Quick Details
All guests must be under 275lbs
This tour is guided by one of our certified drivers
All guests must wear closed toed shoes
Come see why TripAdvisor named our guide-led Sonoran Desert Jeep tours as Scottsdale’s 2021 #1 ranked outdoor activity. Our professional tour guides are scholars and entertainers who have helped us achieve Viator’s 2020 ‘Badge of Excellence’ for meeting the highest tour operator quality standards.
When you think of the word “desert,” you probably imagine a barren wasteland devoid of any form of life. However, with hundreds of species of plants and animals, the Sonoran Desert is the most bio-diverse desert in North America—teeming with all it has to offer.
On our guide-led Sonoran Desert Jeep tours, you will see and learn about the stunning scenery that you saw in the popular old Western movies stretched out around you in full-color panoramic views.
Where will you be going? We are permitted to operate our off-road vehicle tours in the Sonoran Desert portion of the scenic Tonto National Forest adjacent to the northeast border of Scottsdale, Arizona. Since our tours are entirely on federal lands where development is prohibited, you will have the opportunity to see the desert as local Native Americans experienced it for hundreds of years before the Valley was settled in the late 1800s.
Whether you are here on vacation, a corporate event, for a bachelorette party, or any other occasion, our fleet of open-air vehicles are modified to carry 6, 7, or 14 passengers each. We can accommodate groups of all sizes for any occasion. For groups of 50 guests or more, please call our office.
Check out our guide-led Sonoran Desert Jeep tour options below:
Experience a world-famous Arizona sunset (weather dependent) on our low-speed, bumpy sightseeing tour of the scenic Sonoran Desert via the Tonto National Forest. Your professional tour guide, a certified off-road driver, and the only driver throughout your Jeep tour, will teach you about the Sonoran Desert flora, wildlife, Arizona history, and Native American ethnobotanical practices that helped tribes thrive in the desert for hundreds of years. Your tour guide will take you through stunning scenery on trails that you would otherwise not be able to reach in your rental vehicle.
At sunset, we stop at our panoramic lookout point that overlooks the historic Great Western Trail. Here guests can exit the vehicle and walk around the scenic lookout. Whether you are interested in a couple group photos, or a full Instagram shot with your camera, our tour guides are also great photographers who know where to take the best photos with ideal lighting.
Depending on cloud conditions, the sky typically changes to various shades of pink, red, orange, and purple, all with the backdrop of the stunning Sonoran Desert.
If you would like to reserve the entire off-road vehicle to your group only, book our Private Tour option.
Our 3-hour Jeep tour is a low-speed, bumpy sightseeing tour of the scenic Sonoran Desert via the Tonto National Forest. Your daytime tour will trek through spectacular Jeep trails overseeing the historic Great Western Trail leading to the Verde River, where guests sometimes catch a glimpse of our roaming wild horse population.
Your professional tour guide, who is a certified off-road driver and the only driver throughout the duration of your Jeep tour, will teach about the Sonoran Desert flora, wildlife, Arizona history, and Native American ethnobotany. There will also be plenty of photo opportunities throughout this tour. Since our permitted trails are connected to Scottsdale, this tour guarantees the most trail time at the best price.
Please note that if you book a Public Tour, your group may be scheduled to ride in a vehicle with other passengers. If you would like to guarantee an off-road vehicle for your party only and tour guide, we have Private Tour options available for groups up to 7 and up to 14 persons. Call us to book and for more information. Some restrictions and conditions apply.
Village at Pinnacle Peak
8711 East Pinnacle Peak Road Suite F-108
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(East side of Plaza)
Van transportation is available based on availability.
Closed-toe shoes are required for when we venture out on foot at our designated stopping points. During the fall and winter months, be sure to bring a jacket. Temperatures in the desert drop ~30 degrees after sunset. We recommend wearing comfortable outdoor clothing that will show up well in your photographs (there will be plenty!)
Scottsdale Adventure Tours is a special recreation permit-holder through the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Cave Creek Ranger District and the U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management. Our Scottsdale departure off-road tours occur northwest of Rio Verde, northeast of Scottsdale, west of the Verde River, and southeast of Cave Creek. Our Table Mesa off-road tours occur northwest of New River and southwest of Black Canyon City.
Note: Our open-air off-road vehicles ensure full ventilation throughout our adventure tours.
Health restrictions: Off-road Jeep tours are rough, bumpy rides through rigorous terrain. Our off-road Jeep tours are not suitable for guests with back problems, neck problems, motion sickness, pregnancy, major medical conditions, or any other health condition that can be aggravated by a bumpy ride through rough terrain. Maximum weight per seat: 275 pounds. Call our office at least 24 hours in advance to make special arrangements.