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    Wild Bunch Desert Guides

    4.9 (29 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Desert hike tour
    Yukiko A.

    My daughter & I had a great desert hike on Mother's Day. Our guide Jay was very funny and easy to hangout with. Jay taught us about many different cactuses. Back packs, water bottles and some snacked were provided so you just show up with comfortable cloths and a pair of good shoes. Some part of the trail is slippery but over all the trail is pretty mild for anyone. I was pleasantly surprised how open and friendly the fellow hikers ( seems like all locals ) in Arizona ! Wish the very best for this small tour business. We could meet Laurel, the owner after the hike and she was very nice too.

    Tarsha P.

    I had the pleasure of doing a 2 hour beginner hike with Joe as my guide. I can't say enough how exhilarating this experience was. My guide was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, professional and an all around joy to hike with. The owner was extremely sweet and made me feel so comfortable when I booked. I highly recommend this company

    Me, having a grand ol' time on our snack break!
    Bianca S.

    I had the opportunity to take a private mountain biking tour with Wild Bunch Desert Guides in October 2021. Coordinating my tour details was a breeze with Laurel at the helm. I received all of my details with my confirmation in an email with my guide's name, where I would be able to find him and the trailhead location. They did also offer transportation but I was traveling by car, regardless, so I opted to meet him there. The details in the email also went over what the tour included as far as snacks and gear. There were, of course, all of the details regarding Covid-19, health and safety guidelines and cancellation information. On the morning of the tour I arrived 15 minutes early as advised and found Don, my guide, quickly because of Laurel's details. He was amped and excited for the day and the tour. We spoke about my previous mountain biking experience, or lack thereof and what our loose plan was for the day. I had previously notified Laurel that I had minimal experience and would probably fall into the beginner category. Don provided me with a souvenir water bottle, a day pack to hold my personal belongings/items during the tour, a helmet, full finger gloves and a hard tail mountain bike. He had me ride the bike up and down the parking lot access road to make sure it felt comfortable and to familiarize myself with the brakes. I looped around and felt confident with the bike as it was. Don loaded up and lead me down the spur trail. He pointed out trail features and possible obstacles as well as guided me on how to handle them when it came to my body and pedal positions. After the one steep uphill climb we hit the ground "biking" and were cruising around the sandy curves of the park. Along the way Don pointed out natural features, names of rock formations and provided plenty of desert facts, as well as dad jokes. He was so upbeat and happy about the entire area I smiled the entire tour. He was happy with my bike handling and took me on a bit of a more difficult trail as we continued through the park. He'd stop occasionally to capture my photo while riding and even got a couple of videos, too. We parked our bikes and took a break atop a rock formation and he showed me the more difficult trails that climb and hop down the boulders. After our break we hit the trail again, at a faster pace which he had me set. He was encouraging as I was making my way up a slick, pebble-covered climb, I didn't make it up without stopping while I was trying to heed his directions. He asked if I wanted to give it an additional shot, heck yes! He told me how to approach the climb and how much speed I needed to hit the base with, he verbally guided me around the obstacles and cheered as I made it up and over it. We cruised back to the parking lot, Don capturing video of me as we rode. Back at the van we chatted about the great ride and he let me know he considered me almost an intermediate rider :) He was kind, the trip went off without a hitch and the communication pre and post tour was perfect. I was also able to obtain my photos through their website! Overall, there was nothing better I could have expected.

    We had such a blast with our 3 hour private tour!!!!! Best part of the trip to AZ for me. Kim was our guide and she did an incredible job going at a good pace for us and was very knowledgeable about the wildlife. I would absolutely recommend! The owner is also very passionate about her company and you get a very personal experience.

    M J.

    The hubs and I took off for a day of "first time" hiking not knowing what to expect. We met Laurel as our guide for the day and she welcomed us with the biggest smile ever. Listen, she treated our concerns/fears as if they were her own and she went out of her way to make us feel secure and safe while navigating through the complexities of Camelback Mountain. We had a blast! She even took us on an impromptu walking excursion at the end of the hike. Because of Laurel, the owner of the company, hiking is something we look forward to doing again. *sidenote- she has a beautiful and thoughtful way of exchanging authentic communication while climbing that makes you forget you're on a mountain. She's a rockstar! If you've never hiked before or if you're a seasoned hiker that needs a guide, do yourself a favor and book with The Wild Bunch!

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    The guides were great and catered the experience to our abilities and desires. It was a super fun experience for the whole family.

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    Our guide Don was great!!! Not only did he give us a great ride but also some learning about the native plant life in AZ. Thanks Don!!!

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    Ask the Community - Wild Bunch Desert Guides

    Review Highlights - Wild Bunch Desert Guides

    I had previously notified Laurel that I had minimal experience and would probably fall into the beginner category.

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    Adero Canyon Trailhead - Views!

