Surf the High Desert Wave

I'm not what you'd call an "advanced" hiker, preferring to hike the easy-to-moderate trails found closer to where I live. I haven't hiked anywhere "too" challenging just yet either.

But one day I'd really like to "Surf the Wave". However, I know that being able to hike the wave will require some luck, a lot more effort, and a great deal of preparation on my part. I tend to be a little risk-averse, especially in a wilderness area far away from any help. The last thing that I want to do is to "wipeout" and become a victim of the "heat wave".

The Wave has become a popular attraction in the Coyote Buttes area of the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness on the Arizona/Utah border. Coyote Buttes is a Special Management Area of the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The Wave is a multi-colored chute that has been cut into a sandstone mountain. It makes a great destination for a short, moderately difficult day hike.

It has become one of the most popular destinations for many people visiting the Colorado Plateau. It is colorful but fragile Navajo Sandstone slickrock. The attraction is the thin ledges that swirl in wild contours of color and stone that are Coyotte Buttes North very brittle and breakable.

The Wave has grown as a national attraction over the years due to the many published photographs and other media coverage of this small area. Nature has fully used its imagination to converge with the appreciation of our individual minds in all their variety of thought and wonder. But, see for yourself -

White Tank Mountain Regional Park

I volunteered about three hours of my time this morning to help "trail blaze" one of the trails located at White Tank Mountain Regional Park (WTMRP). Located in Waddell, far west of my central Phoenix home, I didn't think I would ever take the time to visit this county park. But, a volunteer opportunity gave me the motivation to get out there and see it.

The trail blazing part wasn't easy work. For the most part, it involved filling wheelbarrows up with dirt and rocks, then pushing them up a slightly steep trail grade about 1/2 mile, and repairing the washed out parts of the trail. Good thing it was relatively cool out this morning!

But, after we finished for the day, I decided to hike one of the easier park trails (Black Rock Trail) and enjoy the views. I have to say, I was impressed with all WTMRP has to offer.

It's a newer park (about two years old), with a large and beautiful, high-tech, nature center and library located at it's entrance. What a great place for a library! And the park was also a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Nearly 30,000 acres makes this the largest regional park in Maricopa County.

Like many other Maricopa County Parks, WTMRP has many different trails with varying degrees of difficulty, but all with great views of the landscape and wildlife. They also have many Ramadas with picnic tables and grills throughout the park, and plenty of water stations and restrooms.. great for a family day out or picnic. There are more than enough parking spaces.

San Tan Mountain Regional Park

San Tan Mountain Regional Park is pretty cool, huh? Ranger Adam Martell explains where the park is located and what it has to offer. BTW, that wasn't a Gila Monster, it was a chuckwalla.

Consisting of over 10,000 acres, the southeast Valley park is a fine example of the lower Sonoran Desert. The park ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet. Goldmine Mountain is located in the northern area, with a spectacular San Tan Mountain escarpment in the southern portion of the park. The vegetation changes from creosote flats to dense saguaro forest.


Source: San Tan Mountain Regional Park and East Valley Tribune: Get Out

Hiking In Phoenix

Did you know that, according to National Geographic, the City of Phoenix is one of the top cities in the country for hiking? Phoenix’s desert preserve system contains more than 30,000 acres and has close to 200 miles of trails located within the city limits.

Here's Part 1/5 of a DiverseCity video presentation describing the various trails.


Watch the entire video series: [Part 2][Part 3][Part 4][Part 5]

McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Take an aerial tour of Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve and learn how it's citizens came together to help protect this diverse, special place. Here's a video introduction of the Preserve.



The entire "Wings Over The Preserve" video presentation can be seen on YouTube.

Safe Hiking For The Holidays

Folks, let's use some common sense while hiking during the holidays. Get out, enjoy the weather and get some exercise. But please, remember your limitations. The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful place to recreate, not wreck create.

Usery Mountain Regional Park

Sometimes a lot of us think that it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort and money for an urban dweller to become a hiker. But, it's easier and cheaper than you may think.

There are plenty of parks located close to home, that aren't too difficult to hike, cost very little money (or no money) to enjoy, and allow us to experience the Sonoran Desert beauty while having fun and getting some exercise.

Usery Mountain Regional Park is one of them.

In this video, a production of the East Valley Tribune in partnership with the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, park ranger Brennan Basler explains where the park is located and all of the great amenities that it has to offer.