HikeArizona.COM

Anyone want to spill the beans on the closest hike/trail run that is noticeably cooler within an hour of Phoenix?

@SpiderLegs only if you can drive at 300mph ;)

The Pinals or Payson, I'd say, unless you live on the west side. Then it may be quicker to run up I-17 to somewhere.

Mt Ord from Slate Creek
http://hikearizona.com/decoder=1640

azbackpackr wrote:The Pinals or Payson, I'd say, unless you live on the west side. Then it may be quicker to run up I-17 to somewhere.

Unfortunately I live on the west side. Adds 30 minutes to anyplace noticeably cooler. Guess I will just suffer through this weekend. Time to start house shopping in north Phoenix.

none of those suggestions are cool weather hikes within an hour of Phoenix

@SpiderLegs
They open some of the malls early on weekends in east Mesa and Sun city for walkers if you don't mind an older crowd...

@Tough_Boots
I live in North Phoenix and the Mt Ord Slate Creek TH is 1hr 5min away at the legally posted speed limits, as it is from Downtown Phoenix.
Under an hour from the Phoenix - Tempe border.
1:15 from Spidey's house in the booming metropolis of Cashion.

I'm so glad I don't have this problem. Of course, the problem with living in Phoenix is self-inflicted by those suffering from it... ;)

I've lived in Arizona for 28 years (minus 6 months in SoCal this past year) and have never had occasion to need to move to Phoenix. I have lived in Tucson, Springerville, Eagar, Yuma, Flagstaff and now Williams. I have concluded that I MIGHT be willing to live in the Valley of the Sun under certain circumstances: A good job I actually like, nice home with a pool, maybe a significant other, or better yet, a retired significant other and no need for me to work....etc.) but those things have not happened. Right now I'm happy with my gypsy single life and my current seasonal job.

FOTG stole mine, I was going to suggest the Mills mall...

friendofThundergod wrote:@SpiderLegs
They open some of the malls early on weekends in east Mesa and Sun city for walkers if you don't mind an older crowd...

Might have to go buy some walking shoes and join the Silver Sneaker Club. I'm due for my AARP card in a few short years anyways, might as well embrace it. Need to go and start chasing kids off my front yard now.

The closest we can get for a cool hike from north Phx. up I-17 is Pivot Rock/Wildcat Spring. Still about 2 hours. Lynx Lake and the Granite Dells by Prescott is a bit quicker.

Start at the crack of dawn and be done by 9-10AM and you can hike most trails. Waking up at 3AM sucks but.....

SpiderLegs wrote:I'm due for my AARP card

You can have mine. For some reason they sent one to me earlier this year. :-({|=

http://hikearizona.com/decoder=1665

it seems to be the quickest access to ponderosa pines from the west side of Phoenix

I wrote that description when I lived in NW Phoenix. Looks like your closer to the Avondale area, so the trip around the 101 may tack on another 20 minutes, but the Big Bug Mesa area from Mayer/Prescott Valley is pretty closeby to West Phoenix.

chumley wrote:For some reason

I'm pretty sure I know exactly why. Joe we need a gray hair/cane smiley.

@The Eagle Joking aside, I think I'm going to check out Mt. Ord this weekend Thanks

@Bradshaws
77 for a high at the top tomorrow. (99 at the TH for a high)
Generally accepted as the easiest 4000' AEG gain hike in the state.

@The Eagle

Thanks for the tip. Will probably sneak up there in the next few weeks to check it out.

Anybody know how busy it is up on Ord during the weekends this time of year? Mainly in terms of parking being a problem?