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The lure of hiking brings visions of beautiful landscapes, the sounds of nature, and the occasional wildlife sighting. But, with Arizona's population growing rapidly, what was once rural has now become urban, and no longer are these attractions limited to some remote location deep in the wilderness. Better yet, many of these trails are simple to find and easy to moderately difficult to tackle. So, for those causal hikers just looking for a little exercise -- not a multi-day adventure -- here are a few easy urban hikes from around the state. Hidden
Valley (South Mountain Regional Park, Phoenix) Enter the National Trail at Buena Vista Lookout as the path gradually declines in a southeasterly direction. Gather the great views of downtown Phoenix and Four Peaks in the distance and continue about a mile to the sign noting the entrance to Hidden Valley. Greeting your entry is Fat Man's Pass, a narrow fissure between two rocks that begs for a slender hiker's attempt to squeeze through. The footing turns to loose rock and sand as you pass through such wind-created wonders as Window Rock and Natural Tunnel. Conclude by jumping back on the National Trail and head back the direction you came. Driving Directions: Enter the park via Central Avenue and continue to the top of the mountain following the signs to Buena Vista Lookout.
Shadowed by the aged volcanic rock of Pass Mountain, ocotillo, barrel, saguaro and palo verde cacti dot the desert landscape from the trailhead. After .1 mile, a gate marks the entrance to the Tonto National Forest where the terrain turns rocky and the assent begins. Manageable switchbacks guide you up the western face of the mountain revealing widespread views of the Valley, and if timed correctly, the hourly flow from the fountain in Fountain Hills to the north. Wind Cave, which is more of a shallow depression in the rock that houses some hanging plants and bees, signals the end of the maintained trail. Driving Directions: From U.S. 60, take the Ellsworth Road exit (which becomes Usery Pass Road) and head north for 6.9 miles. Follow the sign to enter the park at Usery Park Road. Continue about a mile to Wind Cave Drive; turn left and follow to the parking lot.
Random patches of beach-like sand greet your feet for the first mile as the trail follows the eastern border of the Enchantment Resort. Upon crossing a wash at the end of the resort property, a forest of evergreens sprinkled with oak, elm and maple trees mark a change in terrain. As it follows the canyon floor, the slightly inclined path is enveloped by foliage, creating a shaded stroll alongside a dry creek bed. At the 3-mile mark, the trail briefly climbs to its steepest point and concludes by revealing the vast beauty of Boynton Canyon - an area vortex spot. Driving Directions: From the Sedona "Y," head west on 89A for 3.2 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn right (north) and follow until the stop sign at Long Canyon Road (2.9 miles). Go left for another 1.6 miles until the road ends at Boynton Canyon Road. Turn right; trailhead parking is .3 mile down on the right side.
Don't let the trailhead adjacent to the city's wastewater treatment facility deter you; the scenery does improve. This cinder-covered rail trail follows an old Santa Fe Railway route through the countryside northeast of town. Just prior to the 1-mile marker, the path opens to reveal Watson Lake surrounded by rust-colored mounds of granite. After following the mile-long coastline, the trail soon reaches Granite Dells - raised rock formations that are the result of crystallized magma from volcanic activity of years past. A rocky landscape turns to wide-open grasslands for the final 1.5 miles with the conclusion of the trail at the intersection of Highway 89A. Driving Directions: From the interchange between State Routes 69 & 89, follow 89 north for 2.2 miles to Prescott Lakes Parkway. Turn right, continue .2 mile to Sundog Ranch Road and take a left. The trailhead will be on your left. * Much of the surrounding land is private property, so stay on the trail.
This network of soft-surfaced trails connects the residential, urban and recreational areas in and around the city while providing a variety of hiking options. For more of a challenge, access is also available to the Coconino National Forest and its system of pathways via the FUTS. Currently, about 24 miles of the system have been constructed with plans for approximately 60 miles in the years to come. Also in the future, a stretch of the system will act as a linking point to the Arizona Trail, a 790-mile long path traversing the deserts, mountain ranges and wilderness from Mexico to Utah. Driving Directions: Access to the trail system is available from numerous points around the city, but one popular entrance is at Buffalo Park. From Route 66, head north on Humphrey's Street .6 mile to Highway 180 (Fort Valley Road). Continue on 180 .3 mile to Forest Avenue and turn right. After 1.1 miles, you'll come to the entrance to the park on the left. Easy entry is also available from Fort Tuthill Recreation Area. From I-17, take the Pulliam Airport exit (#337, 3 miles south of town) and head west for about a mile to the entrance.
From the Sabino Canyon Visitors Center, either take the hourly shuttle 1.5 miles to the Bear Overlook Picnic Area trailhead or skip the ride and start walking. Shadowed by the walls of Bear Canyon, the trail starts just prior to the first of several intersections with Bear Creek, providing ample opportunity to navigate the exposed rocks when water is flowing. A mix of cacti and other Sonoran vegetation provide occasional shade along the canyon bottom before climbing a short stretch of the canyon's west wall. Just after the 2-mile mark, the path splits with Seven Falls and its cool pools of water visible to the left. Driving
Directions: From I-10, take the Orange Grove Road exit and head east
for 6.7 miles. Turn right on Skyline Drive, which will turn into Sunrise
Drive after about a mile. The road ends after 6.3 miles at Sabino Canyon
Road. Turn left; the park entrance is on the right side.
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