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Wanted to see if there is a consensus as to the best training hikes in the Phoenix area. When I lived in Idaho, we had 4 peaks located within 45 minutes of town and completing them was known as the "Grand Slam". So in the springtime doing the "Grand Slam" was the perfect preseason way of getting in shape for summer hiking and climbing season. Once you did the peaks once, you may go back and do them with a loaded pack to make them interesting. Each peak generally took 2-6 hours to hike up and back with a minimum gain of 2000 feet. Not a concern here, but they also tended to be south facing peaks and the first in the area to be free of snow.

So if you wanted to get in really good hiking, mountaineering or canyoneering shape what do people suggest as the best hikes within 45 minutes of Phoenix?

Recently strung together the hike up North Mountain and Shaw Butte and thought that it was a great conditioning hike. Anything else that you can hard charge for at least 2+ hours if you want to whip yourself into shape?

there is the Phoenix 7 Summit Challenge which is an annual event by the parks
you could do it anytime, however these real close options fall considerably short of 2k

here are all the 2k hikes within 50 miles of Phoenix

Flatiron is among the best ascents near the valley IMO

Up and over Camelback. That is, up Echo Trail down Cholla Trail and then turn around and go back. You could do this 2 or 3 times in a row.

Up Piestewa, then hit the Circumference Trail, then jog over to 2449.

South Mountain's National Trail would be about 30 miles as an out-and-back.

Quartz Peak Trail in the Estrella range would be a good workout to do twice in a row but its kind of a PIA to get to.

Good suggestions by Joe and Dave. Where in the valley/Phx do you live? There are a lot of trails here. Some closer than others depending on where you live.

I made sure I found a place near Shaw Butte, so I'm beginning to string together all sorts of fun little hikes with lots of vertical that I can do before work. Now that I'm more settled in I have time on the weekends to do a little exploring.

Hopefully that is the Moon Valley side of Shaw Butte, and not the Sunnyslope side of Shaw Butte. Not without body armor and penicillin ... ;)

kingsnake wrote:Hopefully that is the Moon Valley side of Shaw Butte, and not the Sunnyslope side of Shaw Butte. Not without body armor and penicillin ... ;)

It's all good in the 'hood.

I've been hiking and running from the south side of Shaw Butte for years, but have been gone for the past 5 years. It's not as scary as it was 10 years ago, used to see more tweakers, hookers and guys living out of shopping carts back then when I would drive down Peoria to park on 7th Avenue.

But it does seem like Shaw Butte and North Mountain really got "discovered" while I was away. Used to park on 7th Avenue during the week and maybe see 1-2 other cars, on the weekend might see 7-8 cars. Sometimes felt like I had the whole place to myself and half the time never see anyone else on the trail.

I've lived in the 'slope four years and could recite the tales of woe -- homeless guy getting chopped and burned in a barrel behind the cop station, interracial couple shot gunned by neo-nazis, the prostitute I saw in a pinjk dress at 6 a.m. near the VFW while riding my bike -- etc. I live in a decent area, but I'd hate to think what it was like before. Maybe the worst of it immigrated to Maryvale ...

@kingsnake
Nope, not Maryvale. Maryvale is pretty much a ghost town now since the economy took a dump. Everybody left and went back to Mexico...Sunnyslope is still pretty bad, but it almost seems like it's getting slightly cleaner the last year or so. I think most of the problems are still there and as bad, it just doesn't seem to be as "visible" now. Maybe the new PD Station right in the heart of it all has made a slight difference after all.

I was just commenting to a co-worker yesterday about how I actually recognize some of the homeless people ...

@kingsnake
Which begs the question, did they recognize you?

Mcdowell mtn. Wingate pass trail. there's water at Mountain Spring up towards the pass. There's also the Toms Thumb area to do a little climbing/bouldering. So lets see; elevation, climbing, several trails to choose from, not in Sunnyslope, spring water, a little solitude on week days. Good place to whip your self into shape.
:wlift: