1-2 Hour Sonoran Desert Private Guided Hiking Tour

Paul was a great guide. He came prepared with water, energy snacks, sunscreen & a backpack if you needed it. He went at our pace & check in at different points along the hike route to make sure we were good. His knowledge of the plants, animals & overall ecosystem was vast and educational. He also gave us information about the overall area and things to do while we’re in town. We would definitely recommend him.

Paul was an incredible hiking guide for our private guided hike through the trails. He recommended that we start earlier than our originally scheduled 8:00 AM time due to the Arizona heat, so we took his advice and started at 7:00 AM—which ended up being a great decision! Paul came prepared with good-sized water bottles in convenient slings for each of us, which was especially appreciated in the heat. The hike itself was beautiful and enjoyable, and Paul was very knowledgeable about the local cacti, wildlife, and surrounding landscape. He shared lots of interesting information throughout the hike, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I would highly recommend Paul to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, thoughtful, and personable hiking guide. We had a great experience and would definitely book a tour with him again!

Paul is the absolute best! He is knowledgeable and loves what he does! 10 out of 10 recommend. We plan to book him again in the fall.

My 75-year-old sister, Char, and I went on the hike and finished the whole loop with a fantastic guide, Paul H. He was very pleasant and knowledgeable, so we thoroughly enjoyed the hike in beautiful 70F weather. Many of the cacti were still blooming. The crested saguaro near the end of the hike was especially impressive. We highly recommend Paul. Thanks, Erma

Paul was thee best guide. Very knowledgeable on everything! I learned about a whole different eco system. The trees, tree diseases, bees, the meanest cactus! lol I highly recommend. The mountains and boulders are beautiful. We even got a brief pickleball lesson

Paul's the man. Great hike, great knowledge, very enjoyable!

What an awesome experience! Paul was a fantastic guide for our hike at the Pima Dynamite trailhead. Not only was he informative of the local plants and wildlife, but he was very safety first! Ensuring that we had water breaks and overall just very aware of his surroundings! Highly recommend this experience and if you’re lucky enough to have him as a guide, you’ll have a great experience!

Nice hike with lots of beautiful scenery. Paul is a great guide who is knowledgeable about the area.

Paul was absolutely amazing! He made sure we had everything we needed to be prepared for the hike, navigate the trails, and checked on us regularly, all while sharing all his knowledge about the trails. We learned so much and had the best time! I will definitely be reaching out to him again next time I’m back in Scottsdale. The trails were stunning! He was also great to talk to and gave us great recommendations of things to do around the area.

had a hike with Paul today and it was wonderful! Paul is a wealth of knowledge on the area and the ecosystem. It was an absolute pleasure hiking with him. I felt extremely safe and he would make sure you step to the side to avoid bikers. He also checked for snakes when I wanted pictures in certain areas. Thank you Paul!

Paul was great Very personable, prepared and knowledgeable! The weather was perfect for December. Not too hot!

Paul led us on a great hike on the Pima Dynamite trailhead. He went at our pace, made sure we had enought to drink and energy to keep going. Learned a lot about the desert, various cacti, and the local wildlife. Paul gave us a lot of chances to take shorter paths if we were no up to continue. We ended up going the entire way and even though we were both exhausted when we made it back, we were glad we continued and got to see the crested saguaro cactus.

Paul was an amazing guide! If I could give him 100 stars I would. He was well prepared, literally had everything we needed & he was so informative! Thank you Paul💕

Myself and my two long time friends did a hike at Pima Dynamit with Paul. He was a great guide, explained a lot of the plants and animals. We really enjoyed this guided hike as Paul was very informative and answered all our questions. Def recommend!

Very nice experience Paul was excellent very professional and engaging as well as very informative and conscientious even recommending a nice lunch stop. Would highly recommend

Paul is the best hiking guide in the state. His knowledge of the area, the terrain, the plants, the animals and the history is unparalleled. His optimism and enthusiasm for life is inspiring and motivating. Do not pass up an opportunity to hike or bike with Paul at Arizona Adventure Guides!

