Hiking in Scottsdale, Arizona

I rang in the new year with a new job in a new location: Phoenix, Arizona. A wonderful place for the outdoor enthusiast I'd been told, and so far I agree. We've been fortunate enough to find our way to the trail each of the last five Saturdays, with each outing providing me experiences heretofore unimagined. A far cry from the plains of Kansas or the hills of Tennessee, the only other places I've ever really known, my introduction to hiking in the desert southwest has me filled with as much anticipation for Saturday mornings now as when I was a wide-eyed kid up before dawn, waiting on Hong Kong Phooey to air.

Our inauguration into the desert was a 5.5-mile loop beginning and ending at the Gateway to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve - Desert Park Trail

Desert Park Trail

On our second Saturday, we checked out the Pinnacle Peak Trail. This is a popular 3.5-mile out-and-back trail with some spectacular views.

We headed out from the Lost Dog Wash Trailhead the following Saturday and hiked a 5.1-mile loop to Taliesin Overlook and back.

The 7.2-mile Gooseneck Trail was next on our list. This is an easy, level stroll through the desert. We started at Tom's Thumb Trailhead and made our way north to Fraesfield Trailhead. Not the most popular trail among hikers here, we did encounter quite a few mountain bikers and a couple of runners along the Gooseneck.

Last Saturday we returned to the Lost Dog Wash Trailhead for a 7-mile hike along the Sunrise Trail to Sunrise Peak. This hike turned out to be my favorite of the five we've done thus far, but we're just getting started here. I can't wait to discover our next trail, and I'll be sure to keep you posted.

At the top of Sunrise Peak