Five Awesome Arizona Hiking Trails (Not in Grand Canyon)
by Glenda Jao
http://www.forarizona.com
The Grand Canyon is not the only hiking trail in Arizona.
There are many great hiking trails in Arizona which do not
entail maneuvering for a place at the Grand Canyon. Many of
these trails are hard to negotiate but the unmatched,
breathtaking beauty that you encounter more than makes up
for the difficulty. Five of the best Hiking Trails are
listed here.
The Wet Beaver Loop is an extremely difficult trail, but it
is an awesome hike in the Wet Beaver Wilderness Area. It is
a 22-mile round trip and you will need more than one day to
complete it, as you will be making a large loop to return
from where you began. It is interspersed with camps,
Waldroup canyon, and waterfalls. You have to wade through
water for a portion of the hike. So, be prepared to get wet,
and do not bring children along.
Picacho Peak. This hiking trail is fairly close to the Casa
Grande and once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with
a stunning view of the Sonora desert. The trail offers two
options: the shorter seven mile round trip or the nine-odd
mile trip if you return using the alternate trail from the
peak. This is a fairly steep hike with numerous switchbacks.
You should take gloves on this hike because you may have to
hold on to steel cables to climb. Also, make sure you are in
perfect physical condition as it may require some Class 3
climbing to complete this hike.
Kendrick Mountain. This is a trail that is moderately easy.
It is 9.2 miles round trip, and features a look at a cabin
and ends in some spectacular views of Red Mountain, Mount
Humphreys, Sycamore Canyon, and even the North Rim of the
Grand Canyon. There are a series of short switchbacks
toward the end that provide the great views.
Paria Canyon hike starts in Utah near the border, and moves
into Arizona. The frequent flash floods often wash out the
trailhead, so you have to watch the weather intently. You
can make use of the shuttle for the ride back since the
trail ends far away from the car. It is a multi-day trip.
Moreover, you need a permit from the BLM because you will be
going through wilderness area.
After the rains the trail gets muddy and prone to quicksand
so you will have to pick around a bit. Once you actually get
into the canyon, the trail disappears and you have to follow
the river. You will be walking through a narrow slot canyon
with spectacular formation. It is advisable not to take the
trip if rain is forecast for any of the days that you plan
to be hiking, because once you are in the Narrows you won't
be able to escape flash floods.
This trail offers some fantastic features including a cave
"room" in one of the walls, Judd Hollow, the Wrather Canyon
and the Wrather Arch. There are also various other routes,
springs and canyons, the formations and views of which make
this hike an amazing and worthwhile experience.
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