Arizona Hiking Trips and Outdoor Adventures - Arizona Climbing and Adventure School - Hike and Explore the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Superstitions, Mt. Humphrey and more...

We offer an array of exhilarating trip activities in many of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness areas of the Southwest.

We take you to wild places, to quiet the urban noise, to feel humbled by the stunning remoteness, to suppress the distractions of contemporary life, to draw inspiration from breathtaking natural beauty.

Expect your hike to be dramatic, exciting, educational and fun, but be prepared for it to be even more. Your Arizona Hiking Adventure is still ahead of you. The itinerary has yet to be finalized; you and the uncontrollable forces of nature are about to write the story.

There are few experiences like descending a remote trail leading to hidden petroglyph walls in the Grand Canyon, or ascending a steep snow slope to the summit of Mount Humphreys with an elevation of 12,633 feet, or hiking though seemingly untouched desert in Saguaro National Park. The rewards that come with these adventures make the challenges of an Arizona Hiking Adventure worthwhile. With over 20 years of experience, Arizona Hiking Adventure's has long been a pioneer of wilderness education and exploration of the Southwest.

So be ready for anything. Get personally invested. Get excited. Get ready for one of the truly great outdoor experiences in Arizona!

We hope you look forward to being with us as much as we look forward to having you!

Mt. Humphreys Hike
(Spring, Summer, Fall only)
Trip Rating: Challenging

Grand Canyon Petroglyph Hike
(Spring, Fall only)
Trip Rating: Challenging

Sedona Cosmic
"Spirits in the Stone" Hikes
(Winter, Spring, Fall only)
Trip Rating: Moderate

We also have custom hiking packages available - let us know where you want to go!

Designated hikes include pickup from hotel or resort in Scottsdale or Phoenix, and come complete with lunch and dinner.

"But love of the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need - if only we had eyes to see."- Ed Abbey

Our instructors are all active climbers, hikers, kayakers and backpackers.
Our staff are among the best in the Southwest.
They become full instructors after one year of rigorous training, testing and field work during which they learn ACAS's safety procedures, curriculum, process, technical standards, interpersonal/educational methods, and low impact backcountry techniques.

The majority are former instructors or graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and/or Outward Bound School! Their years of climbing and teaching have made them unequalled in safety and experience. Climbing and wilderness adventures are more than our business, it's our way of life!

Articles featuring the Arizona Climbing and Adventure School have appeared in The Arizona Republic newspaper, Alaska Airlines Magazine, National Geographic Adventure Magazine, Sonoran News, Frontdoors magazine, and AAA Highroads magazine. FOX network television (Channel 10 - Phoenix) and CBS KPHO televison (Channel 5 - Phoenix) have also done feature stories on us!

**Level of Difficulty**
We rate each of our trips as "Easy", "Moderate", "Challenging" and "Strenuous" based on the level of physical ability and prerequisite skills required. This rating system is designed to help you decide which trip is most appropriate. Some trips may be a combination of different activity levels. In these cases we do our best to approximate the general difficulty level for the entire trip. Our trip ratings are subjective and relative to fluctuating environmental conditions as well.
	easy	moderate	challenging	strenuous
description	most days involve fairly easy travel and easy activity, if required at all.	these trips combine a moderate level of activities for both "off the beaten track" and basecamp exploration	these trips are physically challenging and usually set in remote and rugged wilderness regions. challenging terrain encountered.	these trips involve strenuous activity in remote and rugged terrain and encounters with wildlife, loose footing, rough seas, extreme weather, etc.
activities and weather	day hikes, 4wd, flat-water kayaking, average weather conditions	trekking. sea kayaking, white water rafting, camping, single pitch rock climbing, moderate weather conditions	backpacking (light loads under 35 pounds), sea kayaking, multi-pitch rock climbing, cold or hot weather conditions	backpacking (heavy loads over 35 pounds), sea kayaking, multi-pitch rock climbing
experience required	no experience required	some experience required	previous experience often recommended	previous experience strongly recommended and sometimes required
fitness required	good	very good	excellent	excellent
activity per day	4 - 6 hours	6 - 8 hours	6 - 10 hours	8 - 12 hours
highest altitude	5,000 feet	6,500 feet	9,000 feet	13,000 feet

	Arizona Climbing and Adventure School is a unique opportunity for individuals to experience the spirit, courage and exploration of the West. It is an initiation into the unexpected, a chance to accomplish something very exciting and to discover strengths you never knew you had. Additionally, the Arizona Climbing and Adventure School provides education in wilderness skills and working effectively with others. It is a well known fact that a wilderness experience can effect one person so deeply that it profoundly alters his or her view of self and reality to the positive, changing a person's life for months and sometimes years after the experience. .. The skills you must learn in order to safely and ecologically negotiate the terrain, climate and altitude in which our courses are offered may include: • safety skills for travel through rigorous terrain. • physical fitness • competence with map and compass, gps, route selection, navigation. • basic first aid so that every student can handle reasonable emergencies and recognizes and aid in treating illness related to altitude, hypothermia, fatigue. • rescue preparedness • water purification, hygiene and sanitation • environmental stewardship and Leave No Trace techniques. • safety from storms and lightning.

To sign up for a Hiking Adventure call or email us to check availability. If a course is open click on the On-line Application Form or go to our application and map (meeting point) site, print out both the Application (PDF), Map and Waiver. Fill out the application and fax or mail it to us (don't fax the waiver, just bring it the day of your course).

Note: September thru May Hiking Adventure's start at 8:00 a.m. at the designated pick-up point. Call us the day before your course starts to verify. .

course cancellations
While it is unlikely, if the Arizona Climbing and Adventure School cancels a course due to insufficient reservations or conditions beyond our control (weather, etc.); alternate dates or refunds will be given as preferred. If you cancel within 14 days prior to your session, rescheduling your course can be expected. There are no refunds on gift certificates. If you fail to show at the designated meeting place at the appointed time you will be charged for the course - there are no exceptions. If you would like to reschedule within 48-hours of the course's starting date, you may do so. To receive a full monetary refund (minus a 20% handling fee), 14 days notice is required (expect a refund within 2 billing cycles or 60-days of your course date). You may also want to purchase travel insurance due to cancellations – click here for more information.

liability
Although we spare no effort to assure a safe program, we can assume no responsibility for your safety or loss of personal equipment. In a sport of this nature an element of risk is inherent and beyond human control. A signed release (waiver) will be required of all participants. A parent or guardian release is required for students under the age of 18. These can be obtained in advance by contacting our office or downloading from our website.