Five Awesome Arizona Hiking Trails (Not in Grand Canyon)
By: Jimmy Jooves

The Grand Canyon is not the only hiking trail in Arizona. There are many great hiking trails in Arizona which do not entail maneuvering for a place at the Grand Canyon. Many of these trails are hard to negotiate but the unmatched, breathtaking beauty that you encounter more than makes up for the difficulty. Five of the best Hiking Trails are listed here.

The Wet Beaver Loop is an extremely difficult trail, but it is an awesome hike in the Wet Beaver Wilderness Area. It is a 22-mile round trip and you will need more than one day to complete it, as you will be making a large loop to return from where you began. It is interspersed with camps, Waldroup canyon, and waterfalls. You have to wade through water for a portion of the hike. So, be prepared to get wet, and do not bring children along.

Picacho Peak. This hike is not too far from Casa Grande, and provides a stunning view of the Sonora desert from the top. The hike is very steep at times, and there are numerous switchbacks. The trail is seven miles round trip, unless you take the alternate trail to return from the peak (adding an extra couple of miles).

It is advisable to wear gloves on this hike and you may need to use steel cables to aid your climb at times. You must be in good physical condition to undertake this hike as some Class 3 climbing will be necessary.

Kendrick Mountain. This is a trail that is moderately easy. It is 9.2 miles round trip, and features a look at a cabin and ends in some spectacular views of Red Mountain, Mount Humphreys, Sycamore Canyon, and even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are a series of short switchbacks toward the end that provide the great views.

Paria Canyon. This hike starts in Utah, but right near the border, and immediately moves into Arizona. The road to the trailhead is frequently washed out, and so you need to keep a sharp eye on the weather to avoid flash floods. And, because the trail ends far away from the car, it's nice to take advantage of a shuttle for the ride back, especially since this a multi-day trip. Additionally, as you will be going through wilderness area, you will need to obtain a permit from the BLM.

After the rains the trail gets muddy and prone to quicksand so you will have to pick around a bit. Once you actually get into the canyon, the trail disappears and you have to follow the river. You will be walking through a narrow slot canyon with spectacular formation. It is advisable not to take the trip if rain is forecast for any of the days that you plan to be hiking, because once you are in the Narrows you won't be able to escape flash floods.

This trail offers some fantastic features including a cave "room" in one of the walls, Judd Hollow, the Wrather Canyon and the Wrather Arch. There are also various other routes, springs and canyons, the formations and views of which make this hike an amazing and worthwhile experience.

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