Arizona

Off of the 89, just north of Flagstaff AZ, there is an unmarked dirt road just before a gas station. It leads out to privately owned land that's open to the public. Some friends and I went out there to get away from our day jobs. As we headed down the road, the land opened up in vast expanses of ...

The free camping in the Coconino (as well as the many other national forests) is generally along the old Fire Roads, and old Forest Service Roads. You can tell if a road is one of these by a brown sign with an FS 123 or any other number, FS meaning Forest Service Road. There are many of these roa...

Getting There About 18 miles south of Flagstaff on the 89A, turn into the Cave Springs parking lot and look for the trail just right of the first bridge. Hike up the chossy hill until you reach a giant sandstone slot canyon in the northwest. Climbing This canyon contained the crags, known as the ...

Start off at Bright Angel Trailhead, then hike down into the Grand Canyon on one of the higher-quality trails. Hiking down to Plateau Point (furthest option) is well worth it. The hike down is a total of 6 miles, with a 3,000 foot drop in elevation. As you can imagine, this means the way back ou...

The Grand Canyon is over 277 miles long and is full of unique geological formations in all sorts of colors. One of the most striking aspects of the Grand Canyon is its immense scale and the dynamic landscapes it has to offer. There's something about it that makes it extremely difficult to fully c...

White Pocket is extremely difficult to access due to the road leading to it. There are sections with very deep, soft sand going uphill! You must have a high clearance 4WD vehicle and air down your tires to have any hope of making it here. Do not take this lightly, a tow bill will cost you a minim...

Starting at Lee's Ferry, you meet with a boat that will back haul you up the river close to Glen Canyon Dam for approximately $150/2 people, plus your gear. There is an overnight parking lot available. The river is swift in some spots where it would be quite challenging to paddle up the river you...

The Superstition Wilderness is a stunning 160,200 acre area outside Apache Junction, AZ, with over 170 miles of (variously maintained) trail networks. There are any number of trips you can design to fit your time and skill level. This adventure offers a three day/ two night backpacking trip cover...

The trail begins just outside of the Grand Canyon village at the Bright Angel Trailhead. The hike begins to descend immediately in continuous switchbacks. The trail can get very icy so shoe traction devices, while not necessary, are very useful. Along the trail there are rest houses at the 1/3 an...

If you’re looking for spacious campsites, starry skies, wooded hiking trails, and peaceful surroundings, Marshall Lake in Flagstaff, AZ is the perfect campground for you! Marshall Lake is located about 9 miles south of Flagstaff on Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road). Turn left (east) on Forest Roa...

When facing The View from the parking lot, Wildcat Trail is off to the left where the campground is located. It's a 3.2 mile, self-guided loop that takes you around the West Mitten Butte. If you're hiking during the summer be sure to go early and bring a lot of water. You're fully exposed on t...

As you travel down Forest Road 116, approximately 200 yards before the trailhead, you will see the remains of the old Thompson Cattle Ranch - hence, Thompson Trail  #629. The trail begins atop an old railroad grade, a reminder of the very successful logging days that went on for many years. The r...

Canyon de Chelly has been inhabited for over 6,000 years by both the Navajo peoples and the Anasazi peoples. The ruins through the walls of the canyon are from the Anasazi people date back to almost 7,000 years ago. Due to the significance and sacred nature of this area, hiking and backpacking wi...

Note: The spot on the map is the beginning of the hike into Cremation Canyon Campground. For the full report on getting there, check out this adventure. Heading out of the campsite at Cremation Canyon, look for hints of a trail where you will scramble up, following other boot prints and cairns t...

Hiking to the Nankoweap Granaries can be done in a few ways but the two most popular routes is by boat along the Colorado River or the unmaintained Nankoweap trail, which is considered by most and the park services the most difficult named trail. Nankoweap Creek drains into the Colorado creating ...

Patagonia Lake State Park is located about 70 miles southeast of Tucson on State Route 82, 7 miles south of Patagonia, Arizona. Coming from the north, the drive to Patagonia Lake State Park is very scenic; the road winds through rolling hills and countryside with the looming Santa Rita Mountains ...