Arizona

If you live near or around Phoenix, you know that Camelback Mountain is pretty hard to miss. Due to the mountain's height, this hike isn't exactly what you would call easy. There are two sides of the mountain you can hike, Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail. Echo Canyon is shorter, but still an extreme...

Start your hike at the Broken Arrow Trailhead, just .2 miles past the end of Morgan Rd. You will be immediately greeted by Sedona slickrock trails and red rock views for days! Take a minute to sneak a peek at Devil's Dining Room Sinkhole around 0.6 miles in. It has a sign and is just of to the ri...

Quartz Ridge in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve (also known as Trail 8A) is a great escape getaway trail that can be done as a single track or combined with many intersecting trails. It is a very popular trail for hikers, trail runners, pet walkers, sky gawkers and more! The trailhead sits in a sm...

Camping sites are only available in the summer months but the park is explorable year round! Watson Lake is a very unique place, in a state primarily made up of sandstone lies a lake surrounded by uniquely shaped Granite Boulders, excellent for hiking, rock climbing and photographing! Be sure to ...

From the rocks in Papago Park you can see all of Tempe and into Downtown Phoenix. During the summer it is a tremendous vantage point to watch the infamous haboobs (intense dust storm) roll through the valley. If they're at sunset or just before, the color experience is phenomenal. Of course, y...

Sitting on the eastern slope of Mt Elden is a super fun multi-use trail called Fatman's Loop. It's a perfect spot for hiking, trail running, day strolling, or walking the pup. All the while, treating you to glimpses of the eastern suburbs of Flagstaff, beautiful wild flowers, and cool rock format...

This is somewhat of a hidden gem in South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the United States, even though it's right there for all to see. The best way to take advantage of this trail is to attack the ridgeline with an intense hiking pace or trail run, connecting it to the National Tr...

Starting at the trailhead you will begin hiking through oak trees and forest. At numerous times throughout the hike Roosevelt Lake can be seen to the northwest. Approximately 3 miles into your hike you will reach a small campsite in the saddle of the mountain. This is your turnaround point if you...

The infamous “thumb” can be seen from most places in the valley – a white burst of rock jutting skyward out of the desert ridgeline.   The new Tom’s Thumb Trailhead in 2012 has nice restrooms and offers tons of information about the surrounding rock climbing areas, day hikes and desert knowledg...

Pinnacle Peak is a 3.8 mile out-and-back hike along a beautifully groomed trail with a moderate gain of ~1,000ft. This distinctive 600ft granite summit can be seen from most of the surrounding valley and offers spectacular views of the McDowell Mountains, iconic Four Peaks, Granite Mountain and t...

To enter the Catalina State Park costs $7 per vehicle with up to four adults. You then drive to the trailhead parking lot. There will be a restroom and a very small shop there. From the trailhead, you almost immediately crosse Sutherland Wash, which flows seasonally. The first 1.1 miles is relati...

Getting There North of Flagstaff on the 89A, take a left turn directly after a sign for Sunset Crater. This road winds up a well-developed path; when it ends, turn right. After the road banks left, take a right at the next fork and continue on the dirt road up a single lane path until you enter t...

The entrance for the Piestewa Peak area is located at 2701 E. Squaw Peak Drive. The Mojave Picnic Area & Trailhead is the first parking area on the right. This is a very popular trail when the outside temps drop a bit so get there early for sunset hikes to ease parking. The trail begins on t...

The late Fall turned out to be the perfect time to visit the Grand Canyon. You still run into a number of people tripping over rocks with selfie sticks, but we had no trouble finding peace and serenity on distant overlooks and throughout the trails.  We arrived around 4 pm on a Saturday after 21...

Point Imperial is the highest point in the Grand Canyon, lying in the North Rim, at 8800ft and offering incredible views of staggered mountains. The trail itself is relatively easy.  If you're not acclimated to the elevation you'll feel short of breath, but beyond that it mostly takes you through...

Waterholes Canyon is a gorgeous slot canyon located just south of Page, Arizona that empties into Glen Canyon. The Upper Part of the Canyon is an easy, largely non-technical section that is easily accessed from Highway 89 and a clear parking turnoff on the left side of the road if you're heading ...