Hiking Adventures

Great Hiking Spots

Most Challenging

The trails to the top of Picacho Peak State Park are far and away the most challenging within our system. Two trails join to take you to the top of the 1500 foot peak. Hunter Trail (2 mi to peak) and Sunset Vista Trail (3.1 mi to peak) both take you through the saguaros, chollas and ocotillos that dot the desert landscape. Picacho Peak State Park is 68 miles south of Phoenix or 40 miles north of Tucson, off Interstate 10. Use the Picacho Peak State Park exit.

· Dead Horse Ranch State Park, near Cottonwood off Main St. &10th St., offers many different levels of hiking trails for the beginner to the enthusiast. Smooth paths along the Verde River are prime for those looking for a leisurely hike. Other trails rise from the flat track and circle the pond and ridges. In addition, seven miles of developed trails and frequent elevation changes in the Dead Horse Trail System provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use along the Lime Kiln Trail (2.1 miles), the Thumper Trail (2.25 miles) and the Raptor Hill Trail (2.85 miles). Start early and bring water!

Awesome Views

· Lost Dutchman State Park, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, provide the gateway to a system of trails into the Superstition Wilderness. Any Ranger on duty can give you information on the views each trail provides and there is a great map in the Ranger Station. Look east at dusk to watch shadows backlight the "Thunder Gods" at the top of the ridge. Westward, the sun goes down over the Phoenix horizon. These breathtaking colors give way to city lights throughout the valley. Lost Dutchman State Park is 6 miles north of the Old West Highway on the Apache Trail. Take the Idaho Road Exit north off the Superstition Freeway (US 60).

· Catalina State Park, on the north side of the Santa Catalina's bordering Tucson is within the Coronado National Forest. Trails wind through Indian ruins, perennial pools and a real variety of vegetation. Bleached white, giant boulders crowd saguaros, creosote and mesquite but the higher you climb the greater the pine. The trails go to Mount Lemmon, Sabino and West Fork to provide a gallery of masterpieces. Catalina State Park is 12 miles northeast of Tucson off Highway 77, just north of Ina Road.

· Red Rock State Park, is in the heart of red rock country just southwest of Sedona. If you've never been there, go! Your camera won't do it justice but binoculars will help you identify the hundreds of birds. Lower Oak Creek runs through the park and the trails climb up, over, around and through ridges of red rock for a total of over 6 miles. To reach Red Rock State Park take AZ 89-A about 3 miles south of downtown Sedona then turn on Lower Red Rock Loop Road.

· Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is at the edge of the Mogollon Rim where the red bark of the manzanita gives way to the vanilla scent of the pines. The trails in the park can be challenging but the views they provide are unmatched. Three trails meet along Pine Creek under the natural rock bridge. Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is 10 miles north of Payson on Highway 87.

· Lyman Lake State Park provides a unique opportunity to walk back in time. The Petroglyph Trail winds past small boulders practically covered with well preserved rock art. Special tours can be arranged to access the site and Rangers are happy to share information on past cultures that called the region home. Lyman Lake State Park is 11 miles south of St. Johns on Highway 191.

· Kartchner Caverns State Park, in southern Arizona, provides hiking opportunities of variable difficulty and length. Explore the Whetstone Mountains' various geological formations and vegetation. The park is 49 miles south of Tucson, off Hwy 90.

Beginners Best

· Slide Rock State Park has three short trails that provide a selection of views. One trail finds the beginning of Secret Mountain Wilderness. A second travels along the cliff overlooking the Slide Rock swim area. The last runs through the length of the park. The park is 7 miles north of Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon.

· Lake Havasu State Park, on Arizona's "west coast," offers a paved walk along the shoreline and through a newly developed cactus garden. The park is in Lake Havasu City off Industrial Boulevard.

· Patagonia Lake State Park. Sonoita Creek Trail is a mini marvel with many hidden views of the lake. Sonoita Creek State Natural Area, next door, will be open next year for great back-country hiking. The park entrance is 12 miles east of Nogales off AZ 82, then 3 miles north.

· Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park offers long and short walks through a spectacular property established as a living plant museum. The park is east of the Phoenix area on the Old West Highway (Hwy 60) near Superior.

· History joins nature on the deAnza Trail at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park near Nogales. This trail follows and crosses (take your sandals) the Santa Cruz River, and passes along green pastures winding its way to Tumacacori National Monument.

· Roper Lake State Park is overshadowed by Mount Graham but the trails run along the shoreline offering a variety of views. A separate, unique trail at the nearby Dankworth Ponds Unit passes through a reconstructed Indian Village exhibiting housing styles used over several centuries.

· The new trail at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park sits on the edge of the Colorado River. The path connects with the famous Yuma Crossing site. The park is off Giss Parkway in Yuma.

· Besides the scenery, Lost Dutchman State Park also offers a short, level, paved trail that winds through a well done interpretive area. Visitors can learn plant names and view wildlife. The park is 6 miles north of the Old West Highway on the Apache Trail. Take the Idaho Road Exit north off the Superstition Freeway (US 60).

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Great Hiking Spots

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