ATV Tour in the Desert w/ Arizona Outdoor Fun!

The weather had been perfect that day for an ATV tour in the desert. The sun was embracing the Sonoran Desert as if a mother had embraced her child. It was just gentle enough to throw a few clouds in there, helping to prevent a major sunburn.

As the crew and I made our way down the long, dusty road, we glanced out the windows to see occasional groups of cattle grazing. They seemed to be feeding on thistles growing off the cactus. How in the hell do cattle survive in the desert?

Who knew? Quite honestly, I didn’t really care, as I was amped up about this press trip that was lined up with Arizona Outdoor Fun.  

Touring an ATV through the desert meant experiencing the landscape, the area’s history, and, of course, the thrill of bombing down these trails. That’s what I was looking forward to!

Arizona Outdoor Fun — Desert Tour

Inside view of the Indian Ruins.

After effectively getting lost for about half an hour (as I mentioned before, I’m horrible with directions!), we pulled up to the meeting site and jumped out to meet our guides, Jacob and Daniel.  

After completing the necessary liability forms and receiving a swift yet comprehensive briefing on the proper operation of the vehicles during our Arizona ATV adventure tour, we departed from the site. Then, we embarked down the dirt road toward the main trails.

Riding down the trail.

The pace was set at a mild speed until we got used to the machines. Once we figured out how to operate them, we were off! Moving with agility through the grooves in the trail, I felt at one with the terrain. 

We climbed over the mountains, zipping past cacti of many assortments and even passing through a small creek. Exciting stuff!

About 30 minutes into the ATV tour in Arizona, we pulled off to the side of the trail so that everyone could regroup.

Cutting the engines and allowing my heart to stop racing, I listened to Daniel talk. He explained that we were sitting right next to the ruins of an old Indian Tribal Hut built up of several large rocks.

The film crew: Myself, Kile & Kenny.

Climbing into the center of the abandoned ruins, Daniel proceeded to tell us a little of the history. He also shared some facts about the flora and fauna in the area.

I was shocked to learn how knowledgeable our guides were during the ATV tour. Even though I asked many questions, he answered them all flawlessly.

View of the dry Riverbed from the Ruins.

A peek down the hole where they would launch arrows at their enemies.

After hopping around and taking a few more photos of the site, we retreated from our nice little break. Then, we jumped back on the ATVs and made our way down the trail — further into the vast desert. 

The scenery was breathtaking. Full of what seemed to be millions of plants and the occasional animal jetting across the trail in search of shelter from our rampaging machines.

Dead Saguaro Cactus next to the Indian Ruins.

Old mining Ruins.

Passing through some abandoned coal mine locations on our ATV tour in Arizona, we marveled at the switchbacks carved into the land, leading to numerous entrances into the mountain. It felt like stepping back in time to the days when the ‘good ole boys’ were mining these hills. 

As we drove up a particularly rugged and steep portion, we came to a stop at the top.

Deserted Coal mine.

Receiving a history lesson from our guide, we hiked about 25 yards toward the mouth of one of the mines. During our ATV tour in Arizona, as we peered down into the depths and trodden carefully, he recounted how the miners once braved the harsh environment to make a living in this rugged terrain. I’m not going to lie, the facts of living back in the day were pretty intense.

Compared to the modern accommodations we are all so used to, these guys lived off the land and with bare essentials. It must have been extremely rough to be in those shoes.

Numerous individuals called this very spot home, toiled tirelessly, and ultimately met their fate. After further exploration, we returned to our ATVs, setting our course homeward on our Arizona ATV tour.

Posing with our guides Jacob & Daniel at Arizona Outdoor Fun.

The ride back was pretty much one straight shot that went by twice as fast as it had taken us to get out there. I enjoyed my time there and talking to the owner, I couldn’t have asked for better guides on our excursion. They had the perfect combination of both fun and educational.

Unforgettable Adventure

If there was one last thing I could tell you about them, it’s this — I have been on many excursions and trips around the world, but these two, Jacob & Daniel, provided the best tour I’ve had in years. There really isn’t a better ATV Tour of the desert to embark on than this one.

How about you? Have you ever been on an Arizona ATV desert tour? Share your experience with us here at Active Planet Travels — we would love to hear from you!