Top Outdoor Adventures in Phoenix

Grab your sunscreen and try one of these popular outdoor adventures that will get you breathing fresh air and enjoying the region in all its glory.

1. See the Grand Canyon

To enjoy some of the nation's most amazing landscapes, book an all-day tour of the Grand Canyon via Sedona and the Navajo Reservation. The scenic drive includes 22 miles through the Sonoran Desert and Oak Creek Canyon.

Next, head up to the San Francisco Mountains around Flagstaff before arriving at the Grand Canyon by lunchtime. After you explore and take pictures of the view, you get a 25-mile driving tour of the rim, followed by a trip into the Navajo Nation. This tour takes you places you've only seen on television.

2. Rappel Down a Mountain

Challenge yourself by hiking up a mountain and then getting down the fast way — by strapping into lines and rappelling your way down. Training and equipment is provided for this extreme Scottsdale experience. You get to enjoy the Sonoran Desert and the well-worth-it views from the top of the mountain while also getting a great workout. A trained and experienced guide helps you along the way. Be sure to take a camera so your friends can capture the moment when you first lean back and head down.

3. Go Rafting Along the Lower Salt River

The Lower Salt River is a class I rafting experience, meaning it's the easiest on an international scale for gauging the difficulty of whitewater rapids. This means a day of leisurely rafting along the Lower Salt River is a great way for beginners to enjoy the wildlife that live in the Southwest. Your guide will show you the skills needed to launch into the river, which is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. So wear your bathing suit and get ready for a fun half-day of rafting. Don't forget sun protection, especially if the famed Phoenix summer heat is at its peak.

4. Get a Clear View of the Constellations

The blazing-hot desert might not be a place you'd like to visit in the middle of the day, but after the sun sets, the darkness of the desert makes for an amazing backdrop to see the bright stars.

This starts with complementary pickup from your hotel in Phoenix, and a Hummer or Chevy Blazer takes you away from the city lights and into the desert. You may see wildlife at night before arriving at your star-viewing spot. You’ll gaze at the stars with a professional astronomer, who can help you use a telescope and scan the skies. Once the adventure comes to an end, you’ll get back to your hotel by 11 p.m., dreaming of distant galaxies.

5. Tour the Apache Trail and Cruise Canyon Lake

Follow the same trail the pioneers followed in their stagecoaches through the Superstition Mountains. This tour combines both the Apache Trail with a cruise along the Dolly Steamboat on Canyon Lake. In between, you visit Goldfield Ghost Town, where miners first struck gold in 1892. After the cruise, you get back on the Apache Trail and have lunch along the way. History buffs and families with kids particularly enjoy following in the footsteps of the nation's pioneering families on this adventure trek.

With year-round sun and plenty of fun things to do, Phoenix is a great destination to explore the great outdoors, especially in winter when the temperatures are mild. Be sure to sign up for Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, which you can use to reserve your next outdoor adventure.