Tonto National Forest Attractions & Things to do

Our rigorous Sunset Desert Jeep Tour is a bumpy off-road sightseeing tour through the scenic Jeep trails of the Tonto National Forest, north of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Experience a world-famous Arizona sunset (weather dependent) as our professional tour guides teach you about the Sonoran desert flora, fauna, and Native American history. At sunset, we will stop at our panoramic lookout point overseeing the historic Great Western Trail.

This is a public tour (not private). Public tour vehicles: Modified open-air vertical-row (sideways) seating Jeep Gladiator (14 seats) and Jeep YJ (7 seats).

Total duration of this tour ranges from 2 to 3 hours depending on the time of year. Confirm the exact end time with your tour guide before the tour.

Scottsdale Adventure Tours is a special recreation permit-holder through the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cave Creek Ranger District.


Duration: 2 hours.

Desert Dog Offroad has been offering guided off-road adventure tours for over 25 years! What’s better than driving a 800cc UTV Sand Buggy over cool terrain with your best bud by your side? How about having a guide to lead the way so you don’t get lost! Ha ha ha, no but really… Anyways our customer reviews on this off-road adventure tour are through the roof! This is a smile-a-second ride through super-cool desert track; rock gardens, sandy washes, twisty canyons, and technical two track. Water and snacks will be provided at the mid way stop and drivers and passengers can swap at this point. On this
off-road adventure tour, you will also learn about the Flora and Fauna in Sonoran Desert and that the only place you can find the Saguaro Cactus is in The Sonoran Desert. Desert Dog Offroad brings the buggies, helmets, gators, water and snacks. You bring you and see why this is the funnest off-road adventure tour out there!


Duration: 2 hours.

Desert Dog Offroad has been offering guided off-road adventure tours in The Sonoran Desert for over 25 years! What’s better than driving over cool terrain with your best bud by your side? How about having a guide to lead the way so you don’t get lost! Ha ha ha, no but really… Anyways our customer reviews on this off-road adventure tour are through the roof! Single and double riders available. This off-road adventure tour is a smile-a-second ride through super-cool desert track; rock gardens, sandy washes and technical two track. Water and snacks will be provided at the mid way stop and drivers and passengers can swap. On this off-road adventure tour you will also learn about the Flora and Fauna in Sonoran Desert and that the only place you can find the Saguaro Cactus is in The Sonoran Desert. Desert Dog Offroad brings the buggies, helmets, gators, water and snacks. You bring you and see why this is the funnest off-road adventure tour in the Scottsdale area!


Duration: 2 hours.

While visiting the Phoenix area, what’s better than driving a 2-seated 800cc UTV Sand Buggy over cool terrain with your best bud by your side? How about having a guide to lead the way so you don’t get lost! Our customer reviews on this desert adventure tour are through the roof! This isn’t some slow-speed, single file UTV tour. This is a smile-a-second adventure tour through super-cool desert track; rock gardens, sandy washes, twisty canyons, and technical two track. Bottled water and snacks will be provided at the mid way stop and drivers and passengers can swap at this point. On this adventure tour will also learn about the Flora and Fauna in Sonoran Desert and that the only place you can find the Saguaro Cactus is in The Sonoran Desert. We bring the buggies, the helmets, gators, water and snacks. You bring you and see why Desert Dog Offroad Adventures is the funnest desert tour operator in the Phoenix and surrounding area!


Duration: 2 hours.

Board our Custom Jeep Gladiator and head ten minutes North into Tonto National Forest for off-road slow-crawl through Rackensack Canyon. Your expert desert guide will identify unique plants of the rugged Upper Sonoran Desert along with discussion of the Canyon's Ancient Indian Ruins.

You then climb 900 vertical feet over 1.5 miles into Chaparral Vegetation zone with breathtaking views at 4500 foot elevation summit. The short ride to the top can be a bit dusty & bouncy but is also exhilarating fun with entertaining narration and educational photo stops along trail.

At the Rammed Earth, Mountain Top Studio you will enjoy complimentary snacks with free time to relax on patio while taking in jaw dropping vistas or try your hand at Steer Head Roping, Cornhole and Horseshoes before return trip to Civilization.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

Step back into the Arizona Wild West with this Historic Gold Mine Jeep Adventure. With adrenaline pumping, you enter mine to follow same vein of Gold that prospector “Old Rackensack” chased in 1880. Our Hard-Rock mine allows guests to Safely experience Old-Timers painstaking methods for extracting the illusive precious mineral that had such a profound impact on Arizona’s History.

