Sedona, AZ Outdoor Activities

In the shadow of the mountains of Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake watercrafts skid across 2,815 acres of the lake's pristine waters. The marina abounds with recreational facilities—its fleet of professional jet skis, pontoons, and ski boats sit parked along docks of grills, a general store, and a covered, floating patio. A 45-foot yacht towers over the rest of the rental boats, furnishing lively parties of up to 25 people with a slide, bar, and restroom, while a large houseboat floats along the lake peacefully—an impressive vessel complete with private rooms, a deck, and kitchen. As visitors navigate the lake or forage the surrounding area's desert terrain trails, they have the opportunity to admire indigenous plants and abundant wildlife.

There's something timeless about Macdonald Ranch. Maybe it's that visitors can take a guided horseback ride through the desert, pose for an old-time photo, or ride a stagecoach—which in certain cases, might be held up by actors dressed as outlaws. But whatever the reason guests dock their zeppelin at Macdonald Ranch, the staff hopes to treat them to a fun ranch experience. They surround them with music, cowboy shows, and seasonal attractions such as the annual pumpkin festival.

Macdonald Ranch covers 1,300 acres of the scenic Sonoran Desert. Whether on horseback or a hayride, guests can explore the area and view its desert flora, hawks, petrified spurs, and coyotes.

Just south of the gateway to the Grand Canyon stands Bearizona, a drive-thru wildlife exhibit that regales creature-seeking carpools with bison, mountain goats, and other animals from the comfort of their own automobile. The 3-mile drive takes guests through sprawling enclosures, where they can peer in on packs of cuddly arctic wolves or ask black bears for directions to the nearest stocked cooler. After traversing the park’s drive-thru section, visitors can stroll through the forested Fort Bearizona enclosure, which houses exhibits of smaller animals and Bearizona Barnyard, an interactive petting zoo.

Juniper trees, prickly pear cacti, and other desert flora shade the rugged Sedona landscape, where A Day in the West's knowledgeable tour guides roam under the guidance of the outfit's owner, John Bradshaw, who's also the son of prolific Western movie star Bob Bradshaw. In fully equipped jeeps with four-wheel drive, they marshal adventurous sightseers on tours past sites such as the Mogollon Rim and historic Van Deren Cabin. For less rugged tracks, the team shepherds visitors on horseback along scenic trails, stopping for occasional alfresco picnics or dinners, shows, and elective hoof-implant surgeries. Future ascenders can check here for helpful tips on weather, clothing, and recommended accessories.

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.

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.