With nightly temperatures dipping to a cool 75 degrees, the perfect time to explore the Sonoran Desert during the summer is when the sun sets and the landscape is dark. The desert is a different world at night with many animals coming out to hunt. Or opt to trade in the sights of cacti and rattlesnakes for views of pine trees and deer with a trek at the Grand Canyon – just a few hours away. Discover a whole new environment of lively critters and blooming flowers with these tours that allow you to experience the beauty that Arizona has to offer without the warm temperatures:

• Escape the heat during the day and take a tour as the suns is setting or later during twilight with Desert Wolf Tours to experience the Sonoran Desert that changes after the sun has retreated. Drive your own vehicle equipped with LED lights through rugged terrain and keep your eyes out for rattlesnakes and wolves as you marvel at the nighttime landscape. The unique off-road vehicle sent me flying over boulders with its one-of-a-kind suspension as I navigated through the night, just inches from the desert floor.
• Stellar Adventures takes hikers on a Night Vision Tour complete with night vision goggles that that allow you to experience the desert like it is daytime with a green hue. From coyotes to javelinas, you never know what you will see on this three hour tour. Riding my ATV with the special night vision device made me feel like I was steering through some odd green planet, but the sights of cacti quickly brought me back to reality.
• Learn about the vibrant plants and wildlife with Garden Flashlight Tours at the Desert Botanical Garden. Encounter the night blooming cacti and maybe receive a visit from one of the resident owls or king snakes. Kids and adults alike learn about the area’s flora and fauna through arts and crafts activities and the expertise of the Garden’s knowledgeable guides. But hang on to those flashlights! You never know what you might run into in the dark desert.
• Escape the desert all together and head up to the Grand Canyon for a Grand Traverse hiking tour with Arizona Outback Adventures. You will explore the north rim, south rim and everything in between in this multi-day hike that was selected as one of National Geographic’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime. Discover hidden caves, the cooling waters of the Colorado River and the world famous Phantom Ranch lodging facility.

For more ways to explore the desert, visit www.scottsdalecvb.com/desert-exploration/