Most of the moderate 5-mile roundtrip route hugs the cliffs high above the lake, but fishermen paths to the shore make nice scenic detours.įinding It: Located 31 miles north of Mesa, the trailhead is located off Bush Highway (FR 74). Hikers can hit the dirt by way of Butcher Jones, a trail that wraps around a water-piercing peninsula with secluded coves. Of the string of reservoirs tethered by the Salt River northeast of the Valley, Saguaro Lake is the closest and easiest to find. The trail begins at the sign for Boulder Canyon Trail #103 across the road. Once at the creek, simply veer left and hike upstream.įinding It: From Apache Junction, go 15 miles north on State Route 88 to the Canyon Lake Marina between mileposts 210 and 211. To find this secluded desert beach, follow Boulder Canyon Trail #103 for roughly a half-mile to the top of a rise and look for a faint path that leaves the main trail and heads right and downhill into the creek gorge. Tucked into the cacti-studded hills surrounding Canyon Lake just north of Apache Junction, a little-known path leads to a quiet pool of water with a sandy beach. From the point where the path intersects a bare-rock slot canyon, head north (left) and follow the creek 1 mile to the spring. From the FR 78 gate, continue down into First Water Canyon and the corral area and hike east on the informal path that leads to First Water Creek. Visit the website below to pinpoint the gate entrance off Forest Road 78. The destination is located above a tiny pool where a rusty pipe protruding from a cave drips water into a quiet desert oasis.įinding It: Getting to the trailhead is a little tricky.
The moderate, 3-mile roundtrip hike to the spring requires boulder-hopping and a crab crawl through a slick-rock passage. This extraordinary trek winds through an abandoned corral and windmill site in the Superstition Wilderness before connecting with a burbling creek that leads to a serene mountain spring. To reach the zenith, begin at the Cottonwood Day-Use Area with a 0.2-mile walk on Pipeline Canyon Trail to the Yavapai Point junction and hike 1.5 miles to the top.įinding It: Easy to find via Google Maps or other online map service: 41835 N. This vertiginous rise adds a moderate climb and highpoint drama to the otherwise easy system of trails at Lake Pleasant Regional Park about 20 miles north of the Valley. Photo by Rick D’Elia, models: Christy Cole & Ann Marie Theall Located near and around creeks, lakes and coves, these Valley hikes have a refreshing finish. Photography by Jim David, Rick D’Elia, Paul DeKort, Bree Hamilton, Mirelle Inglefield & Chirag PatelĬlothing provided by Calvin Klein Performance Scottsdaleįind the right trek for you with these helpful buttons. For hiking and trail safety guidelines and tips, visit /parkssite. Happy trails!Īlways bring water and proper sun protection. Here, we’ve curated some of their picks and threw in a few of our own. When we polled the 17,000-plus members of the Arizona Hiking Group on Facebook, we found that they gravitate to the old standards but also love grueling mountain climbs, quirky explorations, contemplative walks and anything near water. That’s why we went to the experts for advice. Singling out the best hiking trails in the Valley of the Sun can be intimidating, given the hundreds of celebrated contenders that spread across Greater Phoenix like a spiderweb.
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