Things to Do in Chino Valley

Generally, adulthood forces people to give up childish pleasure, robbing them of the joy associated with playing in puddles, throwing dirt clods, and eating clay. The organizers behind Mad Mud Run Phoenix want grownups to regress, if only for a day. Held in the Sonoran desert, the race challenges participants to sprint and frolic through a dirty and deliciously fun outdoor obstacle course. Racers aged 12 and up bound over manmade obstructions such as cargo nets, hills of hay bales, monkey bars, and slimy mud pits. The boot-camp style odysseys stretch anywhere from three to five miles in length, and can be run individually or in groups of two or five. Racers are encouraged to compete in costumes of all types save for gremlins, which multiply in water and unfairly dominate the timed results.

Under the red, rocky peaks carved by Arizona's waterways, The Hook Up Outfitters's expert guides lead chartered trips in search of trophy-size largemouth and striped bass. During each all-inclusive daytime adventure, the staff equips anglers with necessities such as G.Loomis rods, Shimano reels, tackle and gear, and refreshing beverages. The Hook Up Outfitters's team includes Bassmaster Classic competitors and nationally profiled elite fishermen who tailor expert guidance to participants' individual goals, such as learning how to fish a particular spot or identify their aquatic doppelganger.

Sedona Red Rock Adventures' founder, Jim Reich, credits his father with nurturing a love of nature in their home outside New York City. As an adult, Jim transplanted his passion for the outdoors to the crimson boulders of Sedona after encouragement from a friend and fellow outdoorsman. A Western backdrop for movies during the 1940s and '60s, Sedona covers 19 square miles in the middle of scarlet bluffs, canyons, and Native American ruins and petroglyphs. Jim and his canine sidekick, Summit, share their affinity for fresh air through diverse tours that range from daylong jaunts into the Grand Canyon to the exploration of nocturnal wildlife during full-moon adventures. He adheres to Leave No Trace protocols, leaving nearby national parks free from litter or speakers blaring the theme from Chariots of Fire.

Jim powers all of his tours, including voyages through wine country and microbreweries, with drinks and snacks, and invites pooches along for the ride. He also snaps photos so that patrons can always remember the time they dropped their digital camera into the Grand Canyon.

After retiring from competitive professional cycling, Scott Keller and Will Geurts decided to share the joys of the worldview from atop a bike with the next generation of cyclists. The pair conducts anywhere from two-hour to five-day forays into Sedona’s airy wilderness, providing expert coaching to riders throughout the desert journey through towering red-rock formations under a never-ending sky. Their solid advice and encouragement keep pedals moving and the scenery rolling past as they imbue others with the passion that led them to spend a lifetime with the sport and replace the lower half of their bodies with bicycle frames.

The guides at Arizona Trail Horse Adventures lead sightseers on horseback rides through Dead Horse Ranch State Park and the Verde Valley. Horse and rider traverse a variety of terrain, crossing barren riverbeds, trotting through high desert, or pondering the duality of cottonwood trees, all while absorbing the beautiful scenery of their surroundings. The trails pose numerous opportunities to spot the wild animals indigenous to the region, including great blue heron, black hawks, beavers, and mule deer. On the 180-minute Monument Loop Trail, peeled peepers can spot the Tuzigoot National Monument, which displays the remains of a Native American pueblo.

The highly trained guides at Canyon Rio Rafting spearhead half-, full-, and multi-day expeditions down the Salt River, Rio Chama, and San Juan River. Certified in first aid and versed in advanced wilderness medical and rescue training, they ensure that trips run as smoothly over Class II–IV rapids as a mustache over the foam of a cappuccino. Following romps on oar rafts, paddle rafts, and inflatable kayaks, guides nourish excursionists with gourmet meals.

Alternatively, Canyon Rio Rafting's certified instructors help foster future whitewater navigation by staging courses for guides, rescue technicians, and kayakers.