Tag Arizona hikes

Tucson: Enchanting Trails, Without the Crowds

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

I once thought Sedona was home to the best hiking in Arizona. Not anymore. Tucson may not boast the red rock, but it lacks the crowds that require Sedona hikers and bikers to hit the trail early if they hope to secure parking. We pulled into this trail’s parking lot in late morning. Temperature? Low 70s. Parking? There were three cars in a large lot. The trail? Another gem. And, like so many trails here, just minutes from downtown.

In the Enchanted Hills, Sue and I walked the El Grupo and Tecolote loops, detouring up (with a rock scramble) Enchanted Peak for lunch and the view. Now, I have a confession. I love the saguaro cactus and the rest of its family, except for one irritating member: the jumping cholla. Watch out!

Clumps of the “jumping” cholla are known to fall off and easily leave their home if you brush against them, as Sue found out. I hope you never have to try to detach one from yourself.

The Bell Trail: Avoid the Sedona Crowds

Reg Spittle 2 Comments

The red-rock trails of the Sedona, Arizona area are spectacular, but you need to secure parking at trailhead lots early, even before 8 a.m. in some cases. Thanks to a tip from a Montana couple we met on a hike, we explored a red-rock canyon near Camp Verde, without the crowds. The Bell Trail is an out-and-back 6.9 miles with 587 feet of elevation gain. “Don’t miss the Crack,” we were advised. The Crack is a fissure that features pools where Wet Beaver Creek passes. A couple of young guys were tempted, but resisted jumping into the cloudy water.