Five Recreational Day Trips in the Phoenix Area

The Phoenix metropolitan area is loaded with recreational opportunities for travelers. And if you're looking to get out of the city for a short trip, southern Arizona offers plenty of possibilities.

Here are five ideas for a day trip from the Phoenix area:

Head up to Sedona

Sedona, Arizona is about 115 miles north of downtown Phoenix. The area, known as "Red Rock Country," is popular for its scenery, which includes amazing rock formations - spires and canyons - that appear to have been painted by an artist, with varying shades of red and brown covering the rocky landscape, which is dotted with the bright green of trees. It's about a two-hour drive from Phoenix to Sedona, but if you leave early enough in the morning, a day trip is possible, and the sightseeing alone is worth it. You'll also find opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, and a downtown area that features shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Drive down to Tucson

Tucson is 116 miles south of Phoenix, a relatively straight shot down Interstate 10 that typically takes less than two hours to drive. The Tucson area offers a handful of opportunities, including the Saguaro National Park, which is home to rare giant saguaro cacti and includes two districts in Tucson - the East District in the Rincon Mountains and the West District in the Tucson Mountains. Each district offers several places to park and observe the cacti for free, as well as hiking trails. On the south end of town, on North Kinney Road, you'll also find the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is part zoo, part history museum and part botanical garden. Expect to pay $12 to $15 for adult admission to the museum, and about $3 to $5 for children between ages 6 and 12 (prices are as of January, 2011). In the same general area, on South Kinney Road, is Old Tucson Studios, a filming location for a number of Hollywood movies and TV shows. Old Tucson offers live shows, stunts, saloons, trail rides, shops and restaurants. Admission, as of January, 2011, is $10.95 for children ages 4 to 11, $16.95 for adults and kids over age 12, and free for children 3 and under.

Tube the Salt River

Floating down the Salt River on inner tubes is a popular pastime in the Phoenix area, particularly during the hot summer months. The river runs for about 14 miles, from Saguaro Lake down to Granite Reef Dam. Saguaro Lake is roughly 40 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix, most of which is highway driving on Route 87. The river has several landing spots for tubers, so you can float anywhere from a half-hour to 2.5 hours, depending on how far you want to go. Salt River Tubing and Recreation offers tube rentals and shuttle rides from the landing spot back to your vehicle. The company offers guided trips, as well, and prices vary depending on which package you choose and the time of year. Salt River Tubing typically opens for business in May each year, remains open until the weather gets too cold for water activities and is busiest on weekends and holidays, so call ahead for reservations if you're hoping to go floating during the busy time.

Travel to Four Peaks

Four peaks is about 63 miles northeast of Phoenix, but much of the latter part of the drive is on tight mountain roads, so plan on 90 minutes or so to get there. Four Peaks is home to one of Arizona's largest amethyst mines, which is located on private property. However, the area is a popular spot for hiking enthusiasts. The Four Peaks Wilderness - which is part of the Tonto National Forest - offers more than 40 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty levels. The trail system includes a route that passes by the entrance to the Four Peaks amethyst mine, but trespassing is not allowed. You won't need permits to park or hike in Four Peaks, but it's a good idea to get a trail map (you can find one here) before you head out, and make sure to pack plenty of water, as the dry desert air can prove difficult for hiking at elevation.

Visit Nearby Lakes

Apache Lake is located about 60 miles west of Phoenix off Highway 88, and Theodore Roosevelt Lake is roughly another 20 miles northeast of there. Apache offers opportunities for boating and fishing, with a boat ramp and docks, and game fish that include walleye, bass, sunfish, blugill, catfish and crappie. Roosevelt is Arizona's largest lake, with 112 miles of shoreline and 22,000 acres of surface water. The lake offers chances for boating - including water skiing - and fishing, and boat rentals are available at Roosevelt Lake Marina, which also has a boat ramp and docks.

Sources:
About Sedona, Sedona Chamber of Commerce
Saguaro National Park, National Park Service
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Old Tucson Studios
Four Peaks Wilderness, FountainHillsGuide.com
Apache Lake, ArizonaGuide.com
Roosevelt Lake Marina
Lower Salt River Recreation Area, DeLange.org