Let’s Get Dirty: Outdoor Adventuring in Arizona
Arizona Outdoor Fun proves to be one of the Southwest’s best kept secret for both locals and tourists
I grew up in the High Desert of California — Apple Valley, to be exact — where riding bikes up dirt mounds, seeing coyote packs on my way to school and chasing sunsets with Joshua Trees in the background was the norm for this 80s baby. While work and family has brought me to big metros like living a fast-paced city life in Washington D.C. and being a part-time beach bum in San Diego, it’s the desert that keeps calling me back.
Now that Arizona is my permanent home, I’ve thrived in taking advantage of all the beauty that this state has to offer. I’ve traversed down south in the serene Catalinas of Tucson and in the high country of Flagstaff’s snow wonderlands, but it wasn’t until recently where I discovered there is a hidden gem that both locals and tourists alike will love just under an hour from Phoenix proper: Arizona Outdoor Fun! We call ourselves “Desert Rats” where I am from and riding bikes and shooting was common, so it’s almost needless to say that I was beyond excited for my adventure day. Shooting a couple rounds on guns (the BIG ones! Bigger than me!), riding a UTV and followed by pie down the street and I can bring along one of my coolest friends? Yes, please! (The pie. Don’t forget there is pie down the street… I’ll let you in on another secret, stay with me here.)
I live very close to Sky Harbor Airport, so tourists who are flying in, take note: you’ll be under an hour’s drive from this area to New River, where Arizona Outdoor Fun is located. It’s quite an easy drive even with light traffic, but do take notice for busy days when people head up north. Arizona Outdoor Fun is not hard to find, just be sure to follow the directions given when you book your adventure day. You can’t miss it if you pay attention to their explicit directions.
As you arrive, you’ll check in and be greeted by the friendly and fun staff (and some good tunes that blare across speakers, a nice addition they added from previous years). Depending on the package you have (think of it like those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books from childhood as there are different options you can select from), you’ll be staged where you need to be, whether you’re shooting first or if you’ll be trekking in an ATV or UTV. My friend Kyle and I were able to shoot first — something I was hesitant to do — but you’ll feel like a pro with the mini-lesson and instructions you get from there knowledgeable staff. Here’s the thing that stood out first and foremost, not just during this visit, but all previous times I’ve been there: SAFETY. I can’t say enough about how safe and sound this area for shooting was, not to mention the great information they passed along. (Donkeys. I won’t spoil it for you if you plan to visit, but… ask them about the donkeys! They aren’t cute little versions of Eeyore).
Once we wrapped up shooting, Kyle and I headed out for our UTV adventure in a guided tour with Rich Perez, one of the team’s Adventure Leads. Tip: pack snacks in a backpack that you can bring with you. They do provide water, but having your own is great, too.
Kyle is a seasoned pro on the wheels, so naturally, he was the driver, but it was a great combination because as one person is driving like Super Mario like in Mario Kart (Kyle in this instance), the passenger can be the photographer/videographer (me… does that make me Princess Peach? Or Toad? I don’t want to be either. Let’s compare this to Mad Max). The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, so you’ll absolutely want to capture pictures, but remember to make memories and enjoy the moment as you’re doing so! You’ll be in awe of Mother Nature’s touch in the desert, so put that camera down every once in awhile to soak in the landscape. Rich took us to a high point where we were able to see an amazing panoramic view — something that still impresses me even though I was raised in the desert and still live in it.
We were scheduled for our combination day to start at 2:00 p.m., which had us on the trails by 3:00 p.m. after shooting, gearing up the UTVs and waiting for the rest of our crew. I highly recommend doing an afternoon tour as you’ll see the sun just almost set as we wrapped up just after 5:00 p.m. It’s a really great way to wrap up a fun day and see the desert background change just a little bit as the sun retires.
Cool things that we saw on this particular visit: You’ll pass by other private adventurers in their own vehicles, splash through some mud if rains visited recently and we even saw a giant tarantula (just like Buzz’s from Home Alone). On other visits, I did see a couple of cows, so perhaps on your own visit you’ll see animals.
With the day coming to a close, we checked out and thanked our awesome tour guides (everyone there is fantastic, but special thanks to Rich for his great attitude and knowledge and hello to Joshua Smith for this wonderful hospitality that day) and already knew I was going to return for more adventures. Having been here a couple of times prior, I can already tell you that each day was fun, but this most recent visit, I have seen great improvements in organization and welcoming, but above all, their continued dedication to making safety their top priority (along with, of course, making sure you have a wonderful time)!
Bit wait, there’s more! Yes, there is more — when you drive in at the start of your arrival, you can’t miss Rock Springs Cafe just up the road from the Arizona Outdoor Fun entrance. THERE IS A CUTE PIE SHOP. With delicious pie. So many different flavors to choose from, so be sure to visit The Pie Box (same location as the cafe).
Aside my excitement for the pie and knowing it’s waiting for me, I’ll definitely be visiting Arizona Outdoor Fun for more adventures! Whether you’re a desert dweller like me or are visiting from elsewhere, you will surely have fun!
Special thanks to:
Arizona Outdoor Fun’s entire staff, including Joshua Smith and Rich Perez
Kyle Estrada for his participation and use of photos
Links: Arizona Outdoor Fun’s Website (where to book) and be sure to check out their Instagram here.
