If you don't already have Google Earth on your computer. You can download it here. You can view the hiking routes in Google Earth by downloading the asssociated kmz files on each of the hikes webpages so you can view the hike in 3-D.
If you would like to be added to our distribution list email us at jtyweb2020@ArtCentrics.com. Make sure to have Add Me to Mailing List in the subject. We will send out periodic updates for new hikes we do along with Astronomy related events and photos. If you are into gardening out here in the South West, feel free to ask to be added to our Gardening distribution list where you will get periodic updates and information on gardening out here in the great southwest.
We are fair weathered hikers, so we generally will hike between October to April. We like avoiding the crowds, and the birds seem to be most active in the first few hours after down, so we generally will time our hikes to start within 30 minutes of sunrise. This also gives us the rest of the day to relax. :)
HikeArizona.com Hands-down, this is the best hiking website resource for hiking in Arizona.
Maricopa County Parks & Recreation - Find county parks
AnyPlace America.com - Interesting website, Locate point of interest by type. I was able to find a natural bridge that was not well known. Impressive!
Todd's Desert Hiking Guide - Good resource for hikes and canyonering.
Superstition Wilderness Trails - Website dedicated to the Superstition Wilderness
AllTrails.com - Good resource for out of state hikes.
HikingProject.com - OK resource for out of state hikes.
Below is a list of hikes we have documented. Listed in order that we hiked them. Select the hike name go to the page for that hike. There you can see more details on the hike including pictures, Printable PDF guide, Google Earth Waypoints File and GPX file downloads.
We have pages dedicated to various plants and critters we have photographed while hiking.
2020 Hikes
|
State |
Area |
Hike Name |
Length (Miles) |
Rating (10) |
Difficulty (10) |
One Line Description |
Date |
|
2020 Total = 45.6 miles ( as of 2020.01.20) |
| ||||||
|
Arizona |
6.7 |
8.5/10 |
6.0/10 |
A pleasant stroll thought the desert |
| ||
|
Arizona |
14.1 |
7.0/10 |
9.5/10 |
Lower pools are nice but a lot of work for the view at Romero Pass |
2020.01.18 | ||
|
Arizona
|
10.4
|
8.0/10
|
6.5/10
|
Surprisingly nice hike |
2020.01.08 | ||
|
Arizona
|
14.4 |
8.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Views on mesa are great. |
2020.01.01 | ||
2019 Hikes
|
State |
Area |
Hike Name |
Length (Miles) |
Rating (10) |
Difficulty (10) |
One Line Description |
Date |
|
2019 Total = 352.0 miles ( as of 2019.12.25) |
| ||||||
|
Arizona |
7.5 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Combine sections of multiple hikes to form a western loop. |
| ||
|
Arizona
|
8.3 |
8.0/10 |
8.5/10 |
First section of trail was smooth, but trails in Cave Creek recreation area are rocky. |
2019.12.21 | ||
|
Arizona |
15.1 |
5.0/10 |
8.5/10 |
Night Hike! Flat and long, and a very popular mountain biking trail. Ideal for night hike. |
2019.11.15 | ||
|
Arizona |
7.2 |
7.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Pretty flat but good hike for sunrise and birds. Not ideal for weekend, this appears to be a big bike trail. |
2019.12.11 | ||
|
Arizona |
14.2 |
8.5/10 |
9.0/10 |
Combine parts of Bluff Springs Trail, Dutchman Trail, Red Tanks Trail, Whiskey Spring Trail for this 14.2 mile loop |
2019.12.07 | ||
|
Arizona |
Pass Mountain Area |
6.5 |
3.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Most of this hike is not on a trail at all. Do not do this hike. |
2019.12.01 | |
|
Arizona |
7.2 |
9.0/10 |
3.0/10 |
One of the best easy hikes in the Sups. |
2019.11.27 | ||