    Adero Canyon Trailhead

    4.4(7 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    How can I not give 5 stars to a trailhead like this? I've only been a few times but my experiences…read morehave been positive. There seems to be a good amount of parking, but since I haven't driven and parked here, I can't comment much on that aspect. However, the bathrooms are great. There is one entry door with a water fountain and water fill up station inside, and a women's and men's restroom on the left and right, respectively. The bathrooms are in good condition though the women's didn't have soap this time - not a problem as I popped into the men's and washed up there. There are a few trails to choose from here and I hike to this trailhead from the Lost Dog trailhead, so it's a bit of a trek. I did the trail that goes to Sunrise Peak and finishes out on Andrew Kinsey. Didn't see too many folks which was good. Nice to have a well-maintained place to stop and take a quick break. Thanks, Fountain Hills!

    Wow! There are so many trail options from this location. But whether you want a short hike or a…read morelong hike, you'll have beautiful views overlooking Fountain Hills. My parents took my husband and I here for a hike, and we were so impressed. After you've already done the major touristy hikes in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, I highly recommend coming out to Fountain Hills. The parking lot looked like it had space for about 30 cars, and there were bathrooms and a shade structure with benches for pre- and après hike. You also get to drive by an impressive Marriott hotel and many beautiful new Toll Brothers homes. Depending on the environmentalist views of your carmates, you might have to listen to a 10-minute lecture about how awful it is that folks are cutting into the mountain to make these homes. But... it's precisely the infrastructure for those homes that make it possible to create beautiful and useful trailheads like these. We loved that this trailhead was not very crowded.

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    Adero Canyon Trailhead
    Adero Canyon Trailhead
    Adero Canyon Trailhead - Picnic area

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    Picnic area

    Rio Salado Pathway

    Rio Salado Pathway

    5.0(3 reviews)
    12.4 mi

    This path is a great stretch that goes through Tempe and along the water. A perfect place to take…read morein a walk, ride or to train for a race. Plus there are places to rent boats along the water. Parking lots can be found along the path as well. Best to enjoy early in the morning to be the heat as there is no shade. The path provides gravel to preserve the needs or cement ground if you prefer. A surface for everyone.

    The Rio Salado Pathway is a 10 mile paved trail that runs along the Salt River in Tempe and Mesa…read more You can see it when driving on the 202 freeway. I have been running on this trail for some time. I really enjoy the views of the surrounding area when I run on it. The trail runs from Tempe Beach Park to Mesa Riverview. Along the way you pass by Sloan Park, ASU campus, Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Marketplace. It is perfect for running, walking, biking, inline or roller skating and dog walking. I usually jump on this pathway at Tempe Marketplace. There is a lot of parking nearby and it is near my home. You can also park at Tempe Town Lake and Mesa Riverview. There you can find restrooms if needed. This is a popular pathway. I always see lots of bike riders and college students running on it. I personally like to run on Rio Salado Pathway at night. You can connect to the Indian Bend Wash Path at the bicycle and pedestrian bridge near the Tempe Center for the Arts if you want to extend your trip. This route will take you into downtown Scottsdale. This pathway is sometimes called the Tempe Town Lake Trail.

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    Rio Salado Pathway - Tempe Town Lake

    Tempe Town Lake

    Rio Salado Pathway
    Rio Salado Pathway - Stadium Connector

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    Stadium Connector

    Ridge Trail

    Ridge Trail

    4.0(1 review)
    14.4 mi

    As a true patron of the Hawes trail system, ridge is a must for each ride. With rocky descents and…read moretough climbing, it brings something to the table for everyone. However, if you're new to the area or just new to mountain biking you may want to steer clear of this trail until you have had a bit of dirt under your tires. At 1.8 miles long, Ridge is one of the most difficult and exhilarating trails that the "Hawes" System has to offer. As most of Hawes is a cross country style of riding, many people decide to venture onto this trail without true knowledge of what they are getting them selves into. The start of Ridge gets into some slight downhill on the edge of the mountain with an open face to your right side. This adrenaline rushed ride can be bombed through, our picked at methodically, as there are many jagged rocks waiting toss you off the edge. While the red rock begins to disappear, the climb to the tip of Ridge Trail begins. At the peak, there are stunning views showing Red Mountain and all of the Salt River area. Personally, I enjoy riding this trail early in the morning or in the evening as the sun hitting the mountain is a stunning sight. However, enough of the scenic talk, back to the trail. As you tires begin to rotate faster you'll find yourself bombing through tight corners and steep rocky descents making your heart rate shoot as if you were climbing a mountain. Although, what goes down must come up. At the end of your wild roller coaster ride you drop into a wash, which turns into a river after large storms, and begin the treacherous climb back to power road. This is were roadies tend to prevail leaving mountain bikers, especially us single speeders, in the dust. If you haven't been out the the Hawes Trail system I would highly suggest a trip. Try to avoid it on Saturday mornings as many hikers seem to favor doing this trail backwards which leads to some awkward encounters as you almost plow through them (not that I have ever experienced one of these moments). Whether you are a seasoned rider trying to test your skills, or a beginner who wishes to improve their technical riding give Ridge trail a try, you'll be happy you did.

    Wild Bunch Desert Guides - hiking - Updated September 2026

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