Arizona hiking

[Peakbagr]

Roy,

I've been out there ins winter, Spring, Summers, many,many time.
Even during the August monsoon the most I saw was some sprinkles a coupld of days.
I'm sure you can catch a stretch of bad weather anytime.
They do warn you to stay out of the washes with rain approaching. Every year drivers try to beat a trickle of water rising over low spots in the roads and those trickles turn to cars being swept away in torrents.

Kevin, not sure which base it is, but one of them has an air museum. We got a tour and got to touch a mothballed SR-71 and walk underneath it. What a monster. MUCH bigger than they look in comparison to what they look like when you used to see them in the movies or TV. Looks like its going mach 5 even sitting there and the engine nacelles are giagantic.

 

[RoySwkr]

Tucson area EZ 2K peaks recommended by a friend and not previously
mentioned, I didn't do any:
Wasson - trails up from west or north.
Keystone - easy hike up gated road from east. Lots of cow pies.
Table top - good trail from SW
Ord - walk up dirt road. This is a near drive up in summer.

Audrey - If either of you are old airplane buffs, the military has a huge boneyard for old planes at Davis-Monthan AFB. I have no idea whether the public is permitted on the base, but know that lots of those planes are visible from outside the fence.

You can take a bus tour from the air museum on weekdays

I found my museum notes still online in case you have rainy weather or wear yourself out, also went to RR museum downtown but don't have website. Prices are of course last winter's.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park 520-647-7275
http://www.colossalcave.com/welcome.html
entry $5, cave $8.50 each, camping in picnic area

Pima Air and Space Museum (520) 574-0462 or www.pimaair.org
Aviation museum $10, airplane boneyard bus tour M-F $6

Titan missile $9.50
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/

ASARCO mine exit 80 Tue-Sat 520-625-7513
http://www.asarco.com/AMDC/home.html
$ 8.00 Adults $ 6.00 Seniors (62+ years)

http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/
Fort Lowell museum, 2900 N. Craycroft Road $3/$2
Tucson Main Museum Arizona Historical Society (520) 628 - 5774 $4/$5
Downtown Museum Seniors 60+ years $2.00 Adults $3.00

Arizona state museum (anthropology)
http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/ $3

The Amerind Foundation
Adults $5.00 Seniors (60 and up) $4.00
http://www.amerind.org/

 

[blacklab2020]

Picacho peak is a fun climb with ladders and a nearby ostrich Ranch...

My first year out there we went 279 consecutive days without rain... the last three had occaisonal days of rain all day dropping at least 2 inches.

 

[mtnbound]

Does anyone have suggestions for hiking/other activites in the Flagstaff area or Phoenix? I'm going on a rafting trip in the Lower Canyon in July and will have a couple of days free after the trip before we fly home.

Thanks!

 

[Rob S]

A lot of great hiking in Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon, about 30 to 45 minutes south of Flagstaff. Just google "hiking in Sedona" and you'll find tons of information.

The only hike I've done near Phoenix was South Mountain, which has a road going to the summit (lots of radio towers on top). Good views of Phoenix and the surrounding areas. Camelback Mountain, also in Phoenix, looks like a lot of fun too. Actually, Camelback might be considered part of Scottsdale ...... I don't remember. Plenty of good hikes there too.

 

[audrey]

Mtnbound,
If it's hot in Flagstaff in July, it will be even hotter down in the Sedona canyons. You may want try for Mt. Humphreys if that's the case.
The only Sedona hike I've done is the North Wilson Trail, highly recommended.

 

[Trainwreck]

Phoenix is brutal in July, though we hiked up Squaw Peak (right in downtown)in August, we left at sunrise, and still overheated.
Sedona is more reasonable, heat wise. Interesting hikes to be had everywhere(we enjoyed hiking to the vortices, which are areas of 'energy').

For forest hiking, try Prescott. One of my favorite places. Cool in summer(but can get crowded because everyone escapes the heat in the valley) Prescott is between PHX and Sedona, a bit west, but worth it.

Really cool hike near PHX bu at an elevation that is actually cool: The 4peaks Wilderness. Interesting hike to a mountain that is a landmark for miles. Pine forest on the way up. Bears, coyotes and Elk abound. Good fun, and the closest large mountains to PHX. On your way in look out the airplane window, you will see a massive mountain with four very distinct peaks.