From now on every-time i visit i will book with Paul. He is not only excellent, but also knowledgeable at what he does. I learned some much from our Hike!! Whatever you do make sure you don’t forget to book with Paul. :)

Nice discovery walk of flora and some fauna of the Arizona deserts. Very well explained and guided by pleasant and knowledgeable Paul, who also can provide a mountain bike tour in the same area. The park is nice, but quite flat ( not a challenging hike if you are expecting some kind of intensity or altitude gain), close to the city and to some electrical lines. The park is home to some crested saguaro - a rare species - worthwhile discovering. Sunset was beautiful to watch through the trees, cacti and the mountains

We had a great time on our hike with Paul. He was well prepared with everything we needed to stay healthy and hydrated:). He was passionate and knowledgeable about the trail, the various cacti, and critters of the area. Beautiful landscape with a great guide!

Breton & I took a private guided hiking tour through Jewel of the Creek. We did a little over 2 miles. Scenery was beautiful & Paul from Arizona Aventure Guides was a wonderful tour guide!

Great trip, Paul knew everything about the land including history species of plants and different trails. He was even nice enough to bring drinks for us and snacks if we wanted any. Absolutely recommend if you’re going on a guided hike 10/10 awesome dude. If you are just coming to visit family or visiting for vacation you have to go a trip with Paul he’s the best.

Paul is an absolutely phenomenal guide. Informative, fun to talk to, and passionate about the outdoors. The trail is beautiful and the views are breathtaking. I went on my birthday and it was the best kick off to my day. Thanks again, Paul!

The hike was great, Paul is a marvelous your guide, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We recommend him with the highest marks.

Gorgeous hike with some lush, green trees and foliage being fed by the beautiful underground aquifer! Paul did an awesome job guiding us, taking great pics and explaining the ecosystem there!

Paul was excellent. He was very knowledgeable about all the plants and wildlife. Very familiar with the whole area. He tailored the hike to our ability. It was a beautiful hike!

Paul was the perfect guide - so knowledgeable, kind and flexible on where and how long to hike. We learned so much and were so glad we booked a guided tour.

The hike was in a great area but we felt we could have pretty much done a little research and saved $350.

My husband and I had a memorable and enjoyable hike. Paul was professional. Day before, he texted to confirm with us. On the hike he often checked on how we were doing. We hiked the entire 2 hours. Paul was friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend to those who enjoy the outdoors and want to see Creek Cave AZ wirh a guide!

Paul was a fantastic guide on this beautiful hike! We enjoyed every beautiful view while learning a bit about the vegetation and history of the area. Highly recommend!

Memories of a lifetime!! We had such a great time in addition to learning so much about Arizona plant and animal life!! We would highly recommend this tour!!

My husband and I booked a tour with Paul and were very happy we did! We realized we had an afternoon open and called Paul to ask if he could accommodate us the following day and he made it work. He met us at Jewel of the Creek and it was absolutely stunning. Paul was pleasant, knowledgeable and very professional. He taught about the desert with real appreciation and we learned so much from him. He also provided water, sunscreen and offered snacks. During the hike, Paul suggested different levels of trails to take, depending on our comfort and energy levels. I would highly recommend this hiking tour with Paul. He would accommodate for all ages and skill levels and it is a cool and fun experience!!!!

Paul took our family (with 2 teenage boys) for a 2 hr hike through Jewel of the Creek. Paul made it interested and fun for the boys with descriptions of the flora and fauna of the area. Great way to spend an afternoon! Highly recommend the experience!

Our guide, Paul, was excellent. He had a lot of information to share about the beautiful wilderness area we explored. He provided everything. This was our first time to do a private tour like this and we loved it. Side benefit is it made me want to do this again! We tried to pack a lot of activities in our short stay near Sedona. I'm so glad this was part of the itinerary. It was a real highlight. I especially appreciated how much Paul genuinely loves what he is doing.

