Phoenix: Things To Do

Phoenix’s activity calendar divides sharply by season. From October through April, outdoor activities — hiking, cycling, golf, spring training — dominate. From May through September, outdoor activities are limited to early morning, and the focus shifts to resorts, spa days, and indoor culture. This guide covers both, with entry costs and timing guidance as of 2026.

Hiking

Camelback Mountain — McDonald Drive and Echo Canyon Pkwy. The defining Phoenix hike, and one of the most demanding urban trails in the USA. Two routes:

• Echo Canyon Trail — 1.3 miles each way, 1,280-foot elevation gain. Rated difficult. The upper section requires rock scrambling with fixed handholds. Start at the Echo Canyon parking lot; arrive before 7am on weekends from November through April. Lots fill completely by 8am.
• Cholla Trail — 1.5 miles each way, 1,260-foot elevation gain. Slightly gentler approach, with longer exposed sections near the summit. Starts from the Cholla parking lot on Invergordon Road.

No entry fee. Trails open 6am–7pm. Do not hike after 10am from May through September — the exposed rock surface radiates heat that makes the upper sections genuinely dangerous.

South Mountain Park and Preserve — 10919 S. Central Ave. The largest municipal park in the USA (16,000 acres, 50+ miles of trail). The summit road to Dobbins Lookout is accessible by car (free) for wide views across the metro. Hiking trails include the National Trail (14 miles end-to-end), popular with trail runners, and shorter loops from the Summit parking area. Free entry. Open 5am–7pm.

Piestewa Peak — 2701 E. Squaw Peak Drive, Phoenix Mountain Preserve. A 1.2-mile summit trail (1,190-foot gain) that’s slightly less crowded than Camelback, with good city views. Free; the parking lot opens at 5am and fills quickly on weekends.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve — Gateway Drive, Scottsdale. 30,000 acres of Scottsdale desert with more than 225 miles of maintained trails. The Gateway Loop Trail (4.7 miles) is the most popular entry-level option. Free entry. Visitor center open daily.

Desert Botanical Garden

1201 N. Galvin Pkwy, Papago Park. One of the world’s premier collections of desert plants — 50,000 plants from more than 4,000 species across 140 acres. Entry approximately $25 for adults, $12 for children (3–17) as of 2026. Open daily 8am–8pm; closes at 5pm in summer. The spring wildflower season (late February through April) is the visual peak. The garden runs specialized events including Las Noches de las Luminarias (December weekends, approximately $30) and Chihuly in the Garden (glass art installations, seasonal — check the website).

Scottsdale Old Town

Old Town Scottsdale along Main Street, 5th Avenue, and Marshall Way is a walkable district of galleries, restaurants, and boutiques. The Scottsdale Arts District around Marshall Way concentrates high-end western and contemporary galleries. The Scottsdale Waterfront along the Arizona Canal (south of Camelback on Scottsdale Road) is the bar and restaurant strip. No entry cost; parking is metered in the core area (approximately $1/hour) or free in surface lots one to two blocks out.

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (7374 E. 2nd St) is a small but credible contemporary art museum. Entry approximately $10 for adults; free Thursdays. Open Tuesday–Sunday, noon–5pm (Thursdays until 8pm).

Taliesin West

12621 Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale. Frank Lloyd Wright began building his desert winter home and school here in 1937. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Guided tours are the only way to access the campus. Options:

• Insights Tour (60 minutes) — approximately $30
• Behind the Scenes Tour (90 minutes) — approximately $45
• Architectural Walking Tour (2.5–3 hours) — approximately $65

Book online in advance; the most popular tours sell out. Open daily with tours from approximately 9am through mid-afternoon. The desert landscaping and organic architecture — built from local volcanic rock and redwood — are the main draws.

Heard Museum

2301 N. Central Ave. One of the USA’s most respected museums dedicated to American Indian art and culture. The collection covers Southwest tribes including Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Apache. The “HOME: Native People in the Southwest” exhibition is the permanent anchor. Entry approximately $20 for adults, $10 for children (ages 6–12). Open daily 9:30am–5pm. Allow two to three hours for the full collection.

Phoenix Art Museum

1625 N. Central Ave. The largest art museum in the American Southwest, with a permanent collection of 18,000 objects and regular traveling exhibitions. Entry approximately $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, free for children under 6. First Friday of each month: free entry 6–10pm with food trucks and live music (Fri-iyf event). Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm (Fridays until 9pm).

Spring Training: Cactus League

February through March, 15 MLB teams train at ten stadiums across the Phoenix metro area. The atmosphere is relaxed and fan-friendly — players are accessible before and after games, seats are closer to the field than in regular-season stadiums, and tickets are affordable.

Key venues:

• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Scottsdale) — Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks. One of the best Cactus League facilities. Tickets approximately $12–35.
• Camelback Ranch (Glendale) — Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. Modern facility with a large lawn area. Tickets approximately $14–38.
• Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria) — San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Tickets approximately $10–30.

Check cactusleague.com for the full schedule. Games typically start at 1pm, with some evening games. Advance purchase is recommended for teams with large fan bases (Dodgers, Giants).

Golf

The Phoenix metro has more than 200 golf courses. Scottsdale is the concentration point for destination golf.

• TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) — 17020 N. Hayden Rd. Host of the Waste Management Phoenix Open (January–February, attended by more than 700,000 fans — the largest spectator attendance in professional golf). Public access rates approximately $120–220/round as of 2026.
• Troon North (Monument Course) — 10320 E. Dynamite Blvd, Scottsdale. Rates approximately $100–200/round.
• Papago Golf Course — 5595 E. Moreland St, Phoenix. The best-value public course in the metro, operated by the City of Phoenix. Rates approximately $35–55/round.

Spa Culture

Scottsdale has the highest concentration of spa resorts in the USA after Las Vegas. Most major resorts (The Phoenician, Four Seasons Scottsdale, Miraval Arizona) allow non-guest day spa access, typically with a minimum spend on treatments. The Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia (4949 E. Lincoln Drive) charges approximately $250–400 for half-day packages as of 2026.

Phoenix Zoo

455 N. Galvin Pkwy, Papago Park. A 125-acre zoo with 3,000 animals across 400 species. Entry approximately $26 for adults, $16 for children (ages 3–12). Open daily 9am–5pm (earlier closing in summer). Better for families than for serious wildlife enthusiasts, but a practical option given the proximity to the Desert Botanical Garden.

Day Trips

Sedona — 120 miles north, 1.5–2 hours by car. Red rock hiking, vortex sites, gallery shopping. Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are the most accessible hikes from Highway 179. State Park day-use fees apply at most trailheads (approximately $7–12 per car).

Grand Canyon South Rim — 230 miles north, 3.5 hours by car. An overwhelming single-day turnaround if you push it, but achievable. Entry approximately $35 per car (valid 7 days).

Saguaro National Park — Near Tucson, 130 miles south, 2 hours by car. Entry approximately $25 per car. The best concentration of giant saguaro cacti in the world.