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Scottsdale Day Hiking Tour 3 hr

TourTruth score 7.8 out of 10

GoodTop 34% in Scottsdale

13 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Scottsdale
  • 3 hrs
  • Updated October 31, 2026

Hike Scottsdale’s Gateway Loop through the Sonoran Desert, with sweeping views, native plants, and chances to spot lizards and birds.

About this tour

Set out on a moderate hike through the Sonoran Desert, where cactus-dotted hills open onto sweeping desert views and city overlooks. This private Scottsdale day hiking tour follows the Gateway Loop into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, offering a rewarding outing for beginning to intermediate hikers and groups with varying abilities.

As you make your way along the trail, take in the desert plants and cacti, watch for lizards and birds, and pause to enjoy the changing views across the landscape. Your guide meets you under the ramada at the trailhead. A day pack, water, and hiking snacks are provided, so you can focus on the scenery and the trail. The hike lasts 180 minutes; transportation to the trailhead is not included.

Choose this Scottsdale day hiking tour for a close-up look at the Sonoran Desert and a refreshing escape into the preserve. Lace up your shoes and enjoy the trail at a moderate pace.

Highlights

  • Hike the moderate Gateway Loop through the Sonoran Desert
  • Admire sweeping desert views and overlooks above the city
  • Spot desert plants, cacti, lizards, and birds

What's included

Included

  • Day pack
  • Water
  • Snacks for your hike

Not included

  • Transportation
  • Gratuities (recommended)

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Meet your guide under the ramada at the trailhead
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Service animals are allowed
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 13 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Scottsdale
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.8. Top 34% in Scottsdale means it ranks in the top 34% of tours in Scottsdale by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Scottsdale

How many tours in Scottsdale have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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