Citizen HikerPHOENIX Magazine Publishes Hike Book Vol. 2 & 2022 Hiking Calendar
Matthew JohnsonOctober 15, 2021
Get out and explore our great state with each of these exciting products from PHOENIX magazine.
Citizen Hiker
Citizen HikerPlanting the Seeds for the Sun Corridor Trail
Mare CzinarSeptember 21, 2021
Like most investments with the potential of big dividends, the planning and development of long-distance trails starts with a vision and comes to fruition with persistence, cooperation and a whole lot of patience. The seeds for the Sun Corridor Trail began about eight years ago with a casual conversation among trail advocates at a brainstorming session. “The idea grew organically,” says R.J. Cardin, director of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department and one of the...
After battling 80-mile-per-hour winds on Humphreys Peak, evading a pack of charging javelinas in the Mazatzal Wilderness and hiking the Grand Canyon in a blizzard, John Heckenlaible decided it was time to give something back to the Arizona trails he loves. Joining the City of Phoenix parks stewardship program felt like a good way to do so. “I was climbing Piestewa Peak one day and saw two guys wearing bright yellow Phoenix Park Steward shirts,”...
Gaping canyons, amazing rock formations and miles of untainted natural beauty are the payoff for the grueling trek.
Hiking December 2022Hiking in the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve
Matthew JohnsonJuly 1, 2021
After decades of planning and construction, the roughly 1,000-acre preserve now occupies a mountainous sliver of space between manicured golf communities and the hiking hubs of Scottsdale's McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
Hiking December 2022Hike LaBarge Narrows in the Superstition Wilderness Area
Matthew JohnsonJuly 1, 2021
Not for the novice hiker, this combination hike/cross-country exploration leads to a breathtaking secluded box canyon with a tiny, riparian ecosystem.
Hiking December 2022Peoria Mountain Trails Offer Outstanding Views of the Valley
Matthew JohnsonJuly 1, 2021
With a combined length of more than 11 miles, Peoria's mountain trails combine outstanding North Valley views with customizable lengths and difficulty levels. Here are two to try.
Hiking December 2022Wild Mustang Trail in the Tortolita Mountains in Marana
Matthew JohnsonJuly 1, 2021
Snuggled up to the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain property, this trail takes you past groomed gardens before the scenery changes from fancy to fierce.
Visible from most of Scottsdale, the curious rock knob known as Tom's Thumb stands out among the pinnacles of the McDowell Mountains.
From mid-October through early November, the sycamores and cottonwoods surrounding Oak Creek put on a delicious display of autumn color along Sedona's favorite stream.
Hiking November 2022Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park in Yarnell
Matthew JohnsonJune 30, 2021
In June 2013, the Yarnell Hill Fire blazed through this rugged territory, taking the lives of 19 firefighters. These brave men are memorialized with plaques placed roughly every 600 feet along the Hotshots trail.
Hiking November 2022Hiking Box Canyon of the Hassayampa River in Wickenburg
Matthew JohnsonJune 30, 2021
"The Box" is an outdoor recreation free-for-all. Hikers and equestrians share the waterway with motorized traffic, gold panners and raucous families with kids and dogs.
Hiking October 2022See Spring & See Canyon Hikes in the Tonto National Forest
Matthew JohnsonJune 30, 2021
There's a local hiker adage that when you trek See Canyon, all you see is the canyon. This is mostly true, but, oh, what a canyon it is to behold.
Hiking October 2022Hike the Pole Knoll Trails in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Matthew JohnsonJune 30, 2021
Conveniently located off State Route 260 near Greer, the Pole Knoll Recreation Area is a year-round destination for outdoor sports.
One of the most scenic segments of the state-traversing Arizona Trail, the route goes through shady fir forests and alpine meadows.