Arizona boasts distinctive, incredible landscapes, and it’s high time to go out exploring when the seasons get cooler. Here are some awesome adventure ideas for the winter in Arizona.
Explore Some Trails
Winter affords the right temperatures to enjoy some inspiring desert hikes. While Dog Trail is one of the few with deep snow, the rest of the trails on our list benefit from unrivaled desert beauty.
- Bear Mountain Trail - 5 Miles
- Dog Trail & Lava Trail - 4 Miles
- Thumb Butte Trail (Toward Wolverton Mountain) - 11 Miles
- Hugh Norris Trail, Saguaro National Park - 8.9 Miles
- Granite Mountain Loop, Scottsdale - 5.1 Miles
- Vulture Peak Trail, Wickenburg - 2 Miles
- Horseshoe Bend Trail - 1.5 Miles
Bear Mountain Trail is the most strenuous on the list, with some boulder-scrambling at the top. This trail is highly exposed to the sun, which makes it perfect for a winter visit in cooler degrees. The snowy Dog Trail gets even snowier along Lava Trail, where you can have some fun cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. For a bit of a longer hike surrounded by snow-capped mountains, take the Thumb Butte Trail toward Wolverton Mountain.
Get Some Winter White Water
There are some epic winter kayaking adventures in Arizona. Hit up plenty of rapids along hundreds of miles that make for excellent multi-day trips.
- Colorado River
- Upper Salt River
- Emerald Cave
The Colorado River runs 227 miles, taking you through the Grand Canyon and other beautiful red rock formations. It has some intense class-four white water stints, making the three-week journey as stimulating as can be. For another long haul, Upper Salt River has lots of rapids to test your skill, interspersed with some reflective moments where you’ll see Arizona wildlife chilling by the shores.
Last on the list, Emerald Cave is short and not as rigorous, but the pure emerald of the river and the 900-foot volcanic cliffs trouncing over awesome narrow passages make this spot too picturesque to pass up. It’s near the Colorado River’s Black Canyon Waterway.
Hit the Slopes
Arizona has two prime ski resorts to hit during the snowy season. Both offer terrain parks and give the option for double-black diamond descents.
- Snowbowl
- Sunrise Ski Park
Snowbowl has three terrain parks for those wanting to catch air and grind rails, while Sunrise Snow Park serves up a half pipe and a freestyle run.
Chill at Some Canyons
Sometimes an awesome adventure needs a reflective epilogue, and there’s no better venue than the iconic Grand Canyon and the lesser-known but equally impressive Antelope Canyon.
- Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon
- Antelope Canyon
The Bright Angel Trail offers opportunities to cross-country ski, snowshoe, or hike, and you can easily get a permit to camp along the way. Antelope Canyon is stunning, but it doesn’t offer as much in the way of adventure. Due to the area’s significance to the Indigenous peoples it’s served for centuries, you’ll need to take a guided tour to see any of the famous four sections, including the Upper Canyon, Lower Canyon, Canyon X, and Secret Canyon.
Wherever your journey takes you this winter, we know you’ll want to take good care of your gear. StorQuest specializes in storage for the avid adventurer, and we have over 20 premium locations in Arizona. Get set up for your next endeavor. Make room for awesome®.