|
Arizona |
5.0 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
This hike combines parts of Pass Mountain Trail Loop and the Mountain Pass RidgeLine hike. |
2019.11.17 | ||
|
Arizona |
8.0 |
7.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Night Hike |
2019.11.10 | ||
|
Arizona |
8.1 |
8.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Difficult to follow trail |
2019.10.30 | ||
|
Arizona |
5.8 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Night Hike |
2019.10.13 | ||
|
Colorado |
13.6 |
8.5/10 |
9.0/10 |
Two falls, a lake and mountain views. |
2019.09.13 | ||
|
Colorado |
7.2 |
9.0/10 |
9.5/10 |
Highland hike with large blue lake at 12,700'. |
2019.09.11 | ||
|
Colorado |
8.1 |
10/10 |
8.5/10 |
Highland hike with fantastic mountain views and blue lake at 12,250' |
2019.09.10 | ||
|
Colorado |
8.8 |
9.5/10 |
9.0/10 |
Highland hike with lakes and falls with max elevation of 12,572' |
2019.09.09 | ||
|
Arizona |
10.6 |
6.5/10 |
8.5/10 |
Combine three trails for night hike |
2019.08.16 | ||
|
Arizona |
15.4 |
8.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Nice forest hike with Elk and a Bear |
2019.08.14 | ||
|
Nevada |
9.1 |
9.8/10 |
9.0/10 |
Great hike with fantastic views |
2019.07.13 | ||
|
Nevada |
5.6 |
9.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
Cool hike with great trees |
2019.07.12 | ||
|
Arizona |
9.7 |
8.0/10 |
9.5/10 |
Nice scenery and cool weather, but altitude makes this a tough hike |
2019.06.26 | ||
|
Arizona |
2.9 |
9.0/10 |
4.0/10 |
Walk in streambed |
2019.05.27 | ||
|
Arizona |
|
4.9 |
9.5/10 |
4.0/10 |
A great night hike |
2019.05.19 | |
|
Arizona |
5.1 |
9.5/10 |
4.0/10 |
Great short hike with classic desert views. |
2019.05.12 | ||
|
Arizona |
7.0 |
8.5/10 |
8.0/10 |
Combine Vault Mine Trail, Agua Caliente Trail, Jack Mountain trail to make a loop |
2019.05.08 | ||
|
Arizona |
5.9 6.1 |
6/10 6/10 |
3/10 3/10 |
Nice scenery, but houses in sections of this hike |
2019.05.05 | ||
|
Arizona |
5.3 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Nice views on hike |
2019.03.30 | ||
|
Arizona |
Globe |
|
|
|
Highway WildFlowers |
2019.03.27 | |
|
Arizona |
7.6 |
7.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Pretty nice, but lots of bikers and people |
2019.03.24 | ||
|
Arizona |
11.9 |
9.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Great views, Poppy mountains when done at the right time of year and if rainfall conditions are good. |
2019.03.22 | ||
|
Arizona |
Salome Wilderness |
11.5 |
6/10 |
9.0/10 |
Forest Hike, a long way to hike to view a stream |
2019.03.20 | |
|
Arizona |
9.8 |
8/10 |
8.5/10 |
Wild flowers OK, but not great. Brittle bush are not quite ready this year but should be great in another month or so. |
2019.03.16 | ||
|
Arizona |
6.2 |
7.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
This time we cut it short due to rain and wanted to loop to road to view wildflowers |
2019.03.13 | ||
|
Arizona |
9.3 |
8.5/10 |
6.5/10 |
Lots of green this year and water flow as good on all streams |
2019.03.09 | ||
|
Arizona |
14.1 |
9.0/10 |
9.5/10 |
200 foot Falls are great when flowing, Last 3/4 mile is tough going upstream |
2019.02.27 | ||
|
Arizona |
Canyon Lake |
7.0 |
9.0/10 |
TBD |
Turned back at La Barge Creek due to high flow and cold weather |
2019.02.24 | |
|
Arizona |
Theodore Roosevelt Lake |
11.8 |
9.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
Didn't quite make it to the end this time. But it's a great hike with minimal traffic. |
2019.02.16 | |
|
Arizona |
9.2 |
8.5/10 |
6.5/10 |
Nice hike in Saguaro National Park (East) With two waterfalls. |
2019.02.13 | ||
|
Arizona |
Canyon Lake |
6.1 |
