the awesome hike....

[Hikergirl81]

So, I am sure this may be posted somewhere else but I couldn't find it. If you had to hike somewhere for the rest of your life OR you had 4 more hours to spend hiking in your life. (I know I am a nerd....) WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO HIKE IS ARIZONA?!
-JANELLE :A1:
*Note added: I have always been to shy to post a topic, however that night I had a little too much wine and decided to go for it. I REALLY thought I had deleted it but apparently not. I was glad to see the responses and I added my favorite place too!

[Jim]

In Arizona only? Sedona, because its nice year round, has good views, and offers a wide variety of types of hikes. It's also one of only 2 areas in the state I am pretty familiar with.

[Jeffshadows]

I suppose I'd die happy atop Mount Kimball...

[Sredfield]

Oh, that's a very tough question because there are soooo many great places to hike in AZ, and elsewhere.

[big_load]

AZ has lots of best places. The best thing about it is not any particular one of them, but the endless variety of high-quality hiking.

[Al_HikesAZ]

It depends on the season. And it depends on your fitness, skills and personality. Heaven for someone could be hell for another. There are hikes that jhodlof does that if I were 30 years younger would be heavenly but at my age might be deadly.

[Jim]

There are hikes that jhodlof does that if I were 30 years younger would be heavenly but at my age might be deadly.

You're too kind.

[nonot]

Before the flash flood, I would have said the 4 hours from Havasu campground to the Colorado, but that will take a half decade or more to recover.

Some great trips I've taken or want to do...and the time of year I should have done them if I went some other time.
Fish Creek backpack in January.
Labarge Box Loop in Feb.
20+ miles can be done in a day Sedona on a warmer day in March.
7 day,70+ mile backpack in the Grand Canyon in early April.
3.5 day, 45 mile backpack Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch/Paria in late April.
Several Days Zion in May.
Inner Basin trail to the peak in June
Stay in Air/Conditioning July/Aug.
West Fork in September(still need to do this one).
Woods Canyon trail in September. (too hot in June)
Havasu Canyon in October (when it recovers).
Reavis Ranch/Circlestone in November.
Full Peter's Canyon in December.

So that's like a hiking calendar

One day I would like to do a big loop from Fossil Creek over to the Verde trail, I think that would take about 4 days though.

Also, a full descent of the Tonto from 87 through the Narrows might be a 3 day trip, but that would be fun.

Caves can be done any time of the year. Canyons are really fun when they aren't creating hypothermic conditions.

<edited>, I keep remembering more great hikes.

[Davis2001r6]

The grand canyon has never disappointed me in 20+ trips there. Although some places I've seen in the Sierra's equally as nice just a further drive away.

[RedRoxx44]

100 miles in the Gila
Highline trail in the Uintahs
Gannet Peak area in the Winds ( this one might happen this July)
Float the Dirty Devil River ( working on it)
A full week in the Galiuros and do both East and West Divide and down the middle.
Get past the sump in a long water cave on the rim and do some photography, the one time we backwalled it I had no camera---and it's one of the most beautiful caves I've seen.
Three backpacking trips in Utah pending.
Go back to a place I was on this weekend Sun and check more of that out--it's always something

[nonot]

Float the Dirty Devil River ( working on it)

The logistics of this one are difficult, I'd be interested in hearing what you are planning??

[RedRoxx44]

This thought has come about because I know another crazy person who is willing to go along, logistics aren't that bad. Need high water which will be about May, and maybe later in summer after monsoons. Put in out of Hanksville then take out at either Poison Springs Canyon or near Hite at Lake Powell.
Web account of a guy who did this solo and hitchhiked back to Hanksville. I've backpacked along several sections of this river, in the Robbers Roost system, down to No Mans and Larry and from Poison Springs road to Fiddler Cove and Hatch canyons and into Happy Canyon narrows.
My partner in crime is not available this May---my plan is to be in Utah from about May 9-19th---so I have a backpack planned in the Swell, then if all goes well a return to Dark Canyon and I would like to get into Sam Mesa Box and Twin Corral canyons along the Dirty Devil from Burr Point.
But, as per my usual, who knows what will happen, I'll know as I drive up there.

[hippiepunkpirate]

I agree with Jim....you can't beat Sedona for the year-round credentials.

