Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 12 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour worth booking?
Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour is a 2-hour experience in Scottsdale, United States, from $155 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 12 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (12)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $155 per person
Explore the Sonoran Desert surrounding the Phoenix/Scottsdale metro area and get to know the beautiful and rugged landscape on a half-day Scottsdale mountain bike tour with us. Our guided half-day mountain bike tours
What you get
About this experience
Explore the Sonoran Desert surrounding the Phoenix/Scottsdale metro area and get to know the beautiful and rugged landscape on a half-day Scottsdale mountain bike tour with us. Our guided half-day mountain bike tours take place in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which offers some of the Valley of the Sun’s best mountain biking trails and best views! Whether you’re looking for easy trail riding or expert technical singletrack, our guides know the trails for you. In order to fit you to the correct bike, please provide each rider's pedal preference (flat, or clipless - spd, time Atac, egg beaters, or if bringing your own) AND each rider's mountain biking experience (how often do you all ride, what type of terrain, and where)
What's included
Included
- Professional safety-certified mountain biking guide
- Bottled water
- Mountain bike, helmet, gloves
- Snacks
- Bottled water & snacks
- 1:6 guide to guest ratio
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
What you'll see and do
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Over 2,000 mountain bikers each year choose Cliff Creek Outfitters, Arizona for their all-inclusive guided Scottsdale mountain bike tours! Mountain biking offers a great alternative to hiking in Scottsdale or Phoenix, we provide riders of all levels a a fun invigorating trail experience. Enjoy sweeping 70-mile views of the Sonoran Desert as you wind throughout the trails in the McDowell Mountains on one of our mountain bikes. This adventure will help you sharpen your mountain bike skills and learn about the fascinating plants, animals, and history of the richly diverse Sonoran Desert. You can expect to be with another group on your mountain bike tour unless you have booked a private tour. Following brief safety instructions, your guides will lead you onto trails carefully chosen to suit your skill level and ability. Throughout the course of your guided bike tour your knowledgeable guides will offer helpful biking tips and interesting desert facts.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Scottsdale
Look for your guide at the Pima Dynamite Trailhead 2877 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Look for your guide at the Pima Dynamite Trailhead 2877 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Options you can book
Fall/Spring
8:30am, 1pm Departures
Summer
7:00am Departure: Departs at 7:00am from Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 East Rio Verde Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85262
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 13 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Cliff Creek Outfitters
Know before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- A minimum height of 4 feet is required
- We require solo-travelers to pay the minimum of the 2-person price. If you are a solo traveler and would like to be added on to a pre-formed group for this tour, please mention this upon booking.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 12 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Good for families
4 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Traveler reviews
12 verified traveler reviews for Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Awesome Mountain Bike + Kayak Tour
This experience was awesome! We had Missy and Jenna as our guides for the combo Mountain Bike + Kayaking tour. There were only 2 of us signed up but it was still enough to do the tour. They were so nice, well-prepared, and knowledgeable about the desert, wildlife, ecosystem, etc. They were very responsive on giving us options to fit our comfort level (especially since it was my first time mountain biking). They had snacks for us, lunch was included in the tour, and they did all the work of setting up the bikes, gear, kayaks, etc. We were happy to hear how excited Missy got when she gets to lead the Bike + Kayak tour, it's her fave one. It was an extremely fun day and I would recommend to anyone!
Response from the operator: Julie, thank you so much! Your review means a lot to our team and our small business. We're glad Missy and Jenna were able to make your time in Arizona special. Enjoy the rest of your travels and have some amazing upcoming holidays!
via Tripadvisor
Great Guides, Great Ride, Great Fun
Missy and Jim took my family of six and a fantastic mountain bike tour in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They were fun, very knowledgeable about the area, were able to make it a great experience for all skill and fitness levels of the riders. We will definitely arrange another tour next year when we are back in the Phoenix area.
Response from the operator: Thank you! Missy and Jim are amazing guides. Glad the were able to make your family outing memorable!
via Tripadvisor
Dissapointing experience
I was very disappointed in this tour. I am a mountain biker with 35 years of experience. I am not fast but have good skills. I went with a group of 25 during a company meeting. We had 3 guides between us. We set off at the pace of the fastest. Some of us could not keep up. We were sent back to the van to wait for the others for over two hours. This was disappointing. There should have been a slower group, and we should not have set off up a hill at the pace of the young fit guys. I was doubly disappointed as I have done REI adventures near my home in MA, and they have always been informative and at a perfect level for a mixed group. I was so surprised that I had to double check the company was really REI, but it definitely was as there was an REI logo on the release form. I was hoping to do a private tour with REI on another trip, but I am glad I did not. I do not recommend at all unless young and super fit. I give 2 stars rather than 1 as the bike (a Specialized hard tail) was in good condition.
via Tripadvisor
Great adventure for experienced riders
First of all, our guide was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, experienced, patient and prepared. We were 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 10 and 13.) I had called REI before booking to see if this adventure was suitable for us. We all know how to ride a bike but none of us had been mountain biking before. They assured me as long as we could ride, the tour could be paced to accommodate. Unfortunately this was not the case for my 10 yr old. The mountain bike was much bigger than his road bike at home and he struggled to manage it. With some great coaching from our guide, my son took a few laps around the parking lot to get used to the bike but between the bigger bike and the terrain, he didn’t make it 100 ft on the trail before falling over and onto a cactus. He was not able to complete the adventure. I had to stay behind with him while my husband and older son were able to enjoy this unique experience. This would have been a 5 star rating if 2 of us didn’t have to sit out after paying for 4. (Clearly I couldn’t leave my 10 yr old alone in the parking lot while we biked.) I wish the person I spoke to before booking the experience had been more knowledgeable about the biking experience needed to execute this adventure. I would have booked something else for my younger son and I to do while the others biked. Instead we just drove to Target to kill time. We ended up paying double the price because only 2 of us could complete the ride.
via Viator
Absolutely awesome!
We had an absolutely amazing time! Charles and Whitney, our guides, were so welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. The trails were beautiful, a little bit challenging and just overall so much fun!! Can’t say enough great things about our time!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Scottsdale.
How much does Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour cost?
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Prices start at $155 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Scottsdale usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Scottsdale is not rushed.
Is Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 12 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Scottsdale, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Scottsdale can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Scottsdale and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Sonoran Desert Guided Mountain Bike Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Scottsdale within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Scottsdale?
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Scottsdale pairs polished Old Town food, art and nightlife tours with hard desert adventure: Jeep runs through the Tonto, hot air balloons at dawn, horseback rides and e-bike routes along the greenbelt. Operator permits decide which trails a tour can actually reach, so we look closely at route detail. On Outty we rank every Scottsdale experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Pedal Bar Crawl of Old Town Scottsdale, Sonoran Desert Jeep Tour at Sunset, 8:00AM Desert Off-Road UTV Tour, 2 hours, 2 people per vehicle. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Scottsdale?
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November to April, with dawn departures through the summer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Scottsdale?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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