5 Awesome Adventures to Have in Phoenix Right Now

THE VALLEY OF the Sun has so much more than cacti and margaritas. These five active adventures prove it. They include horses, hikes, hot air balloons, and (okay) some cacti—but they’re kind of hard to miss around these parts.

1. Ride On

For a two-hour core workout, let Fort McDowell Adventures guide you on horseback across the Verde River as you behold the Four Peaks and the Superstition Mountains.

2. Go (Way) Up

Because if you’re going to ascend a couple thousand feet anywhere, it’s tough to beat sweeping views of the cactus-studded Sonoran Desert and Phoenix Mountains. Book your trip with Rainbow Ryders.

3. Conquer Camelback Mountain

Wake up early and head for Cholla Trail (narrow, scenic) or Echo Canyon (steeper, shorter). Either path will reward you with a 360 degree panorama—and a workout.

4. Hit Downtown

Book the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, where you can settle in with a cocktail from the roof-top Eden Bar and then walk two blocks and order a beef Wellington for two at Wren & Wolf.

5. Find Water

Lake Pleasant Regional Park and its nearly 10,000-acre reservoir sit 45 minutes from downtown. Fish, scuba, Jet Ski, or just soak it all in at one of the lake’s floating restaurants: Scorpion Bay Grill and Dillon’s Bayou.

This article originally appears in the March/April 2024 issue of Men’s Health.

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