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