3 Hour Sonoran Desert Private Guided Mountain Bike Tour

Paul was a great instructor! I learned a lot under his guidance. He knows the trails extremely well, gives you just the right advice on how to conquer the trail ahead. He’s very patient, kind, and safety oriented. I highly recommend booking with him if you’re new to mountain biking or looking to explore the McDowells. Had a great time!

This is an absolute must do! You must take this adventure! My son loved it and loved seeing the cactuses. Paul brought the bike, water and helmet. Would recommend it!

Paul delivered an awesome experience. Learned about the environment and picked up some tips for riding too. Highly recommend booking with him.

My wife and I joined Paul for a fantastic desert ride. Paul set a great pace, shared lots of insights about, riding, plants and landscape during the ride. Fantastic experience and tailored to our capabilities. Highly recommend Paul!

Paul is an amazing guide. Regardless of your skill level, he will find something that you can handle and will enjoy. He also has tremendous knowledge about the local flora and fauna, making the ride even more interesting.

Enjoyed a fun morning of trail riding! Paul was an excellent guide. He knows the trails by heart and can tailor your tour to your experience level and preference. Lots of stops to warn you about upcoming maneuvers and just to rest or get a drink of water. I was a little nervous going into the tour, but Paul did a great job of guiding us through the tough parts. Glad we did it had glad we had Paul as our guide!

Paul led an awesome ride with many tips as well as local knowledge and expertise. Great ride in the desert. Highly recommended!!

This was one of the best bike tours we have ever been on. Paul has a great attitude, explains things well and made sure he stuck to our skill level, thus keeping us safe. The trail he took us on was absolutely fantastic with great vistas and scenery. There is no way we could have done this on our own. Paul caters to your party as this is a private tour in which his focus is on you and your group. We highly recommend this mountain bike tour.

Full disclosure: I’m a cycle snob, I teach spin, I ride road and gravel bikes mainly, but the road cycling in Phoenix-Scottsdale made me nervous with all the traffic. I was skeptical of group tours. So I looked up Paul and was totally impressed. He took me on the farther reach trails around the mountains, advised me on certain MTB techniques that I was not familiar with (like pedaling over rock, riding up rock ledges, etc.). And he knew the trails like a the back of his hand, including tricky corners that we’d discuss in advance. When to attack hills, etc. No crashes. Excellent cueing of what’s ahead. And he knew the local botany! So regardless of your ability, he tailors the ride to you. Nice guy. Highly, highly recommend!

I went as a totally inexperienced mountain biker and as a solo female (got into town a day before a retreat and was looking for something adventurous and active in the desert). Paul was the perfect coach. He was great about telling me what to expect and how to navigate harder parts of the trail. I felt totally comfortable on this three hour ride.

I had a great time with Paul on my mountain bike tour. He tailored the ride to my skill level and gave me lots of options. He was a great guide, riding just the right speed. As a woman traveling alone, he felt perfectly safe and gave me the peace of mind of not having to be alone on the trails and not having to do my own route planning. He clearly has an authentic enthusiasm for the desert that was infectious. I would definitely sign up for another bike tour or a hike with Paul!

Paul did an outstanding job of adapting to our skill level and turned the experience into a blast. He prepped us many times on the trail and pointed out interesting landmarks. He communicated well so everyone was able to hear his instructions and he truly wanted to be sure everyone was safe while enjoying nature. Spoiler alert: the second half of the outing was more downhill with exciting twists and turns. Definitely recommend.

Paul was great! Really fun and very knowledgeable about the trail. I would highly recommend this anyone looking to mountain bike. From beginner to expert level, he could tailor the experience as needed. He was fantastic.

We had so much fun! Our instructor did an amazing job at coaching us and giving route options along the way. Definitely would do this again.

Absolutely amazing! Paul is great and explained everything perfectly that we were about to encounter. This was our first time mountain biking and it was a blast!! Paul took time to point out various plants in the area and take pictures of us. I highly recommend!!!!!

3 hour private mtn bike ride guided by Paul was fantastic. Paul led me (52) and my son (14) through the desert trails. Paul was well equipped with everything we needed which was so appreciated as we were in town for a quick visit. Paul was knowledgeable, punctual, well prepared, and adjusted the trip to our skill level as the morning progressed. Highly recommend Paul!

Had an amazing time on a private mountain biking tour with Paul! It was my first time and he was an excellent teacher. He is great at preparing you and coaching you through the different parts of the ride, and making it super fun! He knows the trails backwards and forward, and lets you choose different trails based on your riding preferences. My experience was even better than what I was hoping for and I would highly recommend! 11/10!!!