[azbackpackr]

The trouble with Sedona is having to suffer from looking at all the honky, pretentious eyesores on the hillsides before you get to the hike. It always makes me feel a little ill. That whole area SHOULD have been a National Park, but the government didn't buy it all up back when they had the chance.

About a quarter of the hikes on the lists were not in Arizona! Hmmmm....

In a perfect world without Indian Reservations, I'd pick Havasu Falls/Mooney Falls.

In a less-than-perfect world I'd have to agree it is hard to choose. Time of year, mood, etc.

Sometimes the best hike is the one where you are feeling the best. Maybe your health, fitness and well-being at that moment, combined with whatever good landscape is at hand makes for the greatest joy and satisfaction. Throw in a couple of great pals, or alternatively, a blissful solo experience, and you have what I like best about hiking.

I do have a real affinity for the Canyon. Didn't go last year, alas. Plan to go in Oct. I always feel very elated upon arrival, and often stay that way for a good portion of the trip, unless I get extremely tired.

[BobP]

I'd go back to where I just came from

Keebler's HQ(Elves Chasm)

[JoelHazelton]

I'm inspired by new exploration, not going back to places I know, so I'd choose anywhere remote with a waterfall that I've never seen before. Preferably in Arizona.

[writelots]

I'm inspired by new exploration, not going back to places I know, so I'd choose anywhere remote with a waterfall that I've never seen before. Preferably in Arizona.

Did I include this one in my photo set? I don't remember. Now, I'm not much of a bushwacker by history - but it would be amazing to find a way out to this waterfall in the Catalinas (I think on Lemmon Creek)

Zoomed in

Zoomed Out

Other than that... well, it is hard to beat the GC - I mean, we are SO lucky to have one of the wonders of the natural world in our backyard. But, then, there are lesser known, hidden jewels that I love in different ways, too. The Chiricahuas are one of my favorite destinations, and I intend to spend a lot more time down there soon. Even the National Monument almost never feels "crowded" like the more visited parts of the GC.

Jordan Hot Springs NM is my favorite weekend backpacking trip as well as my favorite place to hike with my dog.

[Jim]

I hear a lot of people say the Red Rocks area around Sedona should have been a National Park. I'm glad its not a park. I don't like the Red Rocks Pass (which is only $20 for a yearly pass at the Bashas or Safeway), but think of how annoying access would be if it were a park, how much more expensive it would be to visit there from outside the area, and how much busier it would be if it were a NP since that designation always seems to attract the fat, slack jawed, gawking tourists who drive around in their RV's and Minivans to do nothing more than take a picture at a designated view point. Its bad enough as it is in Sedona with those people clogging up trailheads for Wilson Mt, Doe and Bear Mt, and Boynton Canyon, or doing 20 mph through Oak Creek Canyon. Uptown Sedona is a ridiculous monstrosity of so called upscale restaurants and boutiques, but think of how annoying it would be if I could think of how bad it would be if that area were a NP! I guess it would be less pretentious, and that would definetly be a good thing.
I like Sedona the way it is. Its an attractive town, far more attractive than run down, worn out railroad towns like Flag. Compare 89A to RT 66 and its like Scottsdale to some valley town which is ugly. There are some good restaurants, and access is pretty good to most points I want to visit. Plus, the development is pushing south on 89A so it isn't having much impact on Sedona from my perspective. Its also nice to think that there is potentially the option to live in the Sedona area, without having to stoop to Cottonwood. I couldn't live in Sedona if were a park.

[Davis2001r6]

I stay away from Sedona as much as I can. Sure it's "only $20" for a pass. But guess what, $75? for a NP Pass, AZ State Parks Pass, Catalina, Madera Canyon, Red Rock, Tonto Pass, West Fork....all those little passes and fee's add up to a lot of money. Sedona is a tourist trap in my book, having to pay money to park on the side of the road to take a picture is ridiculous.

[Dschur]

having to pay money to park on the side of the road to take a picture is ridiculous.

The pass isn't intended for these people

A pass is not required for incidental stopping to take a photograph or to enjoy a scenic vista (approximately 15 minutes or less).

This is from the Redrock Pass website....

Also if you have the America the Beautiful Pass you don't need a Redrock Pass only the National one...