60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Phoenix

CHARLES LIU immigrated to the United States from China in 1980 and settled in a suburb of Phoenix with his extended family. During his formative years at Arizona State University, Charles grew increasingly fond of the Grand Canyon State’s diverse outdoor offerings. Hiking quickly became his passion; in particular, he adopted a keen preference for challenging day hikes and alpine mountaineering. An avid outdoorsman and active member of several hiking clubs and creator of his own hiking group, Charles has led countless hikes over the years, including annual treks to the depths of the Grand Canyon and to the 12,633-foot summit of Humphreys Peak, Arizona’s highest point. An engineer by trade, Charles spends much of his spare time hiking, photographing, and writing about trails in and around Phoenix. He can often be found racing up Camelback Mountain after work, relieving stress from a high-tech career, or traipsing through the Superstition Wilderness on weekends. Aptly nicknamed “Mad Hiker,” Charles finds fulfillment in tough hiking challenges. He has recently conquered Mount Whitney in California, Mount Rainier in Washington, and all of Colorado’s 58 “fourteeners.” He has also climbed challenging peaks worldwide, including Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, and Elbrus. Charles’s extensive hiking experience, attention to detail, and passion for hiking make him an ideal trail guide for the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles series. To contact Charles with comments or suggestions, visit his website, madhiker.org/6060.

Overview Map



Map Legend



Acknowledgments



Foreword



Preface



60 Hikes by Category



Introduction



CITY OF PHOENIX




Apache Vista and Ridgeback Overlook


Camelback Mountain: Cholla Trail


Camelback Mountain: Echo Canyon Trail


Dixie Mountain Loop


Hidden Valley Trail via Mormon Trail


Holbert Trail and Dobbins Lookout


Lookout Mountain


North Mountain National Trail


Papago Park


Piestewa Peak: Freedom Trail


Piestewa Peak: Summit Trail


Quartz Ridge Trail


Shaw Butte Trail


South Mountain: National Trail





PHOENIX SUBURBS (Ahwatukee, Cave Creek, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale)




Bell Pass and Windgate Pass Loop


Black Mountain


Brown’s Mountain Loop


McDowell Mountain Regional Park: Scenic Trail


Pass Mountain Trail


Pinnacle Peak Trail


Sunrise Trail


Telegraph Pass Trail and Kiwanis Trail


Thompson Peak via Dixie Mine Trail


Thunderbird Park: Cholla Loop


Tom’s Thumb


Wind Cave Trail





EAST (Including Superstition Wilderness)




Black Mesa Loop


Boulder Canyon Trail to LaBarge Box and Battleship Mountain


Boyce Thompson Arboretum: Main Trail


Circlestone from Reavis Ranch


Fish Creek


Hieroglyphic Trail


Lost Goldmine Trail


Peralta Trail


Picketpost Mountain


Reavis Falls


Reavis Ranch via Rogers Trough Trailhead


Rogers Canyon Trail


Siphon Draw Trail


Superstition Ridgeline


Wave Cave





NORTHEAST (Including Cave Creek and Mazatzal Mountains)




Barnhardt Trail


Butcher Jones Trail


Cave Creek Trail and Skunk Tank Trail


Elephant Mountain Trail


Four Peaks: Brown’s Peak


Go John Trail


Mount Ord


Mount Peeley


Palo Verde Trail


Pine Creek Loop and Ballantine Trail


Tonto National Monument: Upper Cliff Dwelling


Vineyard Trail





WEST AND SOUTH (Including White Tank and Sierra Estrella Mountains)




Ford Canyon Trail and Mesquite Canyon Trail


Goat Camp Trail and Willow Canyon Trail


Picacho Peak: Hunter Trail


Quartz Peak Trail


Rainbow Valley Trail and Butterfield Trail


Table Top Trail


Vulture Peak Trail





APPENDIX A: Hiking Stores



APPENDIX B: Sources for Trail Maps



APPENDIX C: Hiking Clubs and Organizations



Glossary



Index



About the Author