About Take A Hike Arizona

Take A Hike Arizona’s goal is to provide an opportunity for guests to experience, explore, and enjoy the desert in a manner that is safe, fun, and educational, while at the same time promoting preservation of the desert ecosystem.

As volunteer stewards with The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, several of the company’s guides came across many families, individuals and small groups who were not familiar with the trails or Arizona’s climate. As a result, these visitors did not have enough water, did not know where to go, and did not know how long the hikes were. The founders of the company, saw a need to educate these visitors to help them enjoy desert hiking in a fun and safe manner.

As you hike with our guides, they’ll share entertaining tales of Arizona, fun and interesting facts, and point out once in a lifetime scenery along the way. We invite you to come experience, explore and enjoy the desert with us.

Meet the Guides of Take a Hike Arizona

 

Tracey Epel

One of the original founders of Take A Hike Arizona, Tracey has always loved seeing new places and meeting new people. She has lived in Germany and Austria, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Tracey has hiked in the Alps including the Swiss, Italian and Austrian Alps. Her other hiking adventures include: Adirondacks, Appalachians, White Mountains of New Hampshire, Green Mountains of Vermont, Canada, Grand Canyon, Utah, Colorado (Vail, Ouray and Durango), San Gabriel Mountains, Puerto Rico, Yucatan Peninsula and Alaska. Her desert hiking experience includes Turkey, Southern Utah, Southern Nevada, Sonoran Desert, Grand Canyon, Chihuahuan Desert and the Mojave Desert.

After serving as a Search and Rescue Team Member with the U.S. Coast Guard, Tracey earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Bryant College, R.I. and earned her M.S. degree in Hospitality Administration from Johnson & Wales. She is a steward (volunteer) with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and is First Aid/CPR certified. Tracey continues to pursue her interest in desert preservation and hiking skills through continuing education. Tracey Epel lives in Scottsdale Arizona with her husband and two children. 

  

Suzie Combs

Love of the outdoors sends Suzie out of her way to explore the beautiful Sonoran Desert and to try new adventures wherever she might be.  She has been hiking on and off for years, but on a regular basis for the past five.  Arizona is her absolute favorite place to hike and it is her passion to share her knowledge about the plants, animals and ecosystem of the desert.  Living in the Phoenix area provides access to so many different types of natural areas and Suzie believes seeing the state on foot or in her Jeep is the best way to appreciate the diversity of Arizona.  When she is not hiking, Suzie enjoys snow skiing, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, surfing, working out and traveling.

Suzie earned her degree in Journalism with an emphasis in advertising from the University of Missouri.  She has worked in public relations, marketing, sales, and most recently as a stay at home mom.  Meeting new and interesting people has always been one of Suzie’s favorite things about her jobs.  Leading hikes for people who travel to Arizona is definitely a highlight of being a guide with Take A Hike Arizona.  Suzie approaches each hike with great enthusiasm and excitement and looks forward to sharing her love of the desert with guests on her hikes!