We went from 60* & partly cloudy to record high temps to end the month. It certainly felt like the sky was on fire this weekend while on the trail.

In this week’s edition:

Thank you for being here, see you on the trails! 🙏

The Verde Valley Circle Trail is an ambitious 89 mile regional trail system designed to connect communities, landscapes, and recreation areas throughout the Verde Valley. Instead of being a single dirt path, it is a connected network of trails, greenways, and multi use pathways that will eventually form a continuous loop through some of central Arizona’s most scenic terrain. (link)

Learn about the amazing and diverse wildlife of the Sonoran Desert on this guided hike with Arizona State Park volunteers Lisa and Abi. This will be an easy, 1-mile, out-and-back hike with little elevation gain and some loose, steep terrain in parts. The hike will be about an hour at a social pace, as we stop to observe interpretive signs and discuss interesting facts about wildlife.

This event is part of Outdoors250, a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and Arizona’s natural heritage. By participating in this event, you can enter to win Outdoors250 prizes by signing up at AZStateParks.com/Outdoors250.

March 3, 10 & 17, at 9am

Come learn about the diverse insects and arachnids that the Sonoran Desert has to offer! We will discuss their clever adaptations to survive in the harsh conditions of the desert as well as try to spot and identify species as we go. This hike will be about one mile and will take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete. Terrain will include loose gravel and small hills, so sturdy shoes and water are highly recommended.

All ages are welcome, but the trail is not stroller friendly. Pets are welcome, but must be on a leash. Meet at the Palo Verde Day Use Ramada.

The program is free with paid park entry. Hike will be limited to the first 12 participants on a first come, first serve basis. (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.

Early risers in Phoenix will have a reason to look up in the early morning hours of March 3rd, when a striking Blood Moon lunar eclipse paints the moon a deep reddish-orange hue. The effect happens as Earth’s shadow fully covers the moon, filtering sunlight through our atmosphere and creating that dramatic desert-sky glow. If skies are clear, it should be visible across Arizona, making for a great pre-dawn photo opportunity before you hit the trails.

This will be visible in Arizona between 2am-7am on March 3rd. (link)

Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this 2 hour walk to discover the incredible variety of flowers in this area of the preserve.

Thursday, March 5th, 9-11am at the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. Learn more about the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.

Between work, family, and everything else, most people aren’t looking for another complicated wellness routine. They just want something that works.

AG1 Next Gen is a clinically studied daily health drink designed to support gut health, fill common nutrient gaps, and help maintain steady energy. One scoop a day, and you’re covered.

Start your mornings with AG1 and get 3 FREE AG1 Travel Packs, 3 FREE AGZ Travel Packs, and FREE Vitamin D3+K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first subscription.

Get started today

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, April 4, 2026 at their store in Phoenix and is just $50. (link)

The Arrowhead Hiking Club made the trip to Central Phoenix and learned that 9am on a Saturday in Phoenix is not an ideal time to find a parking space in the Phoenix Mountain Park. (link)

I was in the West Valley for work on a Tuesday and decided at the last minute to head into the park and avoid the rest of my work 😎

South Mountain Park stretches across more than 16,000 acres, making it one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. On any given weekend, hikers, mountain bikers, and families spread out across miles of desert trails.

But South Mountain did not begin as a protected outdoor playground.

There was a time when its future looked far less certain.

This is the first of a series of articles about the history of our trails here in the Phoenix area. Learn more about South Mountain in the second article of this series.

If you hike around the Phoenix area long enough, especially on popular multi use trails, you will eventually run into that awkward moment where two groups meet on a narrow stretch of desert singletrack. So who actually has the right of way?

Find us on Instagram! We’d love to see what you’re up to!

*Disclosure: Our free newsletter and website carry paid placements and sometimes use affiliate links. If you click or buy, we may earn a commission. We are not affiliated with these advertisers. That’s just how we keep this newsletter free.