Your workout hike?

[Jim]

I feel like some trail chat.

What is your favorite workout hike, or what are the best ones for where you live?

Right now, I feel like I have not really got a good workout hike, but that can change. I may do laps on the Linda Vista Trail. Kimball is too long for that, I think. Elden for Flagstaff, nothing or Black Mesa for Kayenta, and the A trail for Alamogordo were the previous big excercise hikes, and then Pusch was great last year. Seems like the valley has many options, and of course, opinions vary.

[SpiderLegs]

I have made it a point to make sure that any place I live has to be no further than 10 minutes away from a trailhead. You have to have your priorities in place.

[chumley]

@SpiderLegs
Live somewhere based on priorities? Huh.

[The_Eagle]

Live somewhere based on priorities? Huh.

How far of a bike ride are you away from Four Peaks?
(Not the Maricopa County HP)

[chumley]

@The Eagle
That's 2.37.

I tend to do more bouldering during the week though. That comes in at 2.76. One way.

[chumley]

Speaking of workouts, that is one thing that the bike riders here on HAZ have going for them. You can always start your bike ride at your front door, pretty much regardless of where you live.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

Out my front door. The .5 road walk has approx. 400' gain to the trailhead.

[SpiderLegs]

Speaking of workouts, that is one thing that the bike riders here on HAZ have going for them. You can always start your bike ride at your front door, pretty much regardless of where you live.

When I used to race bikes it was great because my folks lived 2 miles from the base of Mt Lemmon. Roll out of the driveway and start climbing in less than 10 minutes.

[whereveriroam]

How far do people drive to their workout hikes? 15 to 20 minutes? Less? Walk to it? What about more, like 30 minutes, 45, an hour, 1 hour and 15 minutes?

In the cooler months about 10 minutes for me to get to Mining Camp. In the warmer months it takes me just a little over an hour to get to Six Shooter outside of Globe and about the same to reach Mt. Ord on the way to Payson.

[Jim]

I was somehow pretty lucky when I had them, as Elden, Pusch and Finger Rock TH are or were 20 minutes away, Ortega/A Trail and Goat Springs were 10 minutes, and if I was willing to deal with the issues, Black Mesa was a hike I did from my front door. It was cross country over flat land, but still.

[CannondaleKid]

You can always start your bike ride at your front door, pretty much regardless of where you live.

After two close-calls biking (even on wide streets, the most appropriate phrase would now be
I wouldn't be caught dead riding on the street!

1. Knocked down from behind by a car cutting across into a turn lane at the last moment, only to do a rolling right turn on red in front of an oncoming car and have to burn rubber to get out of the way. All I got was a bent wheel to show for it.
2. A car driving by broke the mirror off the end of my handlebar... and kept right on going!

And so when my Cannondale mountain bike was stolen shortly after #2, I traded my road bike for the replacement mountain bike and that was that.

[SpiderLegs]

After two close-calls biking (even on wide streets, the most appropriate phrase would now be
I wouldn't be caught dead riding on the street!

1. Knocked down from behind by a car cutting across into a turn lane at the last moment, only to do a rolling right turn on red in front of an oncoming car and have to burn rubber to get out of the way. All I got was a bent wheel to show for it.
2. A car driving by broke the mirror off the end of my handlebar... and kept right on going!

And so when my Cannondale mountain bike was stolen shortly after #2, I traded my road bike for the replacement mountain bike and that was that.

I used to race road bikes and had no fear. But after a couple of really close calls while riding in very bike-friendly Boise ID I just sold my road bike. Ever since texting and smart phones came along, it's been pretty dicey to ride on a lot of roads. So got into hiking and trail running instead. Now all I need to worry about are snakes, killer bees and tripping over my own feet.

[rcorfman]

How far do people drive to their workout hikes? 15 to 20 minutes? Less? Walk to it? What about more, like 30 minutes, 45, an hour, 1 hour and 15 minutes?

Normally I walk from front door (well, actually my back door or garage door ) and am on the dirt in about seven and a half minutes.

[mdfabbrini]

I live 10 minutes from Sabino Canyon. Depending on how much time I have, I like doing a little loop up Sabino Canyon Road to the Esperero Trail to Rattlesnake Canyon, crossing Sabino Canyon Road, down past the dam, then Bear Canyon Trail to the visitor center. Blackett's Ridge or Phone Line also. Up Phone Line to Phone Line Link, then down to the road is another great loop.

[AZLumberjack]

My favorite workout hike would be Peralta TH to Fremont or on out to the Pinon Tree on the point. I do this as often as I can and check my ascent time to the Saddle..... usually just over an hour. Love the views along the way but too often it's crowded and messes up my time.

The trailhead is just 15 miles from my house in Apache Junction so it's just a quick shot unless the road's been neglected.

[Sun_Ray]

I know it's crowded but mine is Pinnacle Peak. With all the people... I checkout what shoes they wearing or just checkout the Scottsdale ladies! I've done it almost 200 times since the first time in August of 2005. It's easy for me to monitor the shape I'm in by time and heart rate. I've met a lot of folks I can say hi to.

[garyc57]

South Mountain - Pima Canyon trail head. Get there early and avoid the crowds! As I've said before, there's a huge variety of trails to choose from - easy to hard. I guess that's why I like it so much!

[xthine]

30 minute drive to Bear Mountain trail here in town, short and steep (ish) hike, and a 10 minute drive to Cathedral Rock trail, if I want Cathedral Rock to be a work out hike I do laps (and run down). I don't do Bear when I know temps are going to be above 80, can't do laps on Cathedral when it's that hot either. North Wilson is also a favorite one, at times the trail could be overgrown, cooler temps than Bear or Cathedral. When we move to Flag, Elden Lookout Trail will be the workout hike.

[imike]

Tucson... hard to beat Finger Rock trail for single or laps... and if a more scenic day desired... head up Pima Canyon and follow the ridge around to Bear Canyon? Alamogordo... "A" Trail for laps (I find myself back to doing that again as we head into 2018... hoping to x3 on Ortega Peak first of year?)... or for a fun long day: Alamo Peak, on or off trail, depending on the kind of workout you want: 5,000' up/down. May be getting too old to expect great results from hard training?

[sajor75]

@SpiderLegs
do you know any trails that are not so crowded, now that the weather is nice everyone and their grandma is a hiker lol. A couple days ago i hiked the alta and bajada trail making a loop using the national trail, it was awsome not a soul to be seen. I normally hike and run on weekdays .

[Hippy]

Depends on which rim I'm living on...
When I'm on the north rim I can walk or job Widforss in 2-3 hours or Supai Tunnel and back on north Kaibab.

South rim I enjoy gallivanting through the forest along the AZT or some of the "locals only" trails out there. Taking the toroweap slope out to the orphan mine is a quick 2hr jaunt and if done fast enough is a full body workout...