Scottsdale Off-Road Jeep Tour: Tonto National Forest Trails

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/12

Duration2h–3h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

The guide drives while you experience the bumpy terrain—no steering required, just the ride itself.

A private guide-led off-road Jeep tour through Tonto National Forest and Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale, where you ride through low-speed, rough desert trails for 2 to 3 hours while learning about Sonoran flora, fauna, and Native American history. The tour uses permitted trails connected to North Scottsdale, which means more trail time than other off-road operators in the area. Children from age 4 are welcome, and bottled water is included; closed-toe shoes are required, and the ride is genuinely bumpy and jarring.

2h–3h

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic off-road Jeep tour in Scottsdale

Explore Tonto National Forest trails
Learn about Sonoran desert flora and fauna
Discover Native American history
Pass by Pinnacle Peak Park summit
See old western town buildings

The Experience

What makes this different from other Scottsdale off-road tours is the trail access itself. Scottsdale Adventure Tours holds a commercial special recreation permit through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management, which connects them to the permitted trails running through Tonto National Forest and North Scottsdale. That permit is why the tour covers more trail time than competitors in the area—the routes are longer because they're built into a larger permitted system. You're not bouncing through a short loop; you're moving through actual backcountry that most operators cannot access.

The Jeep itself is part of the experience. You choose among a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (6 seats, forward-facing), a Jeep YJ (7 seats), or a Jeep Gladiator (14 seats with sideways seating). The guide handles all the driving and route-finding while you sit and absorb the terrain—the low-speed, jarring ride over rocks and washboard is the whole point. Your guide teaches as you go: Sonoran desert plants, wildlife, and the history of the Native Americans who lived here. You'll pass Pinnacle Peak, a 3,169-foot granite summit in North Scottsdale, and see the last standing buildings of an old western town. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours, and bottled water is provided.

The ride is genuinely rough. This is not a smooth desert drive—it's a low-speed, bumpy, jarring passage through uneven terrain. Closed-toe shoes are mandatory. If you have spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, motion sickness, or any condition that could be worsened by rough terrain, this tour is not safe for you. Pregnant individuals cannot participate. You must be able to climb in and out of a lifted Jeep on your own. There is a 275-pound weight limit per seat; call ahead if you need an alternate vehicle. Children from age 4 can ride. From December through February, bring warm clothing. The tour is guide-led only—you will not be driving the Jeep yourself.

What’s included

Bottled water.
guide-led navigation through Tonto National Forest and Pinnacle Peak.
instruction on Sonoran desert flora, fauna, and Native American history.
access to permitted trails connected to North Scottsdale.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Scottsdale Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the roughest desert terrain Scottsdale offers and don't mind being a passenger through it—the guide's permit access means longer trail time than other off-road operators in the area, and the bumpy ride is what makes that terrain accessible. If spinal issues, motion sickness, or cardiovascular concerns are a factor for anyone in your group, choose a different activity instead.