Scottsdale Adventure & Outdoor Activities — Hiking, Desert & More

Scottsdale sits at the gateway to the Sonoran Desert, offering extensive outdoor and adventure opportunities. World-class hiking, rock formations, water activities, ATV tours, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing attract adventurers year-round. For active travelers seeking desert-based experiences, Scottsdale is a premier destination.

Hiking Trails

Camelback Mountain Trail — Iconic 2.3-mile round-trip with 1,300 feet elevation gain. Moderately strenuous but manageable for fit hikers. Reward: panoramic views of Scottsdale, Phoenix, and surrounding desert. Free. 1.5–2 hours round trip. Start at dawn to avoid afternoon heat.

Scottsdale’s hiking is defined by three things: dramatic desert landscape, accessibility from urban centers, and extreme heat. The Sonoran Desert surrounding Scottsdale offers hundreds of miles of trails ranging from easy urban parks to strenuous mountain ascents. Proper planning—mostly around heat and timing—turns a hike into an unforgettable desert experience.

Camelback Mountain — Icon Status

Camelback is Scottsdale’s most recognizable peak and one of Arizona’s most popular hikes. The 1.2-mile summit trail gains 1,300 feet in just over an hour, making it deceptively strenuous.

Free Things to Do in Scottsdale

Scottsdale’s desert landscape provides some of the best free outdoor experiences in the Southwest — and the art and culture scene has plenty of no-cost options too.

Desert Hiking (Free)

McDowell Sonoran Preserve — 30,500 acres of protected Sonoran Desert with 225+ miles of trails. Gateway trailhead is the main access point. Saguaro cacti, desert wildflowers (spring), and panoramic mountain views. Free. Bring water — lots of it.

Outdoor Activities Near Las Vegas

Las Vegas sits in the Mojave Desert at the edge of some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West. Within an hour of the Strip you can hike through red rock canyons, kayak the Colorado River, mountain bike in desert terrain, or rock climb on world-class sandstone.

Hiking

Red Rock Canyon (30 min) — The go-to. Calico Tanks trail (moderate, 2.5 mi) ends at a natural rock tank with Strip views. Keystone Thrust (easy, 2 mi) shows 180-million-year geology. Ice Box Canyon (moderate, 2.6 mi) has a seasonal waterfall in a slot canyon.

Scottsdale Timeshare Promotions

Scottsdale is the crown jewel of Arizona’s resort corridor — world-class golf, luxury spas, desert hiking, and a dining scene that rivals cities many times its size. Timeshare promotional deals here offer qualified visitors a taste of the Scottsdale resort experience at a fraction of the retail rate.

Here’s how it works, what it costs, and how to decide if it’s right for your next Scottsdale trip.

Scottsdale with Kids — Family Guide

Scottsdale is known as a couples destination, but families with kids will find plenty to do — especially if your kids are curious about nature, animals, and the desert.

Top Family Attractions

OdySea Aquarium (Salt River area) — Arizona’s largest aquarium. Penguins, sharks, sea lions, and a revolving theater inside a fish tank. Part of the OdySea in the Desert complex, which also has Butterfly Wonderland (largest butterfly atrium in America) and the interactive Mirror Maze.