Gaping canyons, amazing rock formations and miles of untainted natural beauty are the payoff for the grueling trek.

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.

Not for the novice hiker, this combination hike/cross-country exploration leads to a breathtaking secluded box canyon with a tiny, riparian ecosystem.

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.

Snuggled up to the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain property, this trail takes you past groomed gardens before the scenery changes from fancy to fierce.