HikeArizona.COM

ok looking to take a hike and find some intesreting stuff.... I'm all into that hyrogliphics, mystery type of stuff.... anyone know any good trails or places to visit here in az?

There are a few in the Supers Ever been back there?

I'm digging the phonetic spelling! Good stuff!

The easiest way to find "interesting stuff" is to pick up some books on Arizona history. Go out and check out the places you read about. Some of the old mining towns (ghost towns now) are still there, way off the beaten path. It's fun to check out buildings and machinery from the 1800's and early 1900's. The area around Crown King and south east of Superior and Florence have tons of such places, not to mention a large stretch between Wickenburg and Kingman. Poke around for some history on the settling of Wickenburg and the Hassayampa River area. The things that the natives did to the pioneers will make you gasp in horror! If course, we took their land, so I think the actions of the natives were justified, but that's for another thread.

Petroglyphs (hieroglyphs as you call them, though that is not accurate. Hieroglyphs are in Egypt, although there are a few other cultures that used them as well.) are all over the place. South Mountain, "A" Mountain, various North Phoenix locations, Cave Creek and Carefree. There are many petroglyph and ancient structure sites on the mesas near I-17 and Black Canyon City. Petroglyphs abound in Winslow, Holbrook, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and Eastern Arizona (azbackpackr has them in her backyard. ;-) )
Sedona, the Wet Beaver Creek area and some other canyons in that area also sport petroglyphs. The most popular spot to see them is probably the ironically named Hieroglyphic Trail in the Superstitions. There are also petroglyphs south of Florence. Oh yeah, the Grand Canyon too, but you really need to know where to look there.

I know this info is somewhat vague, and it is on purpose since I do not know you. Think of this post as just another bit of "mystery type of stuff." Have fun!

If you go into Traildex, select the region you're interested in (Phoenix?) and after that loads, select Ruins as your interest, and hit search. That'll give you some place to start.

Of course, like Matt said, there's stuff all over the state, you just need to know where to look.

If you want history on ghost towns theres a real good book with maps and everything Its called Ghost Towns of Arizona by James E. and Barbara H. Sherman it was written in the 1960s so some stuff like what remains of certain ghost towns is wrong but you can just do some internet reaserch and find out.

Google "ghost towns of Arizona" and you'll get a site run by a guy down here in Tucson. It has a lot of irritating banners, but I'm guessing they have a free host, or something. Lots and lots of current info on the sites, pictures, access, etc...

Jeff

There are some petroglyph tours as well, such as the one at Lyman Lake State Park, which includes a boat ride across the lake. There are clubs you can join, such as the Arizona Archaeological Society. There are many national monuments and state parks in the state devoted to history and archaeology. After awhile one begins to realize that archaeological sites are just about everywhere, but learning to know what you're looking at takes time. And it is good to take some time to find out what is considered ethical behavior regarding these sites, and also what behavior is illegal. It's not unheard of for someone to get a longer sentence in prison for stealing and selling ancient pottery than some other people get for committing murder.

Just the smallest thing, such as touching petroglyphs with your bare hands, is considered unethical, because the oils on your skin can cause damage. You are not supposed to pick up broken pieces of pottery (called "sherds" but spelled "shards") and stack them on rocks, or put them in your pocket and take them home.

Sorry to get so preachy, (but I'm so good at it! ), and these things probably need to be brought up now and then to remind us all to be careful with these irreplaceable objects.