Spring in Arizona is a great opportunity to make people more outdoorsy. The weather turns breezy and settles into a perfect temperature, which presents the perfect chance to try out hiking or get back into it. However, when it comes to first-time or moderate hikers, it’s not just about picking the prettiest trail, but picking the right difficulty, crowding level, and a trail that can balance the heat so you want to go again. Luckily, we live in the perfect state for some of the most rewarding trails that won’t destroy you. By interviewing students at our school about their favorite spring hiking spots and trying their recommendations out myself, I set out to find which trails are actually worth it for beginners and moderate hikers.
Senior Izzy Montoya, who jokingly calls herself an “elite level climber,” has been hiking for about a year now. She was influenced to get serious about hiking by her desire to be outside, enjoying the weather, and getting the opportunity to experience some beautiful views that Arizona offers. Her spring hike recommendation is Prospector Loop on South Mountain, which she claims is an easy hike. She also recommends going slightly off route to stop at Goat Hill, which gives the perfect view of the Phoenix city lights at night. The total trip, with the inclusion of Goat Hill, is about a 6-mile loop with a total elevation gain of 1,460 feet.
After hearing Izzy’s recommendation of Prospector Loop as “the perfect beginner trail,” I decided to test the trail myself. Going into this Prospector Loop, I was expecting a long trail with jumps of elevation gain once in a while throughout the hike, but in reality, all of the elevation gain is rather sudden about a mile into this hike. Then, the trail becomes a lot of flat walking ground and straightaways. For first-time and moderate hikers, I would definitely recommend this trail as a nighttime hike to be able to get the reward of the city lights on Goat Hill. This was my third time hiking this trail, and the lights feel more rewarding every time. For this trail, bring a flashlight, good shoes, and lots of water.
Another recommendation comes from senior Clay Dillow, who enjoys hiking as a fun, active hobby to do every once in a while. Clay was introduced to hiking more recently by close friends who brought him along. His spring hike recommendation is the Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Mountain, which Clay recommends to beginning and moderate hikers who want more of a challenge, as this trail’s difficulty level is rated as hard via AllTrails. He warns of it being a more crowded trail, as it is one of the most popular and accessible hikes in Arizona.
This is one of my favorite hikes that I have done. After getting the recommendation, I decided to go again for the third time and brought a couple of friends along, which we all really enjoyed. Based on what was said by Clay, I agree with the difficulty of this trail, but disagree with the crowdedness level, which could be different depending on the day. There is about 1,600 feet of elevation gain on this trail, and it’s about a 2.8 mile point to point hike. This hike is a little more challenging because it has consistent elevation gain all the way to the top. I would highly recommend going during sunset, as you can see the beautiful colors from the peak of the mountain. Similar to the Prospector Loop hike, I would recommend a lot of water, good shoes, and a flashlight for the hike down if you go at sunset.
