Family and Day Hikes

[satillayakker]

Alright, so I am in my first stages of planning a vacation. It will be in June of 2012 to AZ. Wanted to go this year, but looks like it will be Sanibel Is. Gonna be beautiful none the less, but I do miss the desert. So here is my plan: we will be coming into AZ on 40 and making a big loop to the Canyon and to western AZ the south to Yuma, the east. Along the way we will be hitting a few places we want to see. Dino tracks, GC, Jerome, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and then a few things around Yuma where we lived several years ago. Then, who knows. I am looking for some ideas of places to visit and see that have easy trail access and won't be too terribly hot. Well, I know it will be hot, spent a few summers in Yuma, so trails that we could hit early in the A.M. would be great. There are a few places my oldest son and I would like to go, but I am looking for the local knowledge to guide us to a few places over all.

Anybody with some ideas?

[chumley]

June? I'll take Sanibel for $1000 Alex. I spent a week on Captiva a couple of years ago. Really nice part of the world that is!

As you mentioned, it's hot around the lower elevation areas in June and an early start is essential. But it sounds like you'll be doing plenty of travel in the high country too. There are plenty of hikes around Sedona/Oak Creek that are easy to get to and more tolerable at that time of year. Forest hikes are available in Flagstaff, but it sounds like you are looking for more of a desert experience. How old/experienced are your kids? If you have an idea what you're looking for, the TrailDEX is a great resource. Select an area, select the filters (month, distance, difficulty, water, ruins, etc.) and see what it comes up with for you! Keep in mind, you'll get more results if you don't select "June". Some hikes may still be hikeable in June even if the optimal months are spring or autumn.

If you're taking I-10 east on your way out of the state, there are some great trails in the Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona that are tolerable in summer. (And I'd recommend a stop at Kartchner Caverns as a good family stop too).

Here's the link to the TrailDEX http://hikearizona.com/interestDEX.php?ID=34
You can also get here by clicking on the map on the home page and narrowing down the region you are looking at.

As most of the replies to your post last August imply, summer in the desert can be a real challenge for hiking, and most people choose to stick with higher elevations.
See http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtop ... =18&t=5412

[kingsnake]

Aravaipa, but you need to buy a permit ahead of time. Bonus is the hike is all in water (well 80% water), so if you feel hot -- and it does get hot down there in the summer -- just take a dip. The Biosphere is another hour closer to Tucson from there, and is a very interesting tour.

[azbackpackr]

You did not mention the White Mountains, the Black River, Hannagan Meadow, Greer, Mt. Baldy or Escudilla. I would suggest going to the White Mtns. if you have the time.
http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=11176
http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=11386
http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=12733

[satillayakker]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I found a good many .5-1.5 mile hikes that would fit my request. Several I never heard of, but awesome looking. Also, does anyone know of any real short trails, less than a mile, ( more like .5 or less) near Yuma other than Betty's Kitchen? We are gona stop bt BK and the old Gila River Bridge in Yuma early one morning, but I was wondering about any other real short trails for an early morning late walk. My oldest Son and I are in good shape and may take in Palm Canyon early our second day in the area, but thats about it there. Other than there, and really only cause we lived there, we will be North of Phoenix. Also, one other thing, It has been a while since we lived there, but I seem to remember the monsoons being worst in May and still seeing it in June. Am I on mark with that?

[azbackpackr]

May in Arizona is dry and hot, so is June. Monsoon doesn't officially begin until Dia de San Juan, June 24, but usually is later than that except in the White Mtns. where it can kind of get going in June.

I lived in Yuma, too. I hiked all over the place. There are 3 guidebooks available to purchase at the downtown visitors' center. They are by Tom Nunn. A popular hike is to the little dry waterfall with petroglyphs on it in North Fortuna Wash, north of the 8, east of Foothills Blvd, in the North Foothills area. This shows you the basic area but I didn't give directions to the 'glyphs:
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1918
Muggins Mtns. Wilderness: http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=6593
I call this Signal Hill, but this person calls it Telegraph Pass: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2009
Antelope Hill 'glyph site near Roll: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=892
I personally like to kayak. In January I did an actual kayaking tour, cost $45: http://www.yumakayaktours.com/
I also like the Kofa area--you mentioned Palm Canyon. Haven't been there but I did go to Horse Tanks, and that was awesome, especially if you can find all the petroglyphs. Hint, they are not up the canyon near the waterholes, they are near the parking area on the side of the hill to the north.