[burntlizard]

I need your assistance with my current English assignment. I'm doing a compare and contrast(argument) essay, the topic I chose is popular (city) hiking spots in metro Phoenix, verses close to the city, yet off the grid hikes(my subject hike is Big Jim)

I need you to tell me, what is your single favorite hike in metro Phoenix(no Superstition hikes please) and answer these questions, so I can compare and contrast.

1. How are the views? can you see houses or buildings
2. Terrain difficulty, rate 1-5, 5 being most difficult
3. Chances of viewing wildlife?
4. Crowds
5. Historical significance? - any petroglyphs?
6. Are dogs allowed?
7. Solitude - is this hike truly peaceful? or can you hear cars or noise?

I need this information by Sunday evening.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Lance

[burntlizard]

[Outdoor Lover]

I wish I could help you but I don't think I have done enough hikes to be accurate on the questions....

[burntlizard]

@outdoorlover - This really can pertain to any hike in the Phoenix area. I just need to make some comparisons to my subject hike and be able to form a general consensus. Thank you.

[hippiepunkpirate]

I was meaning to respond earlier but didn't have the time. With no absolute front runner for me, I'll go with West Wing Mountain.

1. The views aren't outstanding, but I do enjoy how it's kind of on the far edge of suburbia so you get some views toward the Hieroglyphic Mountains and Lake Pleasant that don't feel so intrusive with human structures.
2. The way I hike West Wing takes advantage of the steepest trails on the mountain, but the one way distance is relatively short so I will give it a 2. Provides a nice workout, but won't kill the rest of your day if you aren't in prime shape.
3. I don't recall seeing any wildlife out there, but I don't really pay so much attention to finding critters.
4. The big plus for me is that West Wing is pretty close to my home, yet it is very uncrowded. I'll normally see a couple hikers when I go out, but never more than 10. Very nice compared to a lot of the other areas around.
5. No historical significance that I can think of.
6. Dogs are allowed.
7. For a city hike, I think this is relatively peaceful. There is still a lot of noise, but like I said earlier, being on the edge of suburbia plus the low foot traffic makes it more peaceful than other places.

[jochal]

Guadalupe Ridge on South Mountain

1. Views are good, but not great. You can see lots of houses and buildings but they are small.
2. 3
3. low
4. Usually only see 2 or 3 people on a weekend
5. Not that I know of.
6. I've seen a dog.
7. I would say the hike is very peaceful. Although you can see the city, you can't hear it.

[azbackpackr]

Whew! I was sweatin' with ya with that deadline, Burntdude--I'm a student, too. But I have never lived in Phoenix, so I have only hiked the Supes, not the other areas. So, I was one of the "views" but had no beta.

[burntlizard]

@Azbackpacker, thanks. I'm doing my working outline only, just trying to stay on top of it. Good luck in your schooling.

[Outdoor Lover]

Pass Mountain in the Usurys. Just did this one and it just barely edges out Ford Canyon.
1. The views are hard to beat. Superstition Range on the south end, Goldfields, Mazzies, Salt River and Red Mountain on the north side. You can see some houses on the west and south sides, but they are a distance from the trail so you hear no noise. Lots of Air Traffic.
2. 2
3. Great chance of viewing wildlife.
4. Not crowded, although most of my hikes are that way, as I hike on weekdays.
5. No significance that I know of.
6. I believe that no dogs are allowed, but not totally sure.
7. Very peaceful. See #4.

[Trishness]

I don't do a lot of metro Phoenix hiking but will agree with Outdoor Lover on Pass Mountain Loop hike.

1. Terrific views especially up the eastern side to the saddle, you can see some buildings but they are small. You can see the fountain at Fountain Hills!
2. 1.5....there are some rocky areas
3. darn good
4. Big on weekends
5. None
6. Yes, Leashed
7. No freeway noise but once you get to the west end of the trail you do hear the gunfire from the Usery firing range.

[WilliamnWendi]

Voaz Loop (Phoenix Mountain Preserve)
1)There aren't to many "Grand views", and no the buildings/city skylines are not showcased here but I am sure at the highest points of the hike you'll see a few. What is showcased are some very special displays of what can make a desert beautiful and serine and amazingly just minutes away from the 6th biggest population in the US.
2)Difficulty: 2-3 depending on the hiker
3)Minimal: Most I have ever seen are some birds and lizards which I tend to count more as features of a serine landscape. You can bet somebody has seen a rattler but not I. I am sure night hikes might reveal some coyotes.
4)On the Voaz Portion of the trail I will usually see 4-5 groups, so not too crowded, I would guess. From the destination of this hike(If there is one) you're in the shadow of Piestewa Peak and that is a crowded hike by comparison, the people looking down at you are rarely a distraction.
5)No historical significance that I am aware of, no petroglyphs that I have seen.
6)Dogs are a go
7)I would say it is the most Zen I have found on an inner city hike. I cannot hear cars, but on occasion there's a noisy group, dog, child, or wind that comes through but those are usually transient.

[kingsnake]

Will answer your survey tomorrow, but a big thumbs up for going back to school as a returning adult.

[juliachaos]

Pima Wash at South Mountain, full route from National Trail to Hidden Valley

1. for the most part, you can't see the city from the wash itself
2. probably 3 -- first part is walking in a wash, then route-finding skills and scrambling come into play farther up the wash
3. not bad -- I've seen lizards, squirrels, and coyotes up there
4. occasionally there will be boulderers.. less often, hikers. no real crowds.
5. I know of one petroglyph at the mouth of the wash, but that is all
6. dogs are allowed
7. a good amount of solitude for this short hike, unless there are boulderers.. but they stay put in their little areas definitely no car noise, and only rarely will you hear hikers from on the surrounding hills.

[kingsnake]

I hope Monday morning is soon enough ... I'll try to rush through this before a 9am meeting. (They usually start late ...)

single favorite hike in metro Phoenix : The Cave Creek Trail #4 portion of this hike http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=756 .


1. How are the views? can you see houses or buildings ... just a ranch near the trailhead. It's mostly in a canyon, so there are not any wide panoramas
2. Terrain difficulty, rate 1-5, 5 being most difficult ... 2. It's got some up & downs, and soem creek crossing, but nothing really strenuous. (At least not by HAZ standards.)
3. Chances of viewing wildlife? I never see wildlife on any of my hikes unless it is lizards and rabbits. I have seen bear scat though, and being Arizona there is always a chance of snakes.
4. Crowds ... In four hikes in that area, I have encountered people three times, twice a pair on foot, and once three or four on horseback.
5. Historical significance? - any petroglyphs? Some early 20th century rock etching, but otherwise none I've found. Historical significance is that the ranch up there was apparently some sort of big deal in the late 19th and early 20th century. Don't recall why off hand.
6. Are dogs allowed? not sure
7. Solitude - is this hike truly peaceful? or can you hear cars or noise? yes, and none at all. Great creek scenery!

[paulshikleejr]

Hello, burntlizard!

I'm sorry I didn't see this 'til this morning (MON).

Single favorite hike in metro Phoenix : Virgin's Breast (http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=9420).

1. How are the views? Can you see houses or buildings? This is great for its wide open vistas. It's north of Pinnacle Peak, so just open territory with some houses in the south.
2. Terrain difficulty (rate 1-5, 5 being most difficult)? I'd have to say it was a 2.5, but it's now probably a 3.0 (because of overgrowth of likely routes).
3. Chances of viewing wildlife? Didn't see any wildlife, but snakes and lizards are a definite possibility.
4. Crowds? Once you start up the hill, none (since this is a bushwhack). On the way to the base, maybe one or two mountain bikers and/or dirtbikers.
5. Historical significance? Unknown.
6. Are dogs allowed? De facto, yes, but the last 20 feet to the top might be tricky for Fido (it's all 2 to 3 foot boulders).
7. Solitude At the top, "truly peaceful"!

[burntlizard]

A BIG thank you to everyone for the information and expertise . This information will assist me greatly in completing my assignment.

Lance

[trekkin gecko]

is it too late to give a response?

[burntlizard]

@ trekkin Gecko thank you, but yes I used the information last night in class