Phoenix is a city, but even in this metropolitan area, there are plenty of places to hike.
Take Camelback Mountain, for instance, that instantly recognizable feature of the
Phoenix skyline. Several trails cover Camelback, including two short but strenuous hikes to the top.
Another popular but strenuous hike is the 2.4 mile trek up
Piestewa Peak (formerly
Squaw Peak) and back. This is another strenuous trail, but the views from the top are worth it. The Peak was named after Lori Piestewa, a Hopi soldier killed in the war in
Iraq in 2003. This trail gets extremely crowded on weekends; go early, or during the week for the best experience.
There are also several nice trails in
South Mountain Park that are a little easier than hiking to the top of a peak. The
Sonoran Desert National Monument offers some great desert hiking, and there are several self-guided nature trails throughout the area.
