Hiking among the cacti in the Sonoran Desert makes sense, but kayaking? On my recent trip to the greater Phoenix area, I was able to do both on the same day.

White flowers on top of an arm of a saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Hiking in the Sonoran Desert
Equipped with two bottles of water, SPF 60 sunscreen, and a brimmed hat, I hopped into the truck of Ranger B, who leads tours through the desert, at the Usery Mountain Regional Park’s nature centre (the website has maps with hiking trails that you can download). We headed southeast along the dusty road before getting out and onto the one-mile Merkle loop trail to see some of the wildlife up close. The trail is easy, flat and wheelchair accessible.

Native people have lived in this dehydrated expanse for thousands of years, eating the flowers. “People actually pre-date cacti here,” Ranger B told me, “so people existed here before cactus even showed up. What you see now has developed since the last ice age; we’re talking 10,000 years ago.

“We have a few hundred species of plants that are edible in the Sonoran Desert. The cacti are just one. Much of what you see here is edible, believe it or not, although I know you’re not salivating right now.”

Although it was late in the season, I did see a few white flowers still perched on the arm of a saguaro cactus. Thankfully, I was not attacked by the pesky cholla or “jumping cactus”. They “jump” on fabric and skin and sink their needles in before you can brush them away.

Our guide, John, talks about the Salt River, where we are kayaking, just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Kayaking in the Sonoran Desert
From the thirsty desert, I made my way to the quenching Lower Salt River. A group of us booked a guide from Arizona Outback Adventures and my kayaking partner and I glided into the water in an inflatable kayak. The languid paddle downstream (the rapids and canyons are in the Upper Salt River) left lots of time to drift lazily with the current.

In 40+ degree Celsius heat and mountain range views in all directions, I deserted my kayak for a bit and plunged into the water, my skin mopping up the water like a dishrag. Tickling it as I swam past, there were long reeds growing in the water. These are food for a band of wild horses that live in the area and frequently make their way to the river for a cool respite.

As we neared the spot where we had to veer off and take the kayaks back, three mustangs and a foal came into view, chomping away at the reeds. Two were leg-deep in the river, barely lifting their heads up as we passed, while the other and her foal stayed closer to the bank.

Wild horses graze on reeds by the riverbank as we kayak past. In the Lower Salt River, Arizona.

Their laissez-faire attitude is exactly how I felt. And although most travellers prefer to go to Arizona outside of the hot summer months, I’m happy to wring out my constantly wet west coast self in the peak of the summer heat.

NOTE: This trip was hosted by the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau and Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau.