hike arizona Archives - Nightborn Travel

When it comes to hiking in Phoenix there are a few different muscle-building trails in and around the metro area. Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak are two of the most popular, but neither is going to kick your ass like the Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail. For that reason, I would only suggest this trail to hikers who have trained for it. You need physical and mental stamina something fierce to make it up and down this trail in one piece. It’s steep, it’s busy, and it can be dangerous. But for those who are up to the challenge, it is also a supremely beautiful climb up one of the most iconic mountains in Arizona, and there is nothing more satisfying than making a difficult push to the finish line on a very hard trail.

TL;DR The Flatiron via Siphon Draw trail is the perfect challenge for hikers who are comfortable with the likes of Camelback and Piestewa, and it will reward those who scale it’s heights with unbelievable views and a unique trail experience not found elsewhere. If you aren’t prepared, however, this is a trail better used as a training goal than a risk.

Need to Know Information

(c) ABR 2019

Trail Difficulty: Extreme

Trail Length: 6 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 2600+ feet

Fees: $10.00 per vehicle on holidays and the weekend (Fri-Sun), and $7.00 per vehicle on weekdays

Facilities: Yes, at the trailhead

Vehicular Access: Paved roads provide all access to this trailhead

Water Availability: None after the trailhead

Good for Dogs and Kids? No

Season: Late spring and early fall; avoid high temperatures and ice on the trail.

Fear of Heights Difficulty: High

Section Hiking The Arizona Trail: Passage 07 Las Cienegas

By waitingforrain28

On December 21, 2020

In Arizona Travel

Anyone who follows this blog knows that I am a big-time hiker and I am an Arizona local. So, it might come as some surprise, that I have never hiked a bit of the Arizona Trail (AZT) until this year! Due to my job, I will likely never be able to thru-hike the AZT, but I am determined to work on section hiking it. In fact, I’ve made it a travel goal of mine to complete the AZT via section hiking! This post represents my first step towards that goal, as Passage 07 Las Cienegas was the first section that I have been able to complete.

This part of the AZT is the perfect place to get started, for both intermediate and expert hikers. That’s because Las Cienegas is a fairly level hike, if long. And it’s length won’t require you to backpack as long as you can arrange for a shuttle and you start early enough. It is also a wonderful introduction to the shrublands of the Sonoran Desert, which need a lot more love than they get.

TL;DR If you want to start section hiking the AZT, consider Las Cienegas as a starting place.

Need to Know

(c) ABR 2020

Trail Length: 13 miles one way (we clocked 13.5 miles)

Difficulty: Moderate- 13 miles is a long distance, but this trail doesn’t have a lot of elevation change making it fairly flat.

Facilities: Yes at the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead, but not at the southern access point. No facilities along the trail.

Season: October-May

On the Trail

Part One

(c) ABR 2020

We started to the south of the Las Cienegas Passage, and since the second part of our shuttle was my little car, we decided that the best thing to do would be to hike up the dirt road to the trailhead. This wasn’t a huge addition to our hike (about 0.6 miles), and it wasn’t difficult, so if you don’t have the kind of car that can manage the road, no worries.

(c) ABR 2020

Once we got started, the first part of Passage 07 curved its way through the hills. This was also where we got our glimpse of the pools of water for which this part of the AZT is named. After the major drought that we had this year, they were unsurprisingly low on water. But these are still essential oases for the plants and animals of the desert.

Horseshoe Lake AZ: Your Guide to Exploring a Remote Phoenix Lake

By waitingforrain28

On July 6, 2020

In Arizona Travel

Of the lakes surrounding Phoenix, Horseshoe is the hardest to get to and probably the least known. That all makes this little corner of the Tonto National Park a nice place to escape the crowds, and enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, this is definitely a day trip that I would suggest as some unique hiking in the Tonto National Forest. Horseshoe Lake AZ has beautiful mountain vistas, a dam with mossy waterfalls cascading down to the river, and an adventurous approach that makes for the perfect day trip from the city.

The Distant Lake of Phoenix

(c) ABR 2020

Horseshoe Lake AZ is a man-made lake that serves as one of several reservoirs for the Phoenix metro-area. It feeds off of the Verde River and is maintained by its namesake dam. If you are choosing among the seven lakes in the Phoenix area, this one might be of extra interest to you if you enjoy a bit of tame 4-wheel driving. It’s also great if you are looking for some peace and quiet.

Need to Know Information

(c) ABR 2020

Horseshoe Lake is located within Tonto National Forest, and as such, you need a Tonto pass or should bring your Annual America the Beautiful pass. The Tonto day pass is $8 and can be purchased online. The America the Beautiful Pass is likewise available online for $80; it covers National Parks and National Forests. If you are planning on boating or camping, please access the Tonto National Forest website to identify the permit that you need. In 2020, since so many visitor centers are closed due to COVID-19, you may need to buy online. If this is the case, make sure to give yourself enough lead time in case you need anything mailed.

The only facilities at Horseshoe Lake AZ are a few outhouses at the end of the dirt road. There is also a small, concrete boat ramp in this area.

The lake is drained fairly often due to water demand. Furthermore, it is drained annually to support native birds that nest in the area, and reduce the population of invasive fish. When drained, do not approach the dam or collect any dead fish that might be scattered along the water’s edge.

Tag: hike arizona

Flatiron via Siphon Draw Trail: So Steep I Had to Take It Step By Step

Need to Know Information

Section Hiking The Arizona Trail: Passage 07 Las Cienegas

Need to Know

On the Trail

Part One

Horseshoe Lake AZ: Your Guide to Exploring a Remote Phoenix Lake

The Distant Lake of Phoenix

Need to Know Information

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