10 Best Outdoor Activities in Scottsdale

Scottsdale, Arizona, is the perfect location for outdoor enthusiasts. With such a wide array of outdoor attractions to enjoy and beautiful, sunny weather year-round, Scottsdale offers the ideal venue to explore the outdoors!

Whether you love adventure or want to soak in the beautiful desert landscape in a laid-back location, there is an activity every type of traveler will love on this list. Here are the best Scottsdale outdoor activities to enjoy during your trip to Arizona.

1. Mountain Biking

Scottsdale has dozens of desert trails winding through the mountains with rocky terrain and lots of switchbacks, offering the ideal environment for mountain bikers.

Granite Mountain is a great trail that offers stunning views of east Scottsdale. You can also take your mountain bike on Corral Loop at Brown’s Ranch and Desert Park Trail to Gateway Loop.

Whether mountain biking for the first time or the hundredth time, be sure to follow safety precautions, like wearing a helmet and staying hydrated, to keep safe during your adventure.

2. ATV Tours

Renting an off-road vehicle or going on a guided tour, like a Jeep or Hummer tour through the desert, is a fun way to see the scenic landscape in the Sonoran Desert and beyond.

Desert Monster Tours, Arizona ATV Adventures, and Stellar Adventures are all top-rated tour providers that offer unique off-roading tours in Scottsdale and beyond.

3. Hot Air Ballooning

One of Scottsdale’s most popular activities is embarking on hot air balloon rides over the beautiful landscape of the Sonoran Desert.

Since Scottsdale receives over 300 sunny days every year, you’re almost always guaranteed a blue sky and a gorgeous sunrise or sunset during your hot air balloon ride. You can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience if you are traveling solo, or book a ride for a couples getaway or family trip.

4. Horseback Riding

If you’d like to encounter desert plants and wildlife from a unique point of view, consider booking a horseback ride from MacDonald’s Ranch.

MacDonald’s Ranch is Scottsdale’s top venue for horseback riding and western adventures. They offer cookouts, guided horseback rides, hayrides, and stagecoach rides, and the staff is willing to customize your experience to fit your unique needs and interests.

5. Hiking

Scottsdale is home to hundreds of beautiful hiking trails that offer gorgeous views of the desert landscape, including saguaro cacti, wildflowers, and more.

You can find great trails for each skill level at popular hiking trailheads in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area, including Papago Park, Pinnacle Peak Park, and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Bulldog Cliffs is another popular hiking trail in Mesa that offers beautiful views of the Salt River.

A nice perk of choosing to go hiking is that it’s often free! If you’re looking for more budget-friendly adventures, you should check out this list of free things to do in Scottsdale.

6. Parks

If you’re visiting Scottsdale on a family vacation, you may want to visit some of the city’s beautiful parks.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is one of the city’s most popular parks and is extremely kid-friendly. You can take a train ride on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad, ride the Allan Herschell Vintage Carousel, and enjoy ice cream from Hartley’s General Store. Chaparral Park is another popular park in Scottsdale that includes a basketball court, soccer fields, volleyball courts, an off-leash dog park, picnic tables, and a ten-acre lake.

If you’re planning to visit these parks on the weekend, especially on a Saturday morning, arrive early. They will get busy as the day progresses!

7. Golfing

Golfing is one of the most popular things to do outdoors in Scottsdale. Scottsdale’s warm weather and beautiful golf courses, like Grayhawk Golf Club, Troon North, and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, attract visitors from around the country.

Scottsdale also hosts the most-attended golfing tournament on the PGA Tour, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, at TPC Scottsdale. Visitors can enjoy watching professional golfers tee off while enjoying adult beverages at this popular event.

8. Segway Tours

One of the best ways to experience Scottsdale is to go on a segway tour through Old Town Scottsdale. You’ll be able to see the art galleries, shops, and restaurants along the Civic Center Mall and the Scottsdale Waterfront, and on the weekends, you may even have the opportunity to hear live music!

Segway of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Segway Tours are two top-rated companies that offer segway tours through Scottsdale.

9. Day Trip

If you love exploring the great outdoors and would like to venture outside the Scottsdale area, you may consider taking a day trip from Scottsdale to explore more of Arizona.

You can pay a visit to the Grand Canyon National Park, enjoy wine tasting in Sedona, go on a ghost tour in Jerome, or explore the western culture in Prescott. Depending on your unique interests, you can find plenty of places to explore in Arizona just outside of Scottsdale!

10. Swimming

Visitors can’t miss the chance to take advantage of Scottsdale’s warm, sunny weather by spending a day at the pool during their trip to Arizona.

If you book a vacation rental with a private pool but would still love to enjoy unique amenities, like a lazy river, waterslides, and jacuzzi tubs at Scottsdale’s luxury resorts, consider purchasing a day pass from ResortPass during your trip.

With your day pass, you can enjoy the pool and other amenities at popular resorts, like the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, The Saguaro Scottsdale, Hotel Valley Ho, The Scott Resort and Spa, and more.

Experience the Best Outdoor Activities in Scottsdale, AZ, from Stay with Style Scottsdale

If you’re ready to get outside and explore all the activities that Scottsdale has to offer, don’t wait any longer to book your trip to the Valley of the Sun.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay that offers convenient access to Scottsdale’s trails, parks, and activities, look no further than our collection of luxury vacation rentals. We have rentals to accommodate groups of all sizes equipped with many amenities, like heated swimming pools, backyard golf courses, barbecue grills, and more.Browse our vacation rentals to find the perfect space for your upcoming trip, and contact us when you’re ready to reserve your vacation home!