5.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Area has great views, but need to stay on trail. Of trail is difficult |
2019.02.02 | |
|
Arizona |
11.8 |
4.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Follows road and power lines for about 4 miles (one way on this hike). Last 2 miles are ok with a nice view at the end. |
2019.01.26 | ||
|
Arizona |
|
N/A |
8.0/10 |
N/A |
Good place for birding, not as user friendly as some other places |
2019.01.20 | |
|
Arizona |
South Chandler |
N/A |
9.0/10 |
N/A |
Great place for bird photography |
2019.11.13 | |
|
Arizona |
10.6 |
7.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Nice loop with to many people |
2019.01.12 | ||
|
Arizona |
South Arizona |
N/A |
7.0/10 |
N/A |
Famous for the tens of thousands of cranes, but somehow we missed all but three on this trip. |
2019.01.05 | |
|
Arizona |
7.2 |
8.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Variation on Praying hands loop to check out Massacre falls |
2019.01.01 | ||
2018 Hikes
|
State |
Hike Name |
Length (Miles) |
Rating (10) |
Difficulty (10) |
One Line Description |
Date |
|
2018 Total = 269.5 miles |
||||||
|
Arizona |
4.9 |
2.5/10 |
2.0/10 |
Good percentage of this hike is on dirt road or ATV tracks. |
2018.12.30 | |
|
Arizona |
12.5 |
8.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Lots of birds and waterfall make this hike |
2018.12.25 | |
|
Arizona |
6.2 |
7.0/10 |
6.5/10 |
Same trail as Radio Summit via Goat Trail just didn't go to the summit, not really much more to see at the summit. |
2018.12.22 | |
|
Arizona |
15.8 |
8.5/10 |
9.5/10 |
A long hike with varied scenery. |
2018.12.11 2017.12.25 | |
|
Arizona |
9.9 |
7.0/10 |
6.5/10 |
Great foggy morning, combine parts of Dynamite, San Tan, Hedgehog, Goldmine Trails to make a northern loop |
2018.12.08 | |
|
Arizona |
1.5 |
6.5/10 |
2.0/10 |
Casual walk good for birds in spring. - Did not complete hike |
2018.12.02 | |
|
Arizona |
3.7 |
7.5/10 |
8.5/10 |
Described as "Siphon Draw with an arch" is about right with tons of cairns at the top. |
2018.12.02 | |
|
Arizona |
10.8 |
8.5/10 |
9.0/10 |
Combine multiple trails to create a figure 8 |
2018.11.28 | |
|
Arizona |
|
|
|
Little Climbing today |
2018.11.22 | |
|
Arizona |
10.9 |
7.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Combine Kellner trail with Icehouse trail to make a nice loop trail.A little late for the fall colors. |
2018.11.24 | |
|
Arizona |
10.8 |
7.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
OK hike, added a little extra. GPS failure |
2018.11.17 | |
|
Arizona |
12.9 |
8.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Last Hiked 2017.11.10 |
2018.11.11 | |
|
Arizona |
5.9 |
7.5/10 |
4.5/10 |
Last Hiked 2017.05.17 |
2018.10.31 | |
|
Arizona |
5.6 |
9.0/10 |
3.0/10 |
Last Hiked 2017.10.21 |
2018.10.24 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hawaii |
Makapu'u Lighthouse |
3.2 |
7.5/10 |
3.0/10 |
Nice views of coastline, Island and lighthouse |
2018.09.30 |
|
Hawaii |
Mana Trail |
9.1 |
6.5/10 |
9.0/10 |
Muddy |
2018.09.29 |
|
Hawaii |
Kumuwela Walk About |
4.4 |
4.0/10 |
5.0/10 |
Was unable to follow trail. May not exists |
2018.09.27 |
|
Hawaii |
Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs |
1.3 |
7.0/10 |
2.0/10 |
Nice Petroglyphs |
2018.09.25 |
|
Hawaii |
Crater Rim Trail |
2.7 |
7.5/10 |
3.0/10 |
Look in the crater, no flow :( |
2019.09.25 |
|
Hawaii |
Sliding Sands Trail |
4.9 |
9.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Did not do whole hike, but had fantastic views |
2018.09.23 |
|
Hawaii |
Ka'ena Point |
5.4 |
7.0/10 |
4.0/10 |
Good ocean views |
2018.09.22 |
|
Hawaii |
Mt. Ka'ala Trail |
7.0 |
7.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Nice views but hike was a pain in the butt |
2018.09.21 |
|
