Best hikes in Phoenix? (Flagstaff: road, near, good)

[jwest09]

Originally Posted by SaraTee

Hey everyone - where are your favorite hikes in and around the city? This collection is so cool, I can't wait to try some of them, but I'd like more options! Best Phoenix Hikes - Hiking Reviews for Central Arizona

Thanks!

Superstition Mountains Flatiron trail is a blast. So is the water pools in Hieroglyphic canyon in the Sups.

[Greatday]

I love hiking the Superstition Mountain.

Then again - I am biased as the mountain is LITERALLY right outside my back door

[Arizona Mike]

For a good quick little hike without the crowds at Piestewa Peak, I like to go up Lookout Mountain - good cardio workout, beautiful view at the top, nice and close to me. Off Greenway, go south on 16th street (I think?) until the trail ends.

Shaw Butte is also good. I haven't been up there in a long time, but there used to be wild burros up there.

[KarmaPhx]

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

For a good quick little hike without the crowds at Piestewa Peak, I like to go up Lookout Mountain - good cardio workout, beautiful view at the top, nice and close to me. Off Greenway, go south on 16th street (I think?) until the trail ends.

Shaw Butte is also good. I haven't been up there in a long time, but there used to be wild burros up there.

I agree, plus you still get some nice views. I never realized there was 3-4 trails that go to the top, I usually start off of 16th st but you can start on the backside too.

I used to hike Lookout on a regular basis until I moved closer to the 51.

[Arizona Mike]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

I agree, plus you still get some nice views. I never realized there was 3-4 trails that go to the top, I usually start off of 16th st but you can start on the backside too.

I used to hike Lookout on a regular basis until I moved closer to the 51.

The first time I went up Lookout, a friend told me to take the trail to the left of the big water reservoir tanks. I basically wound up having to create my own trail, going hand over hand up the vertical face of the mountain, jamming fingers into crevices for support, and completely wiped out when I got to the mesa at the top. I sat up there panting and wheezing and trying not to have a coronary, when a girl who looked like she was about 11 years old came running past me with her dog and said hi. She had walked up the easy, sloping trail on the west side of the mountain.

[Hamadeh]

Pinnacle Peak is nice, gigantic boulders.

[KarmaPhx]

Originally Posted by Arizona Mike

The first time I went up Lookout, a friend told me to take the trail to the left of the big water reservoir tanks. I basically wound up having to create my own trail, going hand over hand up the vertical face of the mountain, jamming fingers into crevices for support, and completely wiped out when I got to the mesa at the top. I sat up there panting and wheezing and trying not to have a coronary, when a girl who looked like she was about 11 years old came running past me with her dog and said hi. She had walked up the easy, sloping trail on the west side of the mountain.

I know which trail you're speak of, that one is TOUGH!

I usually do the one to the right of the parking lot, it zig zags up the mountain, takes you up between the two peaks, then you can follow it up to the top.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by Greatday

I love hiking the Superstition Mountain.

Then again - I am biased as the mountain is LITERALLY right outside my back door

There's much more than mountains literally outside your back door

Californians, beware

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

There's much more than mountains literally outside your back door

Californians, beware

Yes Californians, beware. Your backyard's in Arizona may have grass and plants. But don't worry, you can still find illegals to cut and trim it all for you...

[Arizona Mike]

This isn't in Phoenix, but a couple of weeks ago I went into the Lava River cave near Flagstaff - a long, lava-formed cave system. Not much of interest - no stalactites or stalagmites, but an interesting if occasionally spooky mile hike underground.

From Flagstaff, go northwest on US 180 to mile marker 230 (9 miles). Turn left (west) on FR 245 and follow it 3.6 miles to its intersection with FR171. Turn left (south) on FR 171 and go 1 mile to FR 171B. Follow this 1/4 mile until its end. The cave entrance is 300 yards east of the end of the road. Look for a large circle of rocks that marks the cave entrance, which is essentially a hole in the ground into which you descend. Bring a light jacket and at least 2 flashlights - you don't want to have your sole source of light fail underground. There are a few spots where you have to stoop over or go on all fours but there are no concerns about being lost - you just go up 1 long tube until you come to the end, turn around, and come back.