tours

The Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona are really popular and they have a ton of different tours to choose from. The Pink Jeep Tours will take you off roading in the desert where you can learn about the red rock formations, desert wildlife and plantlife. There are also tours that will take you up to Grand Canyon National Park or out to the desert in the evening for stargazing.

Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon is a river gorge located a short drive north of Sedona. It’s often described as a mini Grand Canyon. Popular activities in Oak Creek Canyon are hiking, swimming, and fishing. Apparently there is a natural water slide near the swimming hole as well.

Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village

Tlaquepaque is an arts and crafts village in the heart of Sedona. Here you’ll find local boutiques and art galleries. You can find everything from clothing and jewelry to paintings by local artists. This is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs or a special item to bring back home with you. There are also a few restaurants, a brewery and a winery.

Cathedral Rock

Cathedral Rock is just gorgeous! It’s even better up close as you hike up to the base. The Cathedral Rock Trail is just .7 miles and will take you about an hour to reach the top. There are some steep sections, so you’ll want to be in good shape to tackle this one. It should take you under an hour to get down, so leave about 2 hours for the full hike.

Bell Rock

No hiking or climbing necessary for this one. You’ll have an incredible view just steps from the parking area. Those wanting a closer look can hike the Bell Rock Trail. This is a relatively easy 1.5 mile round trip hike that will take you up near the north face of Bell Rock. As with Cathedral Rock, try to start this one early to beat the crowds and the heat.

Devils Kitchen Sinkhole

Devils Kitchen Sinkhole is located on Soldiers Pass Trail, approx 2 hours from Scottsdale, AZ.

Seven Sacred Pools

Seven Sacred Pools is on the Soldier Pass Trail in Sedona, AZ, approx 2 hours from Scottsdale, AZ.

Slide Rock State Park

Situated below an apple orchard and surrounded by the red rocks of Sedona's Oak Creek, Slide Rock is 80 feet long and 2.5 to 4 feet wide, with a seven percent decline from top to bottom. Algae on the rocks creates the slippery ride. Slide Rock includes a 1/2 mile of Oak Creek that is open for swimming, wading and sliding. The world-famous slide that the park is named for is an 80 foot-long slippery chute that is worn into sandstone.