Crosscut Canal Trail

Papago Park is located right next to the Phoenix Zoo. The park is known for its rock formations and short hiking / running trails. The main attraction, the Hole in the Rock, at the top of the short trail, is a great place to take pictures as it is one of the highest points in the area and it offers great views of the rest of the park. To get there, simply park in the parking lot (if the small ...

Last year I went to Phoenix for a few days for work.  I googled lots of places to shoot pictures around Phoenix, but the majority of them were in neighboring areas, and I only had an hour or two after work and couldn't drive an hour to a better photography spot.  One place that kept coming up was Tempe Town Lake and the Mill Ave Bridge.   I was planning on having dinner in this part of town, so...

This trail begins from the parking lot on the west side of Galvin Parkway. To the east of the parking lot is a single track, dirt trail that heads north towards the big buttes. It continues counterclockwise around the big butte and heads south around the smaller butte. It continues west around the golf course eventually leading back to the parking lot. This is an easy trail for hikers and mount...

This challenging hike up the east side of Camelback Mountain has beautiful views of Phoenix and Scottsdale, and is not often crowded. You will begin on switchbacks heading up the mountain, with trail markers to guide you at first. The hike increases in difficulty about 1 mile in, when you reach the saddle, and you will have to do some scrambling during the last stretch to the top.

5.6 Sport climb, up an 80 foot face, 9 bolts to the top.  This was the first outdoor climb for myself. It opened the doors to getting out of the gym and becoming a part of the local climbing community. I highly recommend it, as it is not too difficult, and can be done with a group of people.  The Approach and Climb Head to the Echo Canyon side of Camelback. Hike up the trail until you get to th...

Park at the Echo Canyon Parking Area.From the trailhead, hike up Echo trail until your reach the saddle.  At the saddle, you will turn south and start taking the climbers trail to the headwall, which is just past the sign that says "caution, active bee area."  Once you reach the headwall, there are multiple, easy options to start with.  There are two class 4 routes and then to the right of thos...