In-route to the Mine, you will explore the Upper Sonoran Desert’s rugged landscape with Flora & Fauna photo stops plus educational narration about Rackensack Canyon’s Archaeological Indian Ruins. After an exhilarating mountainside ride to Summit Studio/Giftshop, you will enjoy complimentary refreshments before heading to mine.

Sit back and enjoy the ride with Certified Off-road Desert Guide in our Custom Jeep Gladiator that is weatherized for "Rain or Shine" Tours and exclusively designed for safety, comfort plus maximum visibility of spectacular vistas.
Duration: 3 hours.

Tripadvisor's 2023 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Scottsdale's 2020-2022 #1 ranked TripAdvisor outdoor activity. Our Private Scottsdale Off-Road Jeep Tour is a bumpy guide-led adventure on the most scenic Sonoran desert trails in the Scottsdale area. You will enjoy spectacular sights as your professional tour guide teaches you about Sonoran desert flora, fauna, and Native American history. Since our permitted trails are connected to North Scottsdale, you will receive more trail time than any other off-road tour in the Scottsdale area.

Private tour vehicles: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (6 seats) with forward-facing seating, Jeep YJ (7 seats), or Jeep Gladiator (14 seats) with vertical-row (sideways) seating.

Scottsdale Adventure Tours is a commercial special recreation permit-holder through the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cave Creek Ranger District and the U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management.


Duration: 2 to 3 hours.

This fun and adventurous tour offers a unique way to explore the Sonoran Desert. Choose between a single or double ATV or a UTV (perfect for a family) and hit the sandy trails. See Saguaro, barrel and prickly pear cactus as well as dozens of other plant life. You may even spot a bald eagle or a mule deer! This is a great way to see the beautiful Sonoran Desert while having the adventure of a lifetime! ATV DRIVERS MUST BE 16 OR OVER.
Duration: 2 hours.

Our rigorous Sonoran Desert Jeep Tour is a low-speed, bumpy sightseeing tour of the scenic Sonoran desert via the Tonto National Forest. Your professional tour guide, who is a certified off-road driver and the only driver throughout your Jeep tour, will teach you about the Sonoran desert flora and fauna on the most scenic trails in the Scottsdale area.

Vehicles used: Jeep YJ (7 seats).

Scottsdale Adventure Tours is a special recreation permit-holder through the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cave Creek Ranger District and the U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management.

Be aware that there is an weight limit of 275 lbs per person
Duration: 2 hours.

This fun and adventurous tour offers a unique way to explore the Sonoran Desert. The UTV is perfect for a family to hit the sandy trails. See Saguaro, barrel and prickly pear cactus as well as dozens of other plant life. You may even spot a bald eagle or a mule deer! This is a great way to see the beautiful Sonoran Desert while having the adventure of a lifetime!

Duration: 2 hours.

An amazing day trip from Phoenix to Arizona's other "Grand Canyon". Spend an unforgettable day paddling down the majestic Salt River Canyon on this 6-hour rafting trip. Tackle the rapids with a passionate, knowledgeable guide on your raft. This is an excellent trip for rafters of all levels. Lunch is included.
Duration: 6 hours.

The Monument Valley tour includes Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Monument Valley. It begins with a scenic, narrated, flight through the Red Rock formations of Sedona. It then takes in the San Francisco Peaks and the Painted Desert before arriving at the Grand Canyon.

Next is a 20-minute overflight of the Grand Canyon from just 1,000 feet above the rim. The tour continues on to Page, Arizona, located along the shores of Lake Powell. After a brief stop in Page (depending on aircraft), you will fly towards the confluence of the San Juan and Green Rivers en route to Monument Valley.

The flight will land at Gouldings Field, just minutes from Monument Valley, and embark on a guided, 90 minute 4X4 ground tour into the Navajo Tribal Park. Your Navajo guide will provide insights into the culture and beauty of this sacred area. Finally, return to Gouldings Lodge for a delicious Navajo Taco lunch before returning to the airport for the scenic return flight.
Duration: 8 hours.

This fun and adventurous tour offers a unique way to explore the Sonoran Desert. The UTV is perfect for a family to hit the sandy trails. See Saguaro, barrel and prickly pear cactus as well as dozens of other plant life. You may even spot a bald eagle or a mule deer! This is a great way to see the beautiful Sonoran Desert while having the adventure of a lifetime!

