City trails put fall hikers on right path
» City officials said the recent rains
October brings cooler temperatures, and with that comes tens of thousands of hikers to Phoenix’s more than 33,000 acres of desert preserves.
Roy Dimas, a park-ranger supervisor with the city’s natural resource division, estimates about a couple of million people hike Phoenix’s 180 miles of designated trails every year. The city uses laser counters at the more popular parks and pressure foot paths at some other parks to count the hikers.
Cynthia Brown, a parks supervisor for the city, said hiking in Phoenix is different from hiking anywhere else, and that visitors are often surprised by the beauty of the desert.
“When you come here, you think of Phoenix as a desert, and people don’t commonly think of a desert as beautiful. And then you drive to Camelback Mountain, and it takes your breath away,” she said. “We hold our own among the country’s great hiking spots.”
But the numerous hikers can pose problems with overcrowding — both on the trails and in the parking lots. Dimas said the city tries to update its website if popular destinations, like Camelback Mountain, are full.
City officials are exploring whether to add real-time streaming footage of the parking lots to its website so hikers can see if the lots are crowded before driving to the trails.
And all those boots and sneakers on the trails do their share of wear and tear. The city has hired a consultant to explore ways to reduce traffic at some of its most popular trails and raise revenue to pay for repairs. Officials expect a report in November.
The city encourages people to hike year-round, Dimas said, but the popularity of the parks spikes in October and continues through about May.
Sporting events like spring training and the Fiesta Bowl bring out-of-state visitors to the Valley, and the hotels often refer them to Phoenix trails to hike.
What’s new on the trails? Top 5 popular Phoenix hiking trails
You don’t have to leave the city limits for some of the best urban hiking spots in the country. Check out the most popular hiking areas in Phoenix, according to the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. » Echo Canyon Summit Trail 4925 E. McDonald Drive. Hiking the trail to the top of Camelback Mountain is a greater climb than ascending all 103 floors of the Empire State Building, one sign warns. Officials are hard-pressed to explain why Echo Canyon’s 1,264-foot climb is so popular. “It’s amazing for conditioning,” said David Metzler, 44, a city park ranger. “Per square foot, this is one of the hardest hikes in town.” » Piestewa Peak Summit Trail 2701 E. Squaw Peak Drive. At 2,608 feet, the summit is the secondhighest point in the Phoenix Mountains. The rocky, cactus-dotted peak in the heart of the city is named in honor of Army Spc. Lori Ann Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat in the U.S. military, in 2003 in Iraq. A circumference trail is manageable for less fit hikers. The summit trail is perfect for weekend warriors, gaining a tough 1,190 feet in 1.2 miles. » Cholla Trailhead End of Cholla Lane, off Invergordon Street (64th Street). The hike is about 3 miles roundtrip and gains about 1,200 feet in elevation. Things get steep and intense closer to the top, so inexperienced hikers will want to take it slowly. » Pima Canyon 9904 S. 48th St.. The most popular entry point for the National Trail at South Mountain is Pima Canyon in Ahwatukee Foothills. It begins as an old dirt road that gets a lot of use as a bike trail and jogging path. It becomes a trail that snakes up and across the mountain for a ridgeline hike with spectacular views. » North Mountain National Trail 10600 N. Seventh St. Head for North Mountain Park and the paved North Mountain National Trail. Think of it as nature’s stair climber. Those in reasonable shape can do it in less than an hour. The hardiest exercisers run up the path and back — twice.