HikeArizona.COM

Now that the weather is warming up, I'm pulling out my maps and trail guides for northern Arizona. I live close to I-17 in north central Phoenix and can be in Flagstaff, Prescott and Sedona in anywhere from 90-120 minutes. Do not have a truck, so looking for stuff that I can drive my sedan to.

My question is how to start routing my trips. Should I hit the Prescott area first, work my way over to Sedona and save Flagstaff hikes for the hottest part of the summer? Started my short list of stuff I want to hit, Granite Peak, Wilson Mountain, Humphrey's Summit, Fremont and Kendrick Peak. Anything else that I should add?

Doyle, Sitgreaves, Bill Williams, perhaps?

Sedona is hotter than Prescott at least at the bottom of the mesas... would think those first before Prescott.. There are lots of higher elevation stuff around Prescott too...And a few trails in Sedona that start lower and go to a higher elevation.

Don't forget the Slate/Red Mountain combo. O'Leary combo with Walnut Canyon is another good one but we did that on a Fri afternoon/Saturday. There's lots to do up there. The Kachina Trail is a nice one too. I do the Groom Creek Loop outside of Prescott for exercise. Will have to hit a couple of those in August to prepare for a possible trip down Old BA and up N Kaibab (fortunately not all in one day ).

Below the Rim, Along the Rim and the White Mtns, been doing four day trips every three weeks, bike tour, mtn. bike camping, cabin, popup and tent. So far the weather has not been ideal on my trips this year.

The weather seems odd this Spring. I was in Tucson last week, and for early May, it seemed cool and windy. Super dusty and hazy the first 3 of the 4 days I was there, and it was chilly up on Mt Lemmon, compared to what I expected. It was hotter in mid-March while there, than last week.

To the OP: I would do stuff > 7,000 in June when dry, and start going lower when the monsoon arrives so as to stay dry. Do the Peak before the monsoon, too, unless OK with getting wet and cold, and possibly pelted by hail, and/ or really want to see some wildflowers, which can be very nice in late July and August.

My old peak bagging partner from Idaho is trying to figure out a place that's half way between Phoenix & Boise to meet up for a climb. If I can swing it, looks like I might do a lost weekend in Ely NV then go up Wheeler and Jeff Davis peaks.