Everyone knows that you can go to Arizona and hike the Grand Canyon, but what about other trails? There is plenty of great hiking in Arizona that has nothing to do with jockeying for position at the Grand Canyon. Many of them are difficult, but they reward with beauty that is seldom matched anywhere in the world. Here are five of the best.
Wet Beaver Loop. The Wet Beaver Wilderness Area provides an amazing 22 miles round trip. It is advisable to not bring children along as this hike is extremely difficult and takes more than a day to complete. Be prepared to get wet as a fair portion of this hike requires walking through water. This hike takes you in a large loop to end up where you started from. You will encounter camps and waterfalls along the way and the stunning Waldroup canyon.
Picacho Peak. This hiking trail is fairly close to the Casa Grande and once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with a stunning view of the Sonora desert. The trail offers two options: the shorter seven mile round trip or the nine-odd mile trip if you return using the alternate trail from the peak. This is a fairly steep hike with numerous switchbacks.
It is advisable to wear gloves on this hike and you may need to use steel cables to aid your climb at times. You must be in good physical condition to undertake this hike as some Class 3 climbing will be necessary.
Kendrick Mountain. This is a moderately easy trail, involving a 9.2 miles round trip. You will be able to look at a cabin and encounter some spectacular views of Mount Humphreys, Red Mountain, Sycamore Canyon, and also the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Towards the end of this trail, there are a series of short switchbacks which will also provide some amazing views.
Paria Canyon. The Paria Canyon hike begins near the Utah border and immediately afterwards moves into Arizona. It is a multi-day trail, which will end far away from your car, so you will have to take the shuttle for the ride back. You must also keep a sharp lookout on the weather as the trailhead gets frequently washed out due to flash floods. In addition, permits from the BLM will be required as this trail will take you through the wilderness area.
The trail becomes prone to quicksand and quite muddy, especially if you go just after the rains. You will have to pick around quite a bit on this trail and in fact, there will be no trail once you reach the canyon. The only way is to follow the river. You will be walking through a narrow slot canyon with spectacular formation. Remember to avoid this trail if rain is forecast as there is no escape from flash floods in the Narrows.
This trail offers some fantastic features including a cave "room" in one of the walls, Judd Hollow, the Wrather Canyon and the Wrather Arch. There are also various other routes, springs and canyons, the formations and views of which make this hike an amazing and worthwhile experience.
Do you want a relaxing hike in the arms of nature or would like to face a challenge? You need to decide the type of hiking trail you would like to visit. You would be loaded with choices once you have understood your adventure requirements.
Your hiking goals can be easily fulfilled irrespective of the fact that you like in mountains or in the desert. There are various types of hiking trails in every region. You can consult the Division of Parks and Tourism of the area or state you are visiting or lives in, to discover what the area has to offer to you. You would receive a feedback from them within two weeks time and are usually free. For instant information, hop online and search for the hiking trails in the area of your choice.
You should hire a trail guide for your hiking trail if you are unfamiliar with that region. If you think that hiring a trail guide would be out of your budget or you want to explore the hiking trail yourself then it is advised that you carry a compass, map of the area and consult about the place with someone who is familiar with the place.
Many cases of lost or injured people are reported every year while they were on their hiking trail. So, it is better not to add to that statistics. You should be well aware of the habitat and wildlife of that area. You should take precautions on how to avoid encounters with animals. Animals are more vulnerable to attack during their breeding times or when they need to protect their children.
You should have knowledge about the water sources and local plants in your hiking trail. It is better to carry a portable water purification device while hiking to avoid drinking harmful water. Even a crystal clear water may have unsafe bacteria that could be the reason for your illness. Remember the old saying, "Leaflets three, let it be." This would put an end to almost all your such risks. This is very helpful in avoiding poison ivy or poison oak in your hiking trail.
If you are hiking in a group, then you should consider the individual capabilities and needs. Family hiking is what people prefer to do nowadays and such trails are usually easy due to young children. You would form more closer bonds if you go on family hikes together. Do not worry if you are a novice, after all every experienced hiker was a novice in the past.
If you are an experienced hiker with your novice children then try to see the world with their eyes and perspective otherwise you might feel it a boring experience. Once you learn to do so, it would become one of the most wonderful experience of your life.
Both Jimmy Jooves & Abhishek Agarwal are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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