Location
Opportunities for adventure and history in a secluded, peaceful setting
FORT MCDOWELL, Arizona
The Arizona Retreat Center is located in Fort McDowell, Arizona, which is 30 miles from Phoenix
Sky Harbor Airport and 14 miles from Scottsdale. The Arizona Retreat Center is also located within driving distance of other popular Arizona destinations,
including Payson (1 hour), Sedona (2.5 hours), the Grand
Canyon (4 hours), and Lake Powell (4 hours).
The Fort McDowell and surrounding areas offer a variety of opportunities for adventure: hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, tubing, hot air balloon rides, and ATV/off road rentals. In addition, local museums, galleries, shops, golf clubs, and a casino provide endless opportunities for entertainment.
The Arizona Retreat Center is adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, which is the largest national forest in Arizona with more than 2.9 million acres. It is the seventh largest national forest among 154 USDA National Forests. Tonto National Forest features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. Sonoran Desert cacti and flatlands slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim.
Fort McDowell is the home of the Yavapai Nation. The Yavapai have lived and worked in this area for thousands of years, and this land is only a small portion of their ancestral territory. The tribe’s lands still breathe a sense of the Old West, as cattle drives and horses wade across the Verde River to greener pastures.