If you’re a ‘winter’ hiker here in Phoenix, this next week may be your last chance to get out and enjoy the trails during some cooler weather.

Temperatures in the 60s and maybe some rain drops…SIGN ME UP!!!!

In this week’s edition:

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

A trail in Peoria is serving a deeper purpose than just recreation. The North Peoria trail honors Vietnam veterans and missing service members, giving hikers a chance to reflect on sacrifice and remembrance with every step. It is a powerful reminder that some trails carry stories that go far beyond the desert landscape.

See the full article & video from ABC15.com

Grand Canyon National Park officials say the North Rim is on track to reopen for the summer 2026 season after being closed due to infrastructure damage and access issues. The reopening will restore access to one of the park’s most remote and cooler areas, offering hikers and visitors a quieter alternative to the South Rim at Grand Canyon National Park.

The park will be reopened on May 15, 2026. (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.

February 17th & 24th, at 9am.

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.

Join the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy on this ‘difficult hike as we pass by several crested saguaro cacti.'  This hike is for experienced hikers and will cover 7.8 miles in about 4 hours.’ (link)

Saturday, February 21, 9am-1pm at the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Learn more about the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.

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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

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)

The trails here in Phoenix are pretty busy, and survival skills are not something you’ll need on most days, but if you venture out into the backcountry and would like to have some basic survival skills the Arizona Hiking Shack in Phoenix is offering a wilderness survival class.

How to prepare for, avoid, and survive emergencies. Self-Reliance Basics for the Backcountry. This course covers the internationally recognized principles and protocols for managing emergencies in the backcountry.

This class is being held on Wednesday, February 25th at their store in Phoenix and is just $35. (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.

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

The Arrowhead Hiking Club headed out to tackle the East Wing Mountain trail in Peoria, and they had to deal with some unexpected visitors. (link)

Today, Camelback Mountain feels permanent. Iconic. Untouchable. On any cool morning, hundreds of hikers line up at Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail chasing summit views and bragging rights.

But Camelback’s future as public land was never guaranteed.

There was a very real moment in Phoenix history when the mountain could have become one of the most exclusive hillside neighborhoods in the Valley.

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

If you have hiked around Phoenix in late winter or early spring, you have probably seen it. Rolling hills blanketed in tiny yellow button-like flowers. At first glance, it looks like a super bloom. It looks cheerful. It looks like spring.

It is not a native wildflower. It is stinknet, and it is rapidly transforming the Sonoran Desert. Learn more about how it got here, and why it’s a problem.

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