10 Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Central Arizona That You Shouldn't Miss

August 26, 2021 Milan Banda

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. Cathedral Rock

Yavapai County, Sedona, AZ 86351 +1 928-203-7500 https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55264
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

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.

2. Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)

8375 Az-179 Red Rock Visitor Center and Ranger Station, Sedona, AZ 86351 +1 928-203-2900 http://redrockscenicbyway.com
Excellent
85%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4,151 reviews

Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)

The Red Rock Scenic Byway is your Gateway to the world-famous Red Rock Country of Sedona, Arizona … just 110 miles north of Phoenix, about 40 miles south of Flagstaff, and only a few hours south of the Grand Canyon.

Reviewed By kathyfI6813BE - Big Water, United States

Beautiful drive in the red rocks..we stopped several times to take photos and do a bit of browsing at several arts and craft shows.

3. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours

Excellent
93%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

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!

4. Desert Wolf Tours

Excellent
97%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

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.

5. Stellar Adventures

Excellent
97%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

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.

6. Bear Mountain Trail

Fr 152C, Sedona, AZ +1 928-203-2900 http://www.redrockcountry.org/recreation/trails.shtml
Excellent
84%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

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!

7. Schnebly Hill Vista

Sedona, AZ
Excellent
80%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 107 reviews

Schnebly Hill Vista

Reviewed By DenieceP - Litchfield Park, United States

The views from Schnebly Hill and the drive to it are AMAZING!!!! This is NOT a typical drive, it is very primitive. Highly recommend renting from one of the local ATV rentals vs using your own 4x4 truck like we did. If you use your own 4x4 will need high clearance. The scenery is absolutely worth making this kidney shaking drive (make sure you go to the bathroom prior to making this trek).

8. Tom's Thumb Trailhead

23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ http://arizonahiking.org/component/content/article/83-phoenix-area-and-central-arizona/188-toms-thumb
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 393 reviews

Tom's Thumb Trailhead

Reviewed By ca847

Beautiful scenery. Fun walk in the heat. Trails are marked very well. Be sure to bring plenty of water and proper shoes.

9. Broken Arrow Trail

Morgan Road, Sedona, AZ +1 928-527-3600 http://www.sedonahikingtrails.com/broken-arrow-trail.htm
Excellent
86%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

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.

10. Slide Rock State Park

6871 N. Highway 89A Parking may be reduced. Limited day use will be allowed., Sedona, AZ 86336 +1 928-282-3034 http://azstateparks.com/slide-rock/
Excellent
62%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,337 reviews

Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock State Park, originally the Pendley Homestead, is a 43-acre historic apple farm located in Oak Creek Canyon. Frank L. Pendley, having arrived in the canyon in 1907, formally acquired the land under the Homestead Act in 1910. Due to his pioneering innovation, he succeeded where others failed by establishing a unique irrigation system still in use by the park today. This allowed Pendley to plant his first apple orchard in 1912, beginning the pattern of agricultural development that has dominated the site since that time. Pendley also grew garden produce and kept some livestock. As one of the few homesteads left intact in the canyon today, Slide Rock State Park is a fine example of early agricultural development in Central Arizona. The site was also instrumental to the development of the tourism industry in Oak Creek Canyon. The completion of the canyon road in 1914 and the paving of the roadway in 1938 were strong influences in encouraging recreational use of the canyon. Hence, Pendley followed suit and in 1933, built rustic cabins to cater to vacationers and sightseers. Todays visitors can still enjoy the fruits of Pendley's labor. Historic cabins are available for viewing, and the creek offers the park's namesake slide for adventures seekers and those looking for a place to cool off.

Reviewed By SinAguayo - San Bernardino, United States

$20 for parking and that is the only fee you are going to have to pay. About 15 minutes from Sedona, the scenic view to slide rock it's a treat of it's own. Pay attention though because it is a one way highway with plenty of hikers. Depending on what time you get there, you may have to wait due to the parking lot being full. We had to wait approximately 45 minutes. And there is no phone service. So... get to talking with your family or friends. The park has a small shop with all the necessities, for example: you can buy water shoes ($15), snacks, food, umbrellas, souvenirs, shirts, ice cream, and much more. They have lockers which you can rent in order to safeguard items you don't want to take with you. All we took was two backpacks with snacks and towels. The actual walk to the creek is about 15 minutes. Enjoy the walk because it has great view. The massive red rock in the distance is breathtaking. You will go down some steps that will lead you to the creek. Once at the bottom you can pick a spot to settle. BE AWARE. The rocks in the water are very very slippery. The water is cold..but once you acclimate, you will be fine. Peaceful, and enjoyable. Not very packed. Plenty of room of everyone. I highly recommend it. Follow me and my adventures fb: Sin Aguayo ig:@SinAguayo

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