Things to Do in Phoenix in January

The 1.9 km trail gains 424 meters of elevation and scrambles over exposed red rock with views across the entire Valley. The summit panorama stretches from Four Peaks in the east to the White Tank Mountains in the west. In January, the temperature at the trailhead sits around 12-15°C at sunrise, comfortable for the steep ascent.

Booking tipArrive before 6:30 AM on weekends to find parking at the Echo Canyon trailhead. The lot holds roughly 80 cars and fills fast during peak season.

This 56-hectare garden in Papago Park holds one of the world's largest collections of desert plants, with over 50,000 specimens from arid regions across 5 continents. The Sonoran Desert Loop trail winds through saguaro forests and wildflower beds. If you visit in the first week of January, you might still catch the tail end of the Las Noches de las Luminarias event, when thousands of hand-lit luminaria bags line the garden paths.

Booking tipWeekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Weekday mornings before 10 AM are noticeably quieter.

The 16th hole stadium seats 20,000 fans who treat the par-3 like a rock concert. The surrounding grounds include food vendors, beer gardens, and corporate hospitality tents spread across TPC Scottsdale's 2 courses. Tournament week typically runs 7 days, with practice rounds early in the week building to the weekend rounds.

Booking tipGeneral admission grounds passes sell out well in advance for Saturday. Weekday rounds are considerably less crowded and still offer the full atmosphere.

Phoenix's arts district stretches along Roosevelt Street between 7th Avenue and 16th Street. On the first Friday of each month, galleries open their doors, food trucks line the street, and local musicians set up along the sidewalks. The crowd tends to peak between 7 PM and 9 PM. January's cool evening air, usually around 8-10°C, makes the walk feel more comfortable than the sweltering summer editions.

Booking tipStreet parking fills quickly. The light rail stops at Roosevelt/Central Avenue and puts you right in the middle of the action.

Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum on East Monte Vista Road holds over 40,000 works of American Indian art and cultural artifacts. The permanent collection includes Hopi kachina dolls, Navajo textiles, and Barry Goldwater's extensive collection of kachinas. The museum runs 10 galleries across its main campus.

South Mountain Park covers over 6,400 hectares, making it one of the largest municipal parks in North America. The National Trail runs 23 km across the range, with technical rock sections, desert washes, and views down to the Phoenix skyline. January conditions mean dry, firm trail surfaces and temperatures that let riders push through midday without overheating.

The MIM in north Phoenix houses over 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries. Each exhibit includes video of the instruments being played, with wireless headsets that activate as you approach each display. The 2-floor Experience Gallery lets visitors pick up and play instruments from around the world. It typically takes 3-4 hours to see the full collection.

Sedona sits 185 km north of Phoenix via Interstate 17 and Highway 179. The drive takes about 2 hours and climbs from the desert floor at 330 meters elevation to Sedona's red rock country at 1,300 meters. January temperatures in Sedona run cooler, around 12°C for highs, and you might see light snow dusting the tops of Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock.

Booking tipLeave Phoenix before 8 AM to avoid the construction-related slowdowns that tend to cluster along Highway 179 near the Village of Oak Creek.