After 3 great mornings with Paul in 2024, I returned for 4 days in Dec 2025. Once again, the trips with Paul were expertly guided and instructed. The landscape, trails, and weather are great, but it is Paul who seals the deal! Paul is the best biking guide I have experienced (among several in USA and Alps). Foundationally, adventuring with Paul is a great value, and he communicates impeccably at all stages of customizing, arranging, meeting, adjusting, confirming, etc. He is an expert guide. He knows the area and options extremely well. His recommendations regarding routes and difficulty are insightful and reliable. He prioritizes safety and matching rider needs, but his recommendations are thrilling and fun -- always something new around the next corner! His equipment and supplies are top notch. He is great company -- very expert about new mountain biking skills, and also the desert ecosystem, the area's growth, and life in AZ. I look forward to biking with Paul again, and likely to add diverse family members, because Paul has excellent ideas across activities, intensities, ages, and abilities!

Paul is a remarkably good guide. I highly recommend this and would go again. I ride some but he was able to get me through difficult areas.

I booked a private mountain bike tour as a solo female rider, and it was amazing! From the start, Paul made me feel completely comfortable and supported. Safety was clearly a priority, but so was having fun and exploring at my own pace. The trails were perfectly matched to my skill level—challenging enough to feel exciting, but never overwhelming. Paul was patient, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable about both technique and the local terrain. I never once felt out of place or rushed, and I appreciated how empowering the experience felt. Highly recommend this to anyone considering a great MTB adventure—you’ll feel safe, capable, and truly taken care of! 🚵‍♀️✨

What an amazing experience. Our guide, Paul, has amazing trail, plant, and wildlife knowledge that made the ride even better. He was attentive to our skill level kept safety in mind at all times. Challenged us just enough to make it an unforgettable adventure.

Paul was an excellent guide. My husband and I are in moderate shape and Paul was great at checking on us and taking breaks as needed. He's very knowledgeable about the environment and is very enthusiastic! We totally will look Paul up again if we come back.

Paul created a great mountain biking experience for our family this morning! Patient, great instruction & opportunity to ride harder, level up or just cruise as needed. Family of four with one special needs son…. We will be back & ask for Paul H.

Paul (our guide) was absolutely amazing! He was very enthusiastic about the ride and was patient with the new riders. Great experience and would recommend to anyone looking to get out of town and experience a great ride on the trails.

I had a fantastic mountain bike tour; Paul is the man. Me being a mid-range biker, he was super knowledgeable and flexible. Highly recommend

Paul was amazing. The equipment was ready and in great condition. He asked questions about our skill level and we practiced some moves in the parking lot. He checked in with us throughout the ride to make sure we were still enjoying it. He knows a lot about the desert environment and pointed out interesting sites along the way. We were a 55 year old female and 63 year old male in good shape and would absolutely recommend the ride. You can tell that Paul is up to the crazy stuff too if that’s your jam but we had a great time!!

We had a great time mountain biking in the desert! The guide (Paul) provided excellent equipment (bikes, helmets, backpacks, water bottles...) which really made it easy for us to add this excursion to our roadtrip. The route was well planned and made for a great biking experience!

We had so much fun! Paul was very knowledgeable and planned a great outing for us customized based our experience level.

Could not have been better. Expert instructions, beautiful location and a great ride. I highly recommend for anyone new to mountain biking, intermediateor at a expert level. Paul did an excellent job meeting me exactly where my skills were at. I will be back.

We were in Phoenix for a wedding and my husband and attended Paul's AZ Adventure 3-hour mountain bike ride in the Sonoran Desert. Paul knew the trails well and educated us on the various cactus. The silver lining is his company offers MTB bike rentals and acessories. We packed our own helmets and water bladder. We met at 8 am and completed the ride before the temperatures increased. Fun trip with easy technicals. I recommend booking directly with Paul by using his website. Arizona Adventures Guides

This was an amazing experience. Our guide, Paul, could not have been more friendly, knowledgeable, and prepared. He took us on a really fun ride, stopping to learn about key species of cactus, take in and photograph amazing views. His familiarity with the trail system helped us navigate more difficult spots and avoid any issues. It was a hot day and he esnured proper hydration along the way. The bikes were in great shape, and made for one of one most memorable experiences ever. Paul's enthusiasm for riding and the desert was infectious. Sadly, we didn't see any rattlesnakes. We will be booking future tours with him and bringing our family to AZ.

Paul was an excellent guide and knows every nook and cranny of the trail he took me on. I’m a beginner rider and he was very patient with my skill set and offered positive feedback all along the ride. I highly recommend!

This experience exceeded all my expectations! Paul the owner of Arizona Adventures made my 1st mountain bike ride amazing. He did a very thorough job in explaining the ride, setting up the bike, ride safety and trail etiquette. Paul outlined the ride and provided excellent coaching on how to ride the trail. He also stopped frequently to hydrate and check how you were doing physically. He also took time to explain the different cactus varieties. I will definitely book another guided tour with Arizona Adventures. Thanks again Paul for making this a great experience!

Get some exercise and adrenaline while exploring the desert. The guide, Paul, was outstanding, he had all the equipment including sun screen and was very knowledgeable of the area.

Great ride and tour with Paul! He gave lots of information about the plants and wildlife and helpful tips for biking safely and having fun in the area. The ride was beautiful and just the right amount of challenge. Highly recommended. I had so much fun I signed up for two more rides with him!