While you are in PHX, if you are interested in aquatic diversion, raft the Salt River. Sweet fun, bring your own cooler, and get a tube for it. Awesome cool way to get through the searing heat.
Sandy

 

[mtnbound]

thanks to all for the suggestions. Lots of time to think about our options but it seems like they'll primarily be driven by the weather/heat conditions when we're out there.

 

[Amicus]

Phoenix - Camelback Mtn.

On three business trips to Phoenix where I've had limited time for hiking, I've enjoyed the striking ridge trails along Camelback Mountain, which may actually be in Scottsdale but can't be more than 30 minutes from the Airport. It is very popular, including with hard-core trail-runners (there are some really scrambly bits), but the views are terrific and it's fairly short. Total exposure, though, so plan accordingly.

 

[coldfeet]

Going to Arizona this weekend

I remembered this post a few weeks ago and rechecked it....I'm going there this weekend...my sister is taking me to Sedona and do to knee problems I'm hiking a little and taking the pink jeep tour....will see Montezuma's Castle, Superstition Mtn and Camelback Mtn....I know my knees are hurting but I'll try as best as I can....it's a short trip...Friday - Sunday and catching the red eye back to school Monday morning....

Audrey, I'm taking that class mascot with me like i did in Maine for the winter gathering....or was it Vermont?...happy holidays to all...

 

[audrey]

Cold feet in Arizona?

David,

You never know, maybe the climate will help the knees. Have a great time and take pictures for us.

 

[coldfeet]

Got back this morning at 9am....red eye was delayed 3 hours and I didn't leave until 2am Arizona time....missed a day of work today

Well it was a lot different than i pictured it......lots of mountains surrounding the valley, saw a good deal of smog yesterday, that was a bummer....did a lot of driving and only got to go hike up Cathedral Rock....I couldn't leave my sister to long.....people doing some "shaman" prayers on some of the plateaus....

Drove to Flagstaff..saw Humphrey...snow capped.....then took 89 south through the cannon (sp?) towards Sedona.....went on the safari jeep ride for 2 hours....went up to the 7K elevation.....what a beating these jeeps take...loved Sedona....Went to Montezuma's Castle.....Went to Superstition Mtn area and also saw Tortilla Flats....Saw everyone hiking camelback and then other mountain that was renamed after the first woman soldier to pass away in Iraq....forgot her name......also went to another Pueblo ruin near Montezuma's that had a 110 room dwellig on the ridge...near the copper mining area....we really went non stop driving all over....had a local beer brewed in Sedona ....gotta ask Tom if he has a viewsandbrews list for Arizona....will post pics when I free up space in my computer....oh yea, also went swimming...

 

[audrey]

Now there's a trip report! Sort of like acid flashbacks of an "if it's Tuesday this must be Belgium" trip. Those red eyes will scramble your brain, young man.
Glad you had fun!

 

[Stan]

Petrified Forest National Park may be within a reasonable drive from the Tuscon area. Don't know about trails but there is a 28 mile scenic drive with numerous side trips and nature walks that sound interesting. The Park straddles I-40 and to the north is a national forest with what appears to be some interesting hiking possibilities. I'd be cautious in this area, however. The rodents are known to carry bubonic plague and other incurable viruses.

 

[DougPaul]

Petrified Forest National Park may be within a reasonable drive from the Tuscon area. Don't know about trails but there is a 28 mile scenic drive with numerous side trips and nature walks that sound interesting. The Park straddles I-40 and to the north is a national forest with what appears to be some interesting hiking possibilities. I'd be cautious in this area, however. The rodents are known to carry bubonic plague and other incurable viruses.

There are a number of enjoyable short walks, and one can hike (permit required for overnight) in the wildness area portion of the park. More info at http://www.nps.gov/pefo.

http://www.nps.gov lists the parks by name and location so it is easy find the nearby parks.


BTW Bubonic plague is bacterial and carried by rodents (especially those cute ground squirrels begging for a handout) in many parts of the SW. It is treatable with antibiotics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague.

Doug

 

[Trainwreck]

Petrified forest park is about 4 hr drive from Tucson. It is about 45 minutes from Flag. Nice park.

 

[audrey]

Hmmm, a four hour drive and an opportunity to catch the bubonic plague - how can I resist?

 

[DougPaul]

Hmmm, a four hour drive and an opportunity to catch the bubonic plague - how can I resist?

Go.
The bubonic plague may not hit until you get back home...

Doug