Arizona Outdoor Adventure
Ok so we don’t have real beaches. But sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the sand in your pants and weekend crowds. Those beaches aren’t going anywhere. In fact depending on where you live, they might be fast approaching your hometown! Take a page out of the book of the great adventurers and delve into the heart of the Wild West. Here is a place that many find peace in the solitude of expansive desert landscapes, and beauty in the kaleidoscopic pastel sunsets.
And there are plenty of activities that will get you outdoors! Let’s check out a few.
Climbing up in the alpine on Mount Lemmon in Tucson, AZ.
Rock Climbing. Arizona purportedly has more exposed rock than any other state. Move over Rockies (“I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this!”). Step aside Yosemite (ok, we’re reaching…). But if you want to get truly lost in a sea of rock, there is no better place to start than Southern Arizona.
Climb the enormous pine-shrouded granite domes capping Mount Lemmon, the highest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range. Travel back in time and ascend wild-west-era named climbing routes overlooking the American Frontier town of Tombstone, birthplace of the legend of the shootout at O.K. Corral. Dance your way up the spindly, clay-red spires of Red Rock State Park on your way to a topout overlooking the Mogollon Rim.
Whether you consider yourself a newbie or an experienced pro, Arizona has something to offer.
Pulling across the Tyrolean Traverse on a Springtime canyoneering trip!
Canyoneering. Have you ever rappelled down a waterfall? Is there anyone who doesn’t think that sounds awesome? No oceans, but AZ surprisingly has plenty of H20! Many of the AMG canyon trips cross water features that are present year-round. In between scenic rappels you can spend your time gazing up the steep, incut canyon walls, pondering their water-carved evolution over the millennia, or scanning for local fauna at their watering holes. Ever seen a wild coati? How about a bobcat? Might want to keep your eyes peeled. Our local canyons range from four-hour half-day outings to overnight epics. It gets warm down here- come dunk your head in some snowmelt and get on-rappel!
Hikers in the hills overlooking Tucson, AZ.
Hiking. Hiking is for the purist. The nature lover. For those of us who want to immerse ourselves in expansive natural wonderlands and take it all in. Down here, you can be in the backcountry wilderness in less than an hour from town. During cooler months, take a hike through the pristine woodland preserve of Cochise Stronghold, flanked by the towering granite cliffs of the Dragoon Mountains. These cliffs were once the last refuge of the great Apache Chief, Cochise, and his people. Now the stronghold serves as a preserve for local animal life, and a hideaway for climbers, hikers and nature-lovers of all walks of life.
When the valley begins to heat up, some cooler temps are only a short drive away up the Mount Lemmon highway. Hike a section of the Arizona trail, which stretches 800 miles from the Mexican border to Utah. Or travel to the tippy-top and stroll through the mixed-conifer forest and aspen groves. Don’t forget to stop in the mountaintop town of Summerhaven afterwords for a cookie or slice of pizza! Southern Arizona boasts a hiking season that is nearly year-round (you just need to know where to look!).
Looking for more? We were featured on Redfin’s Things to Do article for new residents of Tucson, AZ. Check out the blog article here!