Arizona Outdoor Recreation

Arizona is blessed with fantastic weather and endless places to fish, sail, swim, stroll, tramp, run, pedal, paddle, and just be amazed. Climb into the sky by balloon or hang-glider, explore the dark depths of great caves, raft whitewater rivers, ski alpine mountains, hike remote trails, and put miles between you and civilization on the back of a horse. Get a close-up view of animals in the wild, or at Arizona’s beautiful parks, zoos, and botanical gardens.

The Arizona Trail
A National Scenic Trail, the Arizona Trail is a narrow band of earth stretching across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. The nearly 800-mile Arizona Trail traverses the state, linking deserts, mountain ranges, canyons, communities, public lands and people. A favorite destination of hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and joggers, the Arizona Trail is a beautiful long distance trail that highlights the state's topographic, biologic, ecological, historic and cultural diversity. The Trail is made up of 43 passages, ranging from 11 to 35 miles in length. In most cases, the Arizona Trail utilizes existing trails and a few primitive roads. When completed, the Arizona Trail will be the most spectacular long-distance trail in the country.

Arizona Hiking Adventures
Not only does Arizona offer a hiker’s dream in the Grand Canyon, but year-round excellent weather, amazing natural formations, beautiful national parks, and diverse topography offer the perfect destination for unforgettable hiking excursions. While the bottom of the Grand Canyon is a challenging hiking experience, hikers can enjoy easier trails along the rim. With more than 100 hiking trails across the state, including the Arizona Trail, Arizona offers scenic stretches for every hiker, including long and short day trips, kid-friendly hikes and backpacking trails.

Arizona Boating
Although located in the desert Southwest, Arizona is overflowing with beautiful lakes and rivers for boating, sailing, and enjoying the surroundings. Lake Powell, on the Northern border of Arizona, offers house boating and recreational boating experiences in a stunning setting of crystal water, red rock formations and beautiful Arizona weather. Take a trip to Arizona’s exciting West Coast, where Lake Havasu boasts the title of “Personal Watercraft Capital of the World.” Located on the shores of the Colorado River, this destination includes a 45-mile long water playground and countless boating adventures. Cruise up to the White Mountains, where 65 lakes and streams offer boating and other water activities. In the heart of the Greater Phoenix area, Tempe Town Lake is the Valley’s latest two-mile boating wonderland.

Arizona Canoeing, Kayaking and Rafting
With more than 30 pristine lakes in Arizona, you are sure to discover a friendly place to canoe, kayak or raft. Experience an exciting whitewater river rafting adventure down the turbulent Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. In Bullhead City, in Arizona’s West Coast, you can enjoy a popular day or overnight canoeing or kayaking trip down the 11-mile stretch of the Colorado below Hoover Dam, called Black Canyon, a stunning area with hot springs, a "sauna cave" and beautiful scenery.

Arizona Fishing
Visitors to Arizona can enjoy plenty of fantastic fishing opportunities in any of the lakes, streams, creeks and urban areas in Arizona. Lake Mead and Lake Mohave offer Nevada’s best sport fishing, Reaching more than 11,000 feet in elevation, the White Mountains draw fishermen looking for bass, catfish and trout. The Imperial Reservoir upriver through the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge on Arizona’s West Coast offers largemouth bass that weigh in at more than 12 pounds! And don’t forget ice fishing, which is available in the White Mountains on the eastern side of the state. With a year-long fishing season and plenty of gorgeous lakes, Arizona is a wonderful place to cast your fishing line.

Arizona Water Skiing/Wakeboarding
Water adventurers will be pleased with Arizona’s offerings of lakes and rivers in which to enjoy sports such as water skiing and wakeboarding. The Colorado River Indian Reservation, located on Arizona’s West Coast, offers ample water sporting activities in a beautiful setting. Just a few miles north, Lake Havasu is a breathtaking destination where you can enjoy every kind of water experience under the sun. In Central Arizona, Lake Pleasant, Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake all offer wonderful water skiing opportunities.

Hot-Air Ballooning
Arizona’s wonderful weather and wide open spaces makes it the perfect place to take a relaxing hot-air balloon ride. Arizona’s amazing mountain scenery and desert landscapes as seen from above create a truly magical experience – floating on gentle breezes beyond the deserts, canyons and mountain ranges. Hot-air balloon rides are available from private companies across the state, and give you an eagle’s eye view of all of Arizona’s grandeur and beauty.

Arizona Horseback Riding
One of the best ways to see Arizona’s natural splendor is on horseback. Arizona’s horse trails showcase the state’s natural beauty and offer a more relaxing way to take in the scenery. From guided equestrian trails complete with cowboy lore in Sedona to riding lessons in a working cattle ranch in Gold Canyon, Arizona’s Old West history is brought to life in a unique way to experience nature and see all that Arizona has to offer.

Arizona Mountain Biking
Arizona’s diverse terrain and fantastic weather make it a mountain biker’s paradise. Across the entire state, Arizona’s wide-open spaces and amazing landscapes offer invigorating, scenic trails that challenge and reward all levels of bikers. Don’t miss Mount Humphrey near Flagstaff, the state’s highest point, which challenges bikers during the warmer months. One of Arizona’s most popular biking destinations, Saguaro National Park features many miles of biking loops and trails through the amazing Sonoran Desert.

Arizona Rock Climbing
With challenging canyons and soaring mountains, adventure-seekers can pick from an exciting menu of outdoor recreational opportunities including rock climbing. In Prescott, rock climbers head for the outcroppings of Watson Lake or the world-class cliffs of the Granite Mountain Wilderness Area northwest of town. In Phoenix, Camelback Mountain's distinctive silhouette dominates the city's northern skyline, beckoning rock climbers only minutes from downtown.

Arizona Skiing
Downhill and cross-country skiers can enjoy winter adventures in Arizona - beautiful weather, mountain ranges, vertical downhill ski runs, amazing trails, and scenic landscapes. Sunrise Park Resort, part of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, is Arizona’s largest ski area with 65 awesome ski runs and more than 11,000 feet in elevation. One of Arizona’s downhill ski destinations, Arizona Snowbowl on the San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona has a history of entertaining skiers, and features one of the best learning terrains in the entire Southwest. A short drive south of Flagstaff in a forested region of volcanic mountains and lakes, the Mormon Lake Ski Touring Center offers over 30 kilometers of groomed trail for skiers. You can also find snow in Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley near Tucson.

Arizona Hunting
Arizona offers diverse hunting opportunities - from larger game such as elk to smaller game and waterfowl. Challenges and hunting opportunities exist throughout the state, and avid hunters will find no better place to bring home that trophy catch.

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