HikeArizona.COM

We will be in Phoenix for the weekend what to go on a couple 3-4 mile moderate difficulty hikes in the early mornings. It will be our first time we will have the opportunity to hike in the Southwest. We hike 5-6 miles each weekend in and around Western and central Pennsylvania.

What would you recomend?

Thanks in advance.

I would do something on South Mountain- maybe Mormon Trail up to Fatmans' Pass and loop through Hidden Valley.
Also, there is plenty of great hiking in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve without resorting to joining the early morning herd up Piestewa Peak.

Don't know if this is too late for you, but the Dreamy Draw area has lots of great trails out of it that all are interconnected some way... you can make your hike as short, or as long, and plug in a good uphill or two if you want.. Good luck and enjoy... just avoid going out in the 1000am-4pm range

clemintine wrote:. . . want to go on a couple 3-4 mile moderate difficulty hikes in the early mornings. It will be our first time we will have the opportunity to hike in the Southwest. We hike 5-6 miles each weekend in and around Western and central Pennsylvania. What would you recomend? . . .

Go to "Hike Indexes" to get to TrailDEX http://hikearizona.com/traildexPRO.php

In TrailDEX, on the left Under the "Division" column go to "Region" and click on the drop down arrow at the right and select Phoenix. For "Sub-Region" click on the drop down arrow and go down to the Sub-Region of Phoenix either near where you are staying or where you are interested.

In the middle under Difficulty go to "Distance". Click on the drop down arrow on the right of the box and select your distance. ("0-4" or "4-9"). You can also select your desired gain.

Then click on the Search Now button

If you selected Phoenix without limiting your distance or gain, you will get a list a approximately 225 hikes. So go back and limit your choices.

If you selected "0-4" miles, 0-1500 gain and did not select a "Sub Region" you will get a list of approximately 75 hikes within a 60(?) mile radius of Phoenix. If you select a Sub-Region for "Phoenix - Central" you will get a list of 13 trails including the ones that other members have mentioned in prior posts.

Five diamonds are the highest rated hikes. You can then read hike descriptions and members comments on the hikes.

One hike that isn't listed because it's not really a "hike", is the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens http://www.dbg.org/

CARRY WATER.

"Enter at your own risk. Carry water. Avoid the noonday sun. Try to ignore the vultures. Pray frequently." Edward Abbey