Explore the Little Grand Canyon
If you like canyons, then the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness is for you—the canyon winds its way for 20 miles along Sycamore Creek and cuts across the Mogollon Rim. Often referred to as the Little Grand Canyon, this wonder created by wind and water offers vistas of towering spires and serpentine canyons in a cathedral of solitude.

Raft a Desert River
The headwaters of the 200-mile Verde River can be found just north of the town of Prescott and they boast class II, III, and (sometimes) IV rapids. Cactus cling to canyon walls as willows and tamarisk line the riverbank. Summer in the desert is ridiculously hot, so consider rafting the Verde during the spring. On the other hand, August monsoons lure rafters seeking the whitewater surge brought on by torrential rainfall. You decide.

Pan for Gold
Stop staring at the computer screen. Get out of the office and start panning for gold. Head for Lynx Creek, where you can pan for gold just like the prospectors did in the 1800s, when more than 1,600 prospectors crowded into the Bradshaw Mountains. Besides, you might have have a knack for panning—it's all in the wrist.

Butt Heads with Bullheads
The Verde River offers primo fishing for bullheads, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. Lynx Lake has some sweet trout fishing. And you can reel in crappies, catfish, bluegill, and largemouth bass at numerous water impoundments around the forest.