We had a blast on our desert mountain bike tour! Paul was a fantastic guide, shared fun knowledge about the area and tailored the ride to our preferences. Highly recommend 🌟

Absolutely awesome! Paul let’s you control the pace, routes, how much activity you want to do and points out vegetation, etc…

Absolutely awesome. Paul let me control the pace and gave options on trails. Pointed out vegetation, animals, etcc… Excellent experience!

This was an amazing experience! When I signed up, I was a little bit nervous as I had never mountain biked before, but knew that I wanted to give it a try. Paul gave me a quick lesson of some mountain biking tips, and then we were off! Paul came very prepared with all of the safety equipment and plenty of snacks and water. During the ride, he personalized the trail route to better suit my speed/skill level.While riding, he pointed out cool rocks and cacti and had time to stop for some pictures. After this amazing experience, it makes me want to purchase my own mountain bike haha! 10/10 would recommend, and the next time I am in Arizona I will definitely be back.

I found myself with a half day to spare in Scottsdale. I fancied some fresh air and also an opportunity to take in the unique, Arizona terrain. This Mountain Bike ride hit the bill. Paul, the owner of 'Arizona Adventure Guides' is an amazing guide. I met him (by arrangement) at the Trailhead entry point to the national park. He provides all you need - the quality bike, helmet, water and a small rucksack for spare water and to stash your mobile phone. The next three hours were spent rolling through the network of Park trails, visiting different areas of interest. Paul is very personable and incredibly knowledgable of the local area, the wildlife and the fauna. There was nothing seemingly that he didn't know and I learned a lot. In terms of the physical challenge, Paul tailors the route, distance and level of difficulty to the guest. It was clear that safety is of paramount importance. There were regular track junctions where we paused and Paul described route options. As a result, this trip is a great choice for all, irrespective of cycling ability and fitness. There are options to do shorter trips if needed. I would thoroughly recommend Paul and Arizona Adventure Guides and took a lot from the trip. I know that Paul also does hiking trips, so a good option might be to combine a hike with a bike ride

Paul was an excellent guide. He made sure to give us safety tips up front, teach a few technical skills during the ride and keep it fun. No one in the family had previously done any mountain biking but everyone came away from the experience wanting to do it again.

Amazing experience! I felt safe with our guide on the roads, he have lots of heads up on stops and directions! He was very knowledgeable and really funny! I learned a lot AND had a phenomenal time!!

Paul, the guide and owner, provided an excellent adventure for my son and me. He was well organized, prompt, and the equipment was in good condition. He made sure that our equipment and bikes were all adjusted correctly and led us to the trail. Also, he worked with us on the level of trail difficulty, which made it interesting and fun. It is probably best to have some level of fitness and comfort with riding a bike as the paths can be narrow and sandy at times, but that is half the fun. Paul provided interesting insights regarding the landscape and plants along the way at stopping points, so we also learned a couple of things during the ride. I would engage his services again if we want to go mountain biking or hiking in the area.

Excellent guide, great equipment and a really fun time. Paul has everything you need and is very attentive. He adjusts the ride according to your needs/wants. This ride can be for beginners or experienced riders. Hands down I would do this again. I’m a 52 YO midwesterner who was on a girls trip and wanted to get out and do some biking-perfect morning riding.

Amazing experience in the Arizona Desert! Paul was an amazing guide. We spent hours biking past epic scenery, stunning sunsets, and beautiful mountains. Paul did a fantastic job of keeping the pace going and stopping at interesting places to explain the vegetation, mountains and scenery. It was the highlight of the trip to Scotsdale. So much fun. Amazing time. Do it!! 5 stars.

This was such an awesome biking experience. Paul did a great job of providing some challenge while paying attention to my skill level. I enjoyed his teaching approach and he’s very safety conscious. This stretched me out of my comfort zone in the best way. I absolutely loved this experience. Can’t wait to go again when the cacti are blooming!

Paul is the perfect guide: highly skilled, knowledgeable, articulate and extremely pleasant. The equipment he provides is excellent. He arrived early, in his easy to spot red jeep, set up and wasted no time getting us ready to go. As the more novice rider of our couple, I was made to feel comfortable throughout the cycle, yet my husband still thoroughly enjoyed the educational and exhilarating outing. We highly recommend Paul to guide you through this incredible and vast network of trails. My husband is excited to meet Paul at a different location tomorrow morning for a more challenging outing. We also enjoyed dining at a fun establishment in nearby Cave Creek on Paul’s recommendation. Thanks Paul!

This was a great and memorable experience and Paul was a fantastic guide. We were two couples in our 50s and Paul calibrated quickly to strike the right balance of adventurous but safe. We learned a lot about AZ and took many great photos. Highly recommend this!

We were a group of two friends with different MTB skills but somehow our guide Paul managed to deliver a great experience for both of us. We truly enjoyed our riding and definitively recommend it if you want to have an unforgettable biking experience in the Sonoran Desert. Do not miss it!!