Arizona Peaks or Hikes?

[EatinHardtack]

My girlfriend and I are headed down to Arizona, Phoenix specifically, in two weeks for some warm weather and Baseball. We have a day to get out and do a hike and need some suggestions. I know about Camelback and other popular peaks around the metro area but I think we want something more secluded and with more scenery. We will have a rental car but not a 4wd. Also we will be looking to do something in a class 1 or 2 range, no climbing for my girlfriend. We are also not looking to drive too terribly far but within an hour to hour and half drive. 5-7 miles round trip for something would be good. And it doesn't have to be a peak, a good hike with scenery is just fine with us.

Thanks!

[globreal]

My girlfriend and I are headed down to Arizona, Phoenix specifically, in two weeks for some warm weather and Baseball. We have a day to get out and do a hike and need some suggestions. I know about Camelback and other popular peaks around the metro area but I think we want something more secluded and with more scenery. We will have a rental car but not a 4wd. Also we will be looking to do something in a class 1 or 2 range, no climbing for my girlfriend. We are also not looking to drive too terribly far but within an hour to hour and half drive. 5-7 miles round trip for something would be good. And it doesn't have to be a peak, a good hike with scenery is just fine with us.

Thanks!

Zach,

I would suggest hiking Tom's Thumb Trail up to the peak in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park northeast of Scottsdale. I would recommend the north side. When climbing from this side you are out of the city completely in the Sonoran desert. It's really beautiful in the desert and the desert smells this time of year are amazing. And if you are a rock climber and have pro, you can summit the rock pinnacle. The west face is the easiest and it's not to difficult…I think 5.6 or 5.7. And then you can rap off the north face which is a lot of fun. But even without the technical climb to the actual summit, it's still worth it!

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/toms-thumb-north-side

https://foursquare.com/v/toms-thumb-pea ... 20cbac2be3

http://arizonahiking.org/component/cont ... toms-thumb

[painless4u2]

If you could stretch your drive just a bit more, you might consider some of the hikes around Sedona, such as Bear Mountain. Also, Humphreys Peak is great, the tallest in Arizona, with huge views all the way to the Grand Canyon. It's mostly a walk-up.

[climbnowworklater]

I would visit the Superstition Mountains. About 1 hour east of Phoenix but this is seclusion and awesomeness. If this interests you, let me know. I have a ton of ideas based on what your time and skill level would be.

[anasarca76]

Quartz Peak is awesome! Its about an hour and a half to the trail-head from Phoenix and is probably the most secluded hike Ive been on in Arizona. The views are fantastic and it really lets you see a side of Phoenix that many don't know exists. I highly recommend it, and right now is a perfect time as its not too hot!

Here is a link to what little information is out there on this peak - http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=95" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You will need 4 wheel drive and/or a high clearance vehicle as the road out there deals with some decent sand and rough terrain. If your interested, PM me and I can give you more insight and send a few pictures or whatever! Have fun whatever you decide to do!

Randy

[jblyth]

Some really good recommendations have been given. I did Tom's Thumb from the gateway trailhead a few weeks back, really cool hike. The boulders up top were fun to play around on. This might be my favorite hike that's close to town.

We also did Picacho Peak one day, which was a fun little scramble, but has cables so your girlfriend would probably be fine. It's about an hour south of the city if you're staying in the south valley. http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

South Mountain has some mellow scenic trails - a nice 7 mile or so loop starting from the main trail is Holbert - National - Kiwanis.

Sedona and the Superstition Mountains are incredible, but a bit more of a drive and you'd probably want to spend the whole day there.

[Dave B]

We also did Picacho Peak one day, which was a fun little scramble, but has cables so your girlfriend would probably be fine. It's about an hour south of the city if you're staying in the south valley. http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

+1 to Picacho. It will be completely worth the drive. The peak looks improbable the majority of the time you are on the trail but cut steps and cables at steep sections make it completely doable.

[TravelingMatt]

See also:

http://14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=39238" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dhgold]

Picketpost (http://www.arizonahiking.org/component/ ... t-mountain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) is another great option. It's not quite as unique as Picacho but it's less of a drive from Phoenix.

[Tortoise1]

Toms Thumb from Toms Thumb TH would be good. It's like a scene from an old western movie right on the edge of town. Toms Thumb from the Gateway TH to the south and west would exceed your distance criteria by several miles. Quartz Peak would be tough in a rental sedan. No climbing for GF would rule out Picacho - cables or not it's climbing. Weavers Needle from Peralto TH is nice and would meet the criteria. Weavers Needle itself is rock climbing but you can get a good view of it from the saddle or scramble to the base. Geronimo's Cave is off that TH as well. In that general area but a bit longer is Flat Iron in Lost Dutchman State Park ($7/car). It has one 8 to 10 foot ledge near the end but with some good footholds. Fat and/or old people do it routinely.

[JsinDeAZ]

Superstition Peak by going up Siphon Draw to Flatiron. It's a long hike (about 9 miles one way). Trailhead is at Lost Dutchman State Park. Or go to First Water trailhead and hike out to top of Blacktop Mesa.

[InclineGuy]

Superstition Peak via Siphon Draw is an excellent hike but with class 3 sections on Siphon Draw I’d go a little further to the Peralta TH and hike to Weavers Needle, which is all class 1, with the added bonus of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold lying somewhere nearby. Also, I’m just saying to hike to it and back, trying to climb Weaver’s Needle...well, that would be crazy!