Duration: 2 hours.

Experience majestic mountain shadows and a world-famous Arizona sunset (weather dependent) at our private mountaintop sanctuary within Tonto National Forest.

Tours begin with a slow-crawl through Rackensack Canyon and expert guide narration about Unique Sonoran Desert Plants & Ancient Hohokam Indians who inhabited canyon up to 1450 AD.

A short time later the “Exhilarating Mountainside Ride” begins as you climb 900 vertical feet over 1.5 miles with absolutely breathtaking views at 4500 foot elevation. The short ride to the top can be a bit dusty & bouncy but is also exciting fun with entertaining narration and educational photo stops along trail.

Upon arrival at Summit Studio/Gift Shop you will enjoy complimentary refreshments & relax on patio with jaw dropping vistas or try your hand at Steer Head Roping & Corn Hole.

At sunset, experience panoramic unobstructed views of sky which typically changes to shades of pink, red, orange, and purple, with stunning Desert Mountain backdrop.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.

* Please note this trip has a MINIMUM OF 4pp OR MORE to operate.

Join us for a leisure river float where you can see flora and fauna of beautiful Arizona. Some of the endless possibilities for wildlife sightings could be otters, herons, eagles and wild horses! Enjoy the scenery of cactus lining the banks of the desert scape while rafting along the Lower Salt River.
Duration: 2 hours.

Get ready to embark on an adventure through the Sonoran desert just outside of Phoenix! On this adventure you will get the exhilarating thrill of conquering challenging terrain in our air conditioned jeeps. We will travel up and down through a canyon full of breathtaking panoramic views. We will have numerous stops along the way so you can get the perfect photos, take in the views, and learn about the desert plants and wildlife. The adventure culminates in watching our beautiful and infamous Arizona sunsets.
Duration: 4 to 6 hours.

We will be in the Tonto National Forest. Expect to see beautiful desert scenery including, Unique plants, cactus, and wildflowers that are native to the Sonoran Desert. Beautiful views of Ash Creek Canyon and the unique trees that grow next to it. There is always a chance to see wild animals such as cows, javelinas, snakes, lizards, and birds. You will experience the Adventure of exploring abandoned mining facilities, hiking, swimming, and canyon views. These places are wild and rarely traveled. Be one of the first people to see, according to the Fish and Wildlife, one of the most pristine locations in Arizona.
Duration: 1 day.

An easy drive from Phoenix to Arizona's other "Grand Canyon". Enjoy a fun filled day of whitewater rafting and while others drive back to the city you set up camp next to the river as the guides prepare dinner and a beautiful evening by the fire watching the stars overhead. Less than 3 miles from the highway our camp can be accessed by any vehicle which makes for some very comfortable camping as you can bring whatever you like.
Duration: 1 day 12 hours.

Ash Creek Canyon in Chrysotile, AZ is the area of Tonto National Forest Northeast of Globe, AZ. This off-road adventure travels through land that the Forest Service deems the most natural untouched land in Arizona. It is one of the most beautiful areas in the entire state.

Expect to see beautiful mountainous desert scenery including; Unique trees, plants, cactus, and wildflowers that are native to the Sonoran Desert. You will also experience the beautiful canyon views including sheer cliffs, Ash Creek, and even the Upper Salt River. There will be lots of picturesque views of: Wild Animals such as Eagles and other birds, Snakes, Lizards, and Free-Range Cattle. You will experience the Adventure of off-roading and being able to travel through forest trails and rocky mountain paths. The Tour will take you into wild and rarely traveled places you'd be unlikely to see on your own. The tour is guided and driven by our experienced tour guides to ensure safety.
Duration: 3 hours.

During our off-roading and hiking adventure to Moon Canyon, we will be in the Tonto National Forest. Expect to see beautiful desert scenery including: Unique plants, cactus, and wildflowers that are native to the Sonoran Desert. Beautiful views of Ash Creek Canyon and the unique trees that grow next to it. There is always a chance to see wild animals such as cows, javelina, snakes, lizards, and birds. You will experience the Adventure of off-roading and hiking that will take you into wild and rarely traveled places you'd be unlikely to see on your own. The tour is guided and driven by our experienced tour guides to ensure safety.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours.