What amazing weather we’re having, I guess winter is going to be a few cool days here & there and that is it. I hope you’re taking advantage and spending some time on the trails.

This edition of the HikePhoenix Newsletter is a little different than most. Thankfully, the news has been quiet for a change, and the headlines haven’t been about hikers getting helicopter rides. The focus in this edition is upcoming events for hikers in & around the Valley.

There will be a full moon next weekend, which will make for a great opportunity to spend some time on the trails under moonlight.

In this week’s edition:

Thank you for being here, see you out there! 🙏

This beautiful program is designed to start with a famous Arizona sunset draping gracefully over the Superstition Mountains, and end under the light of the full moon. The 1.5-mile trail features some rocky, rough terrain but with little elevation gain. It is a ranger-guided hike focusing on the aesthetic, while offering opportunities to stop and interpret what you see on the trail. January 30, 5:30 p.m., $10 fee, registration required (link)

See all of the events available at Lost Dutchman State Park, including many guided hikes.

The Arizona State Parks host a variety of different events at its many parks. If you’re looking for something to do, check out their website for upcoming events.

What really covers the desert – little organisms can make a big difference! Some of the most common sights in the desert – and indeed the living things that probably cover more of the desert than any single kind of plant – are lichen, desert varnish, and soil crust. These organisms actually have much in common. Among other things, they’re all alive (yes, even varnish), they have some components that are neither plants nor animals, and living filaments are crucial to their existence. Come learn more in this introduction to what really covers the desert. (link)

Thursday, January 29th, 10-12pm at the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Learn more about the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.

Join us for the 4th Annual Hike with a Firefighter at South Mountain Park to celebrate Black History Month. (link)

🚒🌵 Explore Phoenix’s natural beauty, hear local history from park rangers, get trail safety tips from firefighters, and enjoy guided hikes, giveaways, and more. Free. Family-friendly. Community-driven. Lace up and hike with us!
📅 January 31st | 8:30 a.m.
📍 South Mountain Visitor Center
🎟️ Free & open to the public

Let's Hike Right, PHX! Join the Parks and Recreation Department for a free ranger-led hike along the Holbert Trail to Dobbins Lookout. Enjoy the scenery and improve your health, while learning more about hiking safety, recreation programs and Phoenix's beautiful natural resources. The Hike Right PHX program is open to all ages and experience levels. Preregistration is required for each hike.

Where: South Mountain Park. 10215 S Central Ave
When: Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 8:00AM

Join the Arizona Humanities presentation What the River Knows on February 18th in Phoenix, an engaging talk that explores how rivers shaped Arizona’s landscapes, communities, and history long before modern development. This indoor, educational event is a great complement to hiking the Valley’s washes and river corridors, offering deeper context on the waterways we often cross on the trail. (link)

Cardinals Climb is a hikiking event that brings the community together to raise funds for local causes. The event welcomes hikers of all levels and provides an opportunity to experience a very unique ‘hike’ which takes place inside State Farm Stadium. Saturday, February 21st.

Learn more or register at CardinalsClimb.com

Join the Arrowhead Hiking Club for a Saturday morning hike at Phoenix Mountains Preserve, one of the Valley’s most scenic urban trail systems. This group hike is a great way to get outside, enjoy desert views, and explore classic Phoenix terrain with fellow local hikers.

Saturday, February 28th at 9am. See all the details at ArrowheadHikingClub.com

How to find your way, find where you are and find the way to help in an emergency! You will learn and understand all the basics of map & compass use for backcountry navigation.

This class is being held on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at their store in Phoenix and is just $50. (link)

Arizona Hiking Shack offers hands on classes that cover the basics of gear, packing, trip planning, safety, and comfort on the trail. These small group sessions are perfect for new backpackers or anyone who wants to feel more confident before heading out on an overnight adventure.

Moonlight hikes are one of the most magical ways to experience the desert around Phoenix. Cooler evening temperatures, wide open skies, and quieter trails create a completely different perspective than hiking during the day. A little extra preparation goes a long way toward making the experience enjoyable and stress free, and makes sure you’re not a statistic & getting to finish your hike with the fire department.

Read the full article here.

The Arrowhead Hiking Club is launching the 2026 Summit Challenge, a simple, fun goal built around hiking some of the best mountains close to home, which can be completed throughout the year.

The challenge includes eight different hikes to eight local summits, all in and around Glendale and the surrounding area. Each hike offers its own views, terrain, and sense of accomplishment, giving members a reason to stay active and discover some new trails you may not have experienced yet.

The 2026 Summit Challenge is about enjoying the desert, setting personal goals, and hiking alongside others who love the outdoors, one summit at a time.

The Arrowhead Hiking Club is open to residents from all corners of the Valley. Most of our hikes are in the NW Valley, but we’re building out the rest of our spring schedule, which will include some more centrally located hikes in Phoenix.

Learn more about what this club is up to here.

It seems all I ever hear about, whether in the news or from locals, is about South Mountain. North Mountain seems to get lost a little bit.

North Mountain has quietly watched Phoenix grow up around it. Long before it became a neighborhood hiking destination, the mountain served as a natural landmark in the open Salt River Valley. Indigenous peoples used the peak as a visual reference point and lookout, relying on its position to help navigate the surrounding desert long before roads or modern development existed.

In the early to mid 1900s, North Mountain took on a new role as Phoenix began to expand. Its elevation made it an ideal site for radio and television towers, which were installed on the summit to broadcast signals across the growing city. The service roads built to reach those towers would later shape many of the hiking routes still used today, giving the mountain its wide, steady trails.

As Phoenix pushed north, farmland and desert gave way to neighborhoods, gradually surrounding the mountain on all sides. What was once isolated open space became an island of preserved desert within the city. This transformation helped spark greater interest in protecting North Mountain and the nearby Shaw Butte as part of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve system.

Today, North Mountain offers a blend of history and accessibility. While it does not have the steep climbs of Camelback or Piestewa Peak, it rewards hikers with expansive views, classic Sonoran Desert vegetation, and a sense of how Phoenix evolved alongside its mountains. It stands as a reminder that some of the city’s most meaningful natural spaces were once shaped by utility before becoming places for recreation and connection.

Learn more at the North Mountain & Shaw Butte website.

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