We are adventurous… to an extent. ;] Here is a list of day hikes we’ve enjoyed over the last few years, many of which are family friendly but still offer fantastic views or lead to a historical experience.
ARIZONA
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HUNTER TRAIL – Picacho Peak, Tucson, AZ Length: 3 miles round trip Trail: Strenuous. It’s short but rough as elevation rises so quickly that they’ve added cable ropes along the very steep section. Lots of loose rocks make it especially slippery descending down. Views:  View Photos & Blog Post: 2/5/2012, 3/27/2011, 10/17/2010, 4/10/2010, 2/28/2010 |
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ECHO CANYON LOOP – Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox, AZ Length: 3.3 miles round trip Trail: Well traveled but pay attention as it’s easy to venture off the intended path. The ascent & descent are very gradual. Trail itself is moderate w/ areas of scrambling over large rocks. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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ISLAND TRAIL – Walnut Canyon National Monument, Flagstaff, AZ Length: 1 mile round trip Trail: Paved & easy but does have steep stairs Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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SEVEN FALLS – Sabino Canyon, Tucson, AZ Length: 7.8 miles round trip Trail: Easy with some scrambling closer to the falls Views: View Photos & Blog Post: 11/3/2012 & 3/15/2009 |
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TONTO NATIONAL MONUMENT – Roosevelt, AZ Length: .5 mile round trip Trail: Paved, easy w/ lots of signs pointing out the flora along the way. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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FORT BOWIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE – Bowie, AZ Length: 3 miles round trip Trail: Very easy & mostly flat. The trail itself isn’t very scenic but the ruins are pretty cool. The trail also intersects the old Butterfield stagecoach trail. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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MARSHALL GULCH TRAIL – Mount Lemmon, Tucson, AZ Length: 2.4 miles round trip Trail: Easy, dog friendly, & gets quite a bit of traffic. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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TONTO NATURAL BRIDGE TRAIL – Payson, AZ Length: 1.5 miles round trip Trail: Easy & paved to the bridge. If you choose to continue the loop (Pine Creek Trail), it gets slightly treacherous & slippery going underneath through the bridge. The bridge is the most difficult part but for some time after there will be scrambling over large rocks. The last section is easy. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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CAPE FINAL TRAIL – Grand Canyon North Rim, AZ Length: 4 miles round trip Trail: Easy with moderate traffic. Offers tons of great views of the Grand Canyon. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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HORSESHOE BEND – Page, AZ Length: 1.5 miles round trip Trail: Super easy with hordes of people. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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BUTTERFLY TRAIL – Mount Lemmon, Tucson, AZ Length: 6.2 miles round trip Trail: Easy until the last mile before looping back. Switchbacks become steep at that point. Views: View Photos & Blog Posts: 12/15/2010 & 6/6/2010 |
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PIMA CANYON TRAIL – Tucson, AZ Length: 6.4 miles round trip Trail: Moderate. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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ROMERO POOLS – Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ Length: 5.6 miles round trip Trail: Moderate with a few difficult spots. Moderate traffic. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
COLORADO
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ICE LAKE – San Juan National Forest, Silverton, CO Length: 5.2 miles round trip Trail: Moderate to difficult. Lots of steep switchbacks to lower Ice Lake. Difficult to upper Ice Lake. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
WASHINGTON
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CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT LIGHTHOUSE – Lewis & Clark National Historic Park, Ilwaco, WA Length: 1.2 miles round trip Trail: Easy but unpaved areas tend to be muddy & slippery Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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EBEY’S LANDING TRAIL – Coupeville, WA Length: 3.5 miles round trip Trail: Moderately easy until a section of a loop back that requires going down a sand hill. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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HEATHER LAKE TRAIL – Granite Falls, WA Length: 4.6 miles round trip Trail: In the snow, moderate. Moderate to high traffic even during snowy times so the trail is not difficult to follow. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
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HURRICANE RIDGE – Olympic National Park Length: 3 miles round trip Trail: Easy. Beware the wild animals. ;] Moderate traffic. Views: View Photos & Blog Post |
This is a good list of future hikes when we come back to AZ. We only did 3 out of the AZ list. There is so much to see in this state.