Tall, leafy ocotillos line the Mesquite Hollow Trail in the McDowell Mountains. By David Zickl
Central Hiking

Mesquite Hollow Trail

For centuries in the Sonoran Desert, mesquite trees and their byproducts were used for beams in pit houses, fence posts, medicinal salves, paint,…
The Doe Mountain Trail offers an expansive and colorful view of the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. | Laurence Parent
Central Hiking

Doe Mountain Trail

A doe is a deer. A female deer. And there are many in the wilderness surrounding Sedona, silently tiptoeing through the drops of golden sun. At some…
Fall foliage anchors a sunset view of the Huachuca Mountains and the distant Santa Rita Mountains from the summit of Carr Peak. By Laurence Parent
Southern Hiking

Carr Peak Trail

“Switchback” rhymes with “six-pack.” They’re not interdependent words, but, like mashed potatoes and gravy at Thanksgiving, they’re an important…
Aspens, Douglas-firs and dry foliage combine to display a range of colors along the Kachina Trail. By Shane McDermott
Northern Hiking

Kachina Trail

Peak-baggers love the mountains around Flagstaff, especially Humphreys Peak, the highest point in the state. For hikers looking for an easier…
The Inner Basin Trail curls through a stand of aspens in late-afternoon light. By Joel Hazelton
Northern Hiking

Inner Basin Trail

Like Papillon’s narrow escape from Devil’s Island, the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks barely survived the catastrophic effects of the…
Ponderosa pine trunks flank a view to the southwest from the West Spruce Mountain Trail. By Laurence Parent
Central Hiking

West Spruce Mountain Trail

Don’t let the name fool you. It’s deceiving. There is a mountain, and it’s the focus of the hike, but what happens between the trailhead and the top…
A healthy ponderosa pine forest near Aspen Springs is among the rewards for those who tackle the Houston Brothers Trail. By Tom Bean
Central Hiking

Houston Brothers Trail

It’s dangerous to dole out superlatives when writing about hikes in Arizona. As soon as you do, you’ll discover one that’s even better than the…
Late-afternoon light illuminates foliage along a placid pool near the Maxwell Trail. | Joel Hazelton
Central Hiking

Maxwell Trail

It takes anywhere from 80 to 100 years for aluminum cans to disappear on their own. They do decompose, but it takes forever. Cigarette butts last…