I had a chance to get out of the city and headed north-east, about 20 miles, to the McDowell Mountains. The highest peak in the McDowell’s is 4069 feet. This mountain range serves as a scared marker to the Yavapai people.

My visit was to Fort McDowell Adventures. The property is set in the Sonoran Desert on the east side of the Verde River on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. It offers trail rides, wagon rides, cattle drives and even cookouts.