3 Comments for 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Phoenix: Including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale

• 1. Xiang  |  December 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 pm

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  This review is from: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Phoenix, Including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale (60 Hikes – Menasha Ridge) (Paperback)

  The first time I climbed Camelback Mountain via the Echo Canyon trail I came to a new understanding of the word “steep.” The trail rises in excess of 1,000 feet per mile and that includes a relatively level section. But Camelback Peak is hardly alone among the rigorous hikes and climbs in the Phoenix area. Many of the trails in the Phoenix Mountains are incredibly steep with no shade and few convenient rest spots. However, they also offer stellar views of the Valley of the Sun and some of the best off season recreation in the western US. They are also covered in detail in Charles Liu’s new addition to the ’60 Hikes within 60 miles’ series from Menasha Ridge Press.

  Like other books in the series, this volume has a lot to recommend it. It includes a useful introduction on the basics of hiking and how to use a GPS unit. Hikes are organized by geographical region (within Phoenix, suburbs, and areas to the northeast and northwest, as well as south of the city) and each hike contains key “at-a-glance” information such as distance, elevation, approximate hiking time, and, relatively unique to Phoenix, how many quarts of water you will need if you wish to survive the experience. I might add here that some of the information can be redundant. Under the heading “exposure” virtually every hike lists shade as “none” or “very little.” Liu deserves a lot of credit for his careful maps that accompany the trail descriptions. These were recorded by hand-held GPS and plotted onto downloaded topographical maps. Based on the trails I have hiked that are described in this book, these maps are excellent.

  In all, this is a great book if you are a Phoenix resident or regular visitor seeking hikes in the off season. (I fall into the latter category.) The author does describe several fairly level paths: the trail in Papago Park and the Bridal Murphy trail, to offset some of the more challenging adventures. For my part, I will use this book to explore the Bradshaw Mountains the next time I visit Phoenix in the warmer months. Liu points out their elevation makes them a nice alternative to the longer drive for Flagstaff if you want to beat the heat. I think it is a safe bet that even seasoned local hikers will find something new in these pages. So get the book and go take a hike (but not during June, July, or August).

• 2. Ugra  |  December 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 pm

  This review is from: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Phoenix, Including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale (60 Hikes – Menasha Ridge) (Paperback)

  Have you ever purchased a guide and found yourself wondering if the author actually visited the site, and if he did, why he didn’t provide more information? That will not be your experience with this book, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Phoenix. The author, Charles Liu, gives a wealth of information for each hike with detailed maps, charts showing the elevation gain/loss, key at-a-glance trail info, GPS coordinates, and more. Each trail is described “In Brief” with a sentence or two, then expanded upon in usually 2+ pages of well-written prose, describing every aspect of the hike. Most descriptions also feature a black and white photo of the trail, scenery, or a unique feature of the hike. Each hike’s description ends with a paragraph of describing additional nearby activities.

  Included in the book’s 20+ pages of introductions and prefaces, there are particularly useful lists that make it easy to find the kind of hike one might be looking for. Want a scenic, solitary hike that is 4-6 miles, on a multi-use trail by a stream? Try the Vineyard Trail. Or a 1-3 mile flat dog-friendly trail that is good for viewing wildlife and ends in a swimming hole? Try the Badger Springs Wash Trail. Or a scenic, solitary high-altitude 9+ mile steep hike alongside a stream? Try Reavis Ranch via Rogers Trough Trailhead. Also charted are hikes with scrambling or climbing, those with archaeological ruins, those best for children, hikes best for wildflowers, those for regular workouts and hikes for runners.

  The book ends with a short-but-useful appendix section, listing where to locally find hiking supplies, maps, and hiking clubs, and a glossary of both general hiking terms and ones that might be fairly particular to Arizona (like hoodoo and javelina).

  My only wish is that the author would have better-covered the areas to the north and west of Phoenix. However, that’s not enough of a detraction to warrant less than five stars. I have read and owned many, many guidebooks, and this one surely ranks among the best.

  (The cover of my book is different from the one pictured here on Amazon.)

• 3. Emerson  |  December 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 pm

  We have a group of friends that hike almost every weekend all year and we’ve been referring to this book for almost two years for new hikes. We’ve done more than 30 so far plus some of the variations given in the book and every one have been well worth doing at least once. Most of them we have done multiple times or plan to do again.
  We’ve done almost all of the longer hikes 4-12+ miles and the book has provided very accurate and helpful information. For instance finding the trailhead for the Vineyard Trail by Roosevelt Lake–if it wasn’t for the book’s instruction we would have never found the trailhead and it was one of our favorite hikes!!
  The only complaint that I would have is that the book calls Tempe Town Lake and four similar paths “hikes” — they shouldn’t be in there at all — if you’re on a sidewalk you’re really NOT hiking!
  The book is very very good. If you want to explore new areas around Phoenix, this book is a great way to introduce you to them!

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