My mom and I enjoyed this lovely, flexible, gorgeous hike with Paul as our guide. I’m sharing her review below which sums up our experience perfectly. “I am not used to booking a private tour with an unknown guide, but this was a wonderful experience. Our guide answered lots of questions ahead of time, and the meeting place and directions were easy to follow. Before we started out, Paul offered us water bottles and recommended sunscreen, but we already had our own daypacks, water and sunscreen. But that was a nice touch for people who might not have those things handy. We were reminded to drink water throughout the hike, which was especially important for us since we had just arrived from sea level and weren’t quite acclimated to the altitude and dry air. But the weather was perfect for us that February day. We hiked the trails in the Jewel of the Creek and it was spectacular hiking. There were lots of trail options, and with Paul’s guidance, we chose the ones that met our interests and skill levels. We were two hikers, mother and daughter, with different levels of fitness, but the hike met our hiking abilities and exceeded our expectations. Initially we hiked down towards the aquifer that runs through verdant trees and cool shaded pathways. From there we added a trail or two and took our time when necessary. Then Paul took us on a trail up to a striking petroglyph and amazing 360 degree views. All along Paul pointed out things of interest and responded to all our questions. As for having a private guide, I am so glad we found Paul and this particular magical place, the Jewel of the Creek. I would recommend Paul and his private guided hikes to any and everyone. Thank you Paul. --the mom”

Paul is wonderful! A few friends and I did this tour and it was a highlight of our trip. Paul’s passion for the area is contagious. We highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of this area and learn a lot along the way.

Paul was a great guide who knew all the plants and history of the area. Would totally recommend. Lovely walk and easy hike through a well planned trail

Great hike! I loved learning about the different kinds of cactus. My kids and hubby played golf today and I wanted to hike…but not alone in an unfamiliar area. So, I signed up for this tour and really enjoyed it.

Paul was nothing short of a great pleasure to hike with. He is very knowledgeable of the area and inspired us to return to see the Jewel of the Creek in its various states of glory at other times of the year! We can't wait! He provides everything you might need to enjoy the hike and we lucked out with a picture perfect day in the 80's with a great breeze. Paul also has great ideas for other area things to do, places to see or places to dine. This tour was definitely a highlight of our trip.

Paul was a knowledgeable and attentive guide who took his time to explain the area scenery, history, plants and animals. Never felt rushed. We thought we had the entire hike to ourselves! Highly recommended for anyone wanting to see spectacular Arizona countryside.

Being new to the area, I booked a guided tour with Arizona Adventure Guides. My plane flight was delayed, so I had to rebook the desert hike. Paul was very flexible with rescheduling, which was a relief. The scenery was beautiful. Paul was knowledgeable about the area and also made sure water, Gatorade and snacks were provided. It was a nice leisurely walk. I'd definitely recommend this tour to anyone.

Beautiful hike that gives you the desert and greenery all in one! Paul is a great guide that takes care of this guests (you pretty much just need to show up and he will have everything you need!) and he obviously loves the environment. You will only be disappointed if you come to the Phoenix area and don’t take this your :)

We enjoyed our guided bike tour so much with Paul it was an easy decision too ask him to take us on his Jewel of the Creek private hiking tour just 2 days later... We had a blast, was beautiful, and a great outdoor hiking experience! Must do! Thanks Paul!

Jewel of the Creek Private Tour is THE hike to take if you are in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. The views are absolutely breathtaking….from the creek, to the cacti, to the trees, to the mountains….this hike has it all. And Paul….the BEST!! We have booked through Viator during multiple vacations (US and international) and Paul is the most knowledgable, friendly, and attentive guide we have ever had! We especially appreciated the ability to individualize our experience. This tour, with Paul, is a MUST!

I travel quite a bit. This is THE TOUR to chose. Your OWN group with Paul, knowledge, prepared and helped this flat lander on the very small inclines. Learned about all the wildlife, botanical, history and cacti Thanks!!!!

Paul is a fantastic guide! He brought everything we might have needed, from sunscreen, to water, to day packs. Paul is very knowledgeable about the hiking site, and is able to tailor the hike according to capabilities, from beginner to expert. I am a novice, and the two hours flew by. I'm so glad that my son and I booked Paul rather than go on our own. Even the drive to the hiking site was awesome!

Paul was an excellent guide. His knowledge of the trail and local plants made the 2 hr hike go really fast. Next time I plan on scaling a mountain since he made this experience so enjoyable.

John is a terrific guide. The trail he took us on was incredible. He knows all about the land. His love and knowledge of the different types of cacti made the trip fun and informative.

Paul is incredibly knowledgeable and nice. He gave us plenty of opportunities to decide if we wanted something more scenic, more strenuous, etc and really tailored the experience to us. He made it so fun and found the most beautiful scenery, it was our best hike on the trip.

Paul was awesome!! Great communication, friendly, and knowledgeable. He will meet your adventure to your skill levels. Thanks for an awesome day, Paul!!