McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Despite its name, McDowell Mountain Regional Park is largely in the flats, washes and foothills immediately east of the McDowell Mountains. The trails tend to be […]
Maricopa County
South Mountain: Hau’Pal Loop
Today, I hiked the first third of Hau’Pal Loop; bits of Alta Trail, Bajada Trail, Max Delta Trail and Crosscut Trail; then finished with the […]
Deem Hills Recreation Area
I last hiked Deem Hills 12½ years ago. Another one of my pre-video hikes, I’ve been meaning to get back for at least five years. […]
San Tan Mountain Regional Park
It’s a long drive from Sunnyslope to Queen Creek, so it’s been three years since I last hiked San Tan Mountain Regional Park. Back then, […]
Ludden Mountain
Ludden Mountain is a free-standing, double-peaked, formation in far northwest Phoenix. Part of the Deem Hills, Ludden Mountain was named for area rancher Homer Charles […]
Sunnyslope Murder Tour #3
Before we look at some older Sunnyslope homicides, we had five — that I am aware of — in 2024: Feb. 19: Tiana Hodges shot […]
Lost Dog Wash Trail to Taliesin Overlook
Lost Dog Wash Trail to Taliesin Overlook is 2.1 miles, 400 ft. accumulated elevation gain (AEG), outbound. Only 60 AEG on the return trip. Alternately, Ringtail […]
Reach 11 Recreation Area
Reach 11 Recreation Area is located in north Phoenix. From Cave Creek Rd., Reach 11 stretches seven miles east to Scottsdale Rd., and a less than a […]
Elephant Rock – White Tank Mountains
If you drive to the Elephant Rock “trailhead” via Sun Valley Parkway, as you pass through the retirement community, look south. Through a gap in […]
Shaw Butte Trail #306
It was a wintry — by Phoenix standards — 51° when I started my traditional Christmas Eve day hike up Shaw Butte. The Christmas Palo Verde […]