The Top 10 Free Things to do in Phoenix
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The beautiful Sonoran Desert surrounds the Phoenix metro and offers an amazing assortment of free recreational activities. While most tourists and snowbirds escape to the desert each winter to shop, play golf, and relax at luxury resorts, the real highlight of visiting this desert oasis is taking time to explore all the beautiful Saguaro cacti, mountain ranges, and hiking trails. While residing in nearby Flagstaff, I spent a lot of winter weekends here enjoying hikes and various attractions. As the city is a quick 2 hour drive south, it’s easy to escape the snow and cold via an easy daytrip.
Spending all of your vacation shopping, dining out, and engaging in expensive activities can really add up. In a city surrounded by such natural beauty, it is easy to save some money by enjoying the great outdoors. This is actually what I love most about this metro. Shopping is not the prime activity here like most tourists imagine – it’s actually the wonderful & easy access to nature.
In my guide, I will feature what I believe are the best freebies. Keep in mind that most of these activities are outdoor based, and thus, it is best to plan your visit during the cooler fall and winter season. Note that heat exhaustion is common and too much time outdoors in the harsh summer sun (when temps frequently soar past 110) is definitely not recommended (check out my guide to alternative activities when it’s too hot).
1. Hike Camelback Mountain
The most iconic hike in the city involves a challenging climb up to the summit of Camelback Mountain, the highest point in the city at 2704 feet. You will find 2 pathways to the top, both extremely strenuous. The Cholla and Echo Trail are both about 1.5 miles long, with the Cholla considered the easier of the 2.
Note that both treks require a very intense heart pumping climb (1200-1300 feet in elevation gain) which involves some maneuvering up rocks. Lets just say that you will get in a fabulous workout. After all your effort, you will be treated to some amazing views of the surrounding mountains. Do not attempt this hike during the spring and summer season!
Camelback Mountain fastest climbers – Check out these amazing times! What an accomplishment!
2. Drive up South Mountain
South Mountain is an incredible urban oasis that is free to the public. It is one of the country’s largest urban recreational areas with more than 50 miles of trails available for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The nice thing is that there are trails here for everyone, from the novice hiker to the avid mountain biker seeking challenging terrain.
The views are gorgeous and you will get to see many exotic cacti no matter which trail you choose. The highlight here is the beautiful drive up to the summit – a great activity no matter the weather outside. The drive is just over 5 miles and ends at the incredible vista point pictured above. It’s also a great way for non hikers to enjoy the views too! If you are new to the area, I recommend a great short trail called the Kiwanis.
3. Enjoy a unique viewpoint at Hole in the Rock
Hole in the Rock is a short (20 min), yet interesting hike located at Papago Park. Just looking at my pic above, you can see where the name came from. It’s really cool to climb up and peak out of the hole and enjoy all the greenery, palm trees, and mountain views from afar.
The views are incredible, particularly at sunset. For the history buffs out there, this rock holds a bit of historical significance. The Hohokam Tribes used the hole to mark the summer and winter solstice. There is some info you can read when you arrive.
If you are up for spending a few bucks, definitely take a look at the Phoenix Zoo, one of my personal favorites. I love the landscaping here and there are a lot of great exhibits including a unique squirrel monkey.
4. Take a bike ride along the Scottsdale Greenbelt
The Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt is an 11 mile long fitness oasis which travels through the heart of Scottsdale. If you are seeking a scenic place to enjoy a long workout, this is my top recommend choice. The distance is perfect for any type of lengthy exercise. We usually bike here, but it’s also a great place to jog, skate, or walk.
Best of all, the path is so green with so many trees, lakes, and golf courses along the route. It’s so green in fact that you may forget that you are in the desert, thus easily making it the most picturesque spot for any type of workout activity.
5. Explore desert plant life at Scottsdale McDowell Preserve
This underused Scottsdale gem is easily one of the best places to hike in the state. There are so many gorgeous trails to explore that you could hike here forever and never get bored. You will find 200+ miles of diverse trails to explore within this massive 35,000 acre outdoor lover’s paradise, known as “the people’s preserve.”
Along with being a great place to explore native cacti and desert plant life, it is also a bird and wildlife watching hotspot (bobcats and javelina make frequent appearances). Out of all the fantastic hiking destinations in this city, I would say this is probably my favorite due to the secluded location and diversity of cacti. I recommend new visitors start with the Gateway Loop, a short trek with fabulous views of the mountains and cacti.
6. Drive the Apache Trail Scenic Drive
For all those seeking something to do that doesn’t involve a grueling workout in the hot desert, a scenic drive is your next best bet to enjoy the scenery. I prefer hiking but recently took a visiting relative who doesn’t hike on The Apache Scenic drive.