Arizona |
7.1 |
8.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
Purpose of this hike was to take star trails and Milky Way photos. Started at 6pm and returned at 3:30am. |
2018.05.19 | |
|
Arizona |
5.1 |
8.0/10 |
NA/10 |
Great spot for birding, did not do entire hike. |
2018-04-17 | |
|
Arizona |
7.2 |
8.0/10 |
7.5/10 |
Some nice views, but most trail felt like goat trail. |
2018-04-16 | |
|
Arizona |
7.6 |
8.5/10 |
8.0/10 |
Seems to cover a lot of terrain. |
2018-04-01 | |
|
Arizona |
3.2 |
9.5/10 |
1.0/10 |
It's the Grand Canyon, what more to say |
2018.03.27 | |
|
Arizona |
12.2 |
9.5/10 |
7.5/10 |
Great views and wide variety of birds |
2018.03.26 | |
|
Arizona |
7.6 |
8.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Combined Tortuga, Elephant Mountain, Spur Cross and Dragonfly into a loop |
2018.03.17 | |
|
Arizona |
Radio Summit via Goat Trail (White Tanks) |
9.2 |
7.0/10 |
8.5/10 |
Nice views of mountains, bad wild flower season this year |
2018.03.14 |
|
Arizona |
12.3 |
9.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
Rainy day but enjoyed |
2018.03.11 | |
|
Arizona |
15.0 |
8.5/10 |
8.5/10 |
Fields and Pine trees in the Superstitions? |
2018.02.25 | |
|
Arizona |
10.3 |
6.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Combined parts of Butterfield, Gadsden, and Tothaker hikes to make this Texas shaped loop |
2018.02.17 | |
|
Arizona |
10.8 |
7.0/10 |
9.5/10 |
Spectacular view on top of mountain, but a lot of work to get there. |
2018.01.13 | |
|
Arizona |
5.3 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
This hike combines parts of Pass Mountain Trail Loop and the Mountain Pass RidgeLine hike. |
2018.01.07 | |
2017 Hikes
|
State |
Hike Name |
Length (Miles) |
Rating (10) |
Difficulty (10) |
One Line Description |
Date |
|
2017 Total = 271.2 miles |
||||||
|
Arizona |
15.3 |
8.5/10 |
9.5/10 |
A long hike with varied scenery. |
2017.12.25 | |
|
Arizona |
5.3 |
7.0/10 |
9.0/10 |
Great views, but on ridgline, no routes, lots of rock-hopping, we bailed before end at saddle. |
2017.12.18 | |
|
Arizona |
8.4 |
6.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Combine 3 hikes on South Mountain to make this loop |
2017.12.10 | |
|
Arizona |
9.3 |
8.5/10 |
6.5/10 |
Night Hike. Previously done on 2016.02.28 |
2017.12.02 2016.02.28 | |
|
Arizona |
10.7 |
7.5/10 |
8.0/10 |
Previously done on 2017.04.15 (No photos or GPS) |
2017.11.26 2017.04.15 | |
|
Arizona |
6.0 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Enjoyable hike, city views for part of hike |
2017.11.12 | |
|
Arizona |
12.6 |
8.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Great views, and slope was good |
2017.11.10 2018.11.11 | |
|
Arizona |
8.0 |
8.0/10 |
6.5/10 |
Originally hiked in 2016, this time under a full moon |
2017.11.05 | |
|
Arizona |
7.4 |
7.0/10 |
7.5/10 |
Nice views in the mountains |
2017.10.29 | |
|
Arizona |
6.2 |
3.0/10 |
7.5/10 |
City hiking with crowds |
2017.10.25 | |
|
Arizona |
6.2 |
7.0/10 |
3/10 |
Pretty flat quick hike - Variant on original hike. Adds 0.5 miles. |
2017.10.21 | |
|
Arizona |
4.0 |
6.5/10 |
3/10 |
Pleasant hike around a forest lake |
2017.10.18 | |
|
Arizona |
10.4 |
6.5/10 |
6.5/10 |
Forest and stream along with high desert gives a wide range of scenery |
2017.10.08 | |
|
Arizona |
9.5 |
6.5/10 |
8.5/10 |
Nice hike with good views of rock fields |
2017.10.01 | |
|
Wyoming |
5.9 |
8.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Yellowstone: Nice hike with stream crossing and Bison encounter possible |
2017.08.26 | |
|
Wyoming |
7.1 |
8.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Yellowstone: Scenic view and lakes |
2017.08.25 | |
|
Wyoming |
7.7 |
9.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Yellowstone: Great falls and nice Geyser |
