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Walk Among Giant Saguaro in Tucson Park

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Arizona is a mountain trail paradise, especially during springtime. Sue and I discovered a gem near Tucson: Tucson Mountain Park. Home to a forest of saguaro and other cactus varieties, the park offers 62 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. We enjoyed eight miles with moderate elevation change and found cactus “groves” that rival neighboring Saguaro National Park West. Crowds? We saw just a handful of walkers during our hike. The park is one of the nation’s most impressive parks run by local government.

Lassen Volcanic National Park: Three Day Hikes

Reg Spittle 1 Comment

Three day hikes offer something for everyone in Lassen Volcanic National Park, located east of Redding, California. If you start from the north on Highway 89, the 1.7-mile Manzanita Lake Loop is a relaxing warmup. Head south to the other two trails: three-mile Bumpass Hell Trail and the tough, five-mile climb to Lassen Peak, 10,457 feet, and back. The Bumpass trail transports walkers to a boardwalk, which passes through a hydrothermal area. Sue and I walked the lake loop and Bumpass trail in half a day, but decided against tackling the peak in the warm afternoon sun. (I was tempted, though.) Looking for more? The park offers 150 miles of hiking and if you are walking the Pacific Crest Trail, you’ll get fantastic views as you pass through yet another national park. If you’re camping, the Manzanita Lake campground looked great and was still open in mid-October. The three day hikes close sometime in fall until spring. (Thanks to Sue for the photos!)