This road twists and curves for over 30 miles through the gorgeous Superstition mountains. It’s a scary drive with lots of really scary turns and you have to be careful as there are many blind spots. That being said, we were all amazed by the views.
There are many interesting detours you can take to make this a half day activity including: several ghost towns (Goldfield offers gold mine tours and old western gunfight shows) and 3 gorgeous lakes. Canyon, Saguaro, and Apache Lake are all truly gems in the dry desert. If you feel like splurging a bit, I highly recommend the Desert Belle cruise around Saguaro Lake – it’s one of my favorite non-hiking attractions in this area.
7. Challenge yourself to the Pinnacle Peak climb
Most tourists visit Scottsdale to enjoy the abundance of high end malls and restaurants. While the shopping is great, I would rather hit the trails. One of my favorite hikes in the entire city is Pinnacle Peak. It’s hard, but the scenery is unmatched.
A 2 mile long intense hike will lead you to the summit, which at 2889 feet, offers some outstanding views of Scottsdale’s greenery, mansions, and beautiful surrounding mountains. To enjoy, the scenery you will pay for it will an elevation climb of more than a 1000 feet. After your hike, I recommend treating yourself to a gelato at Frost (best ice cream in the Valley!).
8. Take a stroll around Old Town Scottsdale
This walkable downtown is a fun touristy place to walk around. Here you will find a number of local restaurants (for great Mexican food, try The Mission, Cien Agaves, or Barrio Queen), bars, galleries, and museums. I like all the fun photo opps and shopping for Native American trinkets (I found the most gorgeous blanket here).
The cowboy western theme is pretty fun and there is interesting architecture all around. While you are in the area, I recommend stopping by Cartel (one of the metro’s best roasters) for a quality cup of joe. Free events take place year-round and include art walks, farmer’s markets, and live music so be sure to check the website to see what is going on during your trip.
9. Challenge yourself to an invigorating climb up Piestewa Peak
Piestewa is one of the hardest hikes in the city, competing with Camelback both in terms of difficulty and beauty. Although this hike is very scenic, the trek to the summit is very hard. It’s like climbing up a Stairmaster for hours on end. The trail is only over a mile each way, yet will take several hours due to the difficulty. Many hikers turn around due to the shear cardio required to complete this beast.
At the top, a 360 degree view of the city awaits. For anyone up for a challenge, Piestewa is one of the most rewarding and well regarded hikes in the state. As an avid fitness buff, even I had a very difficult time hiking this trail – it is no easy feat and much more difficult than Camelback in my honest opinion. On a side note, I really see some dedicated fitness buffs on this one. My first time hiking here, I was having a difficult time and I asked a very old man “how much longer is it?” And he goes, “If I can do it, I am sure you can.” I give him props as this is a really hard trail. It did motivate me to continue on though so thanks for that!
10. Stroll around Desert Ridge Marketplace
This metro offers no shortage of malls – too many in fact in my opinion. The outdoor malls are really extravagant, particularly Desert Ridge Marketplace. Not only will you find a great mix of stores here, but you will also find popular chain restaurants, plus a Dave and Busters and AMC theater (lots of ways to beat the heat!). We walk around here sometimes at night after the harsh sun goes down, but it’s still hot at night during the heat of summer.
Even if you are not looking to spend a lot of cash, the mall holds a number of free events throughout the year – from yoga, to concerts, to art installations.
Cheap things to do include enjoying a cup of coffee at local roaster Cartel, cooling down with a smoothie at Nekter, and grabbing a slice of pizza at Slices. One of the best times to visit is during Christmas – all month long you can enjoy nightly snowfall and other free holiday festivities.
More free fun in the Valley!
Free museum days – Check out this handy list of free museum days. Also Bank of America cardmembers get into The Heard Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum the first full weekend of each month as part of Museums on Us. I love this promotion – I use it all the time at home and while traveling!
Farmer’s markets – Strolling around a farmer’s market is a great way to sample new local treats and products. For just a few bucks, you can pick up fresh produce, enjoy a local cup of joe, shop for local goods, and much more.
Art Walks – Downtown is home to one of the largest self guided art walk where you can browse through over 70 galleries and take in some local culture. Also, many other smaller cities around the metro host free art walks.
Usery Mountain – Fantastic hiking area in Mesa where you can enjoy a diverse range of trails plus see the famous Phoenix air marker sign on the mountain. I recommend starting with the short, yet sweet Merkle trail. Note that there is a small parking fee.
Tempe Town Lake – Great place for a scenic stroll or jog.