2017.08.25 | |
|
Wyoming |
7.2 |
8.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Yellowstone: Nice hike around mountain |
2017.08.24 | |
|
Wyoming |
2.8 |
7.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Yellowstone: Short steep hike to Geyser area that is seldom visited |
2017.08.24 | |
|
Wyoming |
9.4 |
7.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
Yellowstone: Steep mountain hike to valley. surprisingly little wildlife to be found. |
2017.08.23 | |
|
Colorado |
5.4 |
7.0/10 |
7.5/10 |
Hike about the mountains of Colorado |
2017.08.19 | |
|
Colorado |
3.0 |
7.5/10 |
6.5/10 |
Nice hike in the park will little traffic |
2017.08.19 | |
|
Colorado |
6.1 |
7.5/10 |
6.0/10 |
Nice scenery, to many people |
2017.08.18 | |
|
Arizona |
5.9 |
7.5/10 |
4.5/10 |
Good views of lake. Best to do during weekdays to avoid crowds. |
2017.05.17 | |
|
Arizona |
7.9 |
7.5/10 |
9.0/10 |
Great views but to many people |
2017.04.29 | |
|
Arizona |
Mount Peeley |
5.4 |
7.0/10 |
6.5/10 |
Good mountain views |
2017.04.19 |
|
Arizona |
7.4 |
7.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Nice flowers, Buzzards and Bald Eagle |
2017.03.29 | |
|
Arizona |
9.8 |
8.0/10 |
8.5/10 |
Wonderful wildflowers at this time of year |
2017.03.26 | |
|
Arizona |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Looks like we were about 1 week late on this one. |
2017.03.19 | |
|
Arizona |
9.7 |
8.0/10 |
7.0/10 |
Nice views, best visited during wild flower season |
2017.03.12 | |
|
Arizona |
9.3 |
8.5/10 |
8.0/10 |
A cactus jungle with a steep climb and excellent view. |
2017.03.05 | |
|
Arizona |
10.0 |
9.9/10 |
10/10 |
Hiking, Climbing with 75lb backpack makes for quite an adventure! But great views on the needle. |
2017.02.08 | |
|
Arizona |
2.4 |
4.5/10 |
5.0/10 |
In city hiking with nice view of Superstitions at top. |
2017.02.04 | |
|
Arizona |
6.2 |
8.5/10 |
7.0/10 |
Granite wonderland with high desert views |
2017.01.11 | |
|
Arizona |
7.0 |
8.0/10 |
6.0/10 |
Classic Sonoran desert scenery with some city views. |
2017.01.02 | |
2016 Hikes
|
State |
Hike Name |
Length (Miles) |
Rating (10) |
Difficulty (10) |
One Line Description |
Date |
|
2016 Total = 112.9 miles |
||||||
|
Arizona |
11.7 |
8.5/10 |
8.5/10 |
Nice open views with surprisingly little sub divisions visible |
2016.12.11 | |
|
Arizona |
4.9 |
8.5/10 |
8.5/10 |
Steep climb to great views of the Superstitions |
2016.10.09 | |
|
Arizona |
5.6 |
7.0/10 |
7.5/10 |
Highest point in Maricopa county |
2016.09.15 | |
|
Arizona |
8.4 |
8.0/10 |
8.0/10 |
Nice hike with good views of the lake. |
2016.04.13 | |
|
Arizona |
8.0 |
8.0/10 |
6.5/10 |
Nice views on the North and East parts of the hike. Crowds at Wind Cave Trail. |
2016.04.09 | |
|
Arizona |
12.2 |
9.0/10 |
6.5/10 |
Super views with a bit of river rock hiking |
2016.03.30 | |
|
Arizona |
5.5 |
7.0/10 |
4.5/10 |
Nice hike with great views at the end. |
2016.03.23 2017.04.01 | |
|
Arizona |
N/A |
4.0/10 |
N/A |
Just Pictures of park |
2016.03.14 | |
|
Arizona |
6.0 |
8.0/10 |
8.5/10 |
Great Views, feels like 12 miles |
2016.03.06 | |
|
Arizona |
9.2 |
8.5/10 |
6.5/10 |
Gentle pleasant inclines in this hike in the Superstitions. |
2016.02.28 | |
|
Arizona |
6.3 |
9.0/10 |
4.0/10 |
A nice hike with typical Sonoran desert scenery and lots of cacti and wide variety of birds. |
2016.02.19 | |
|
Arizona |
5.7 |
7.0/10 |
3.0/10 |
Pretty flat quick hike |
2016.01.17 | |
|
Arizona |
14.8 |
8.5/10 |
7.5/10 |
Great change in landscape and wonderful cliff dwellings, up close and personal. |
2016.01.23 | |
|
Arizona |
14.6 |
4.0/10 |
9.5/10 |
Two nice hikes, but off-route cat claw bushwhacking between routes is hell. |
2016.02.05 | |