Snag and Save excursions
March 9, 2010 by Take A Hike Arizona
For those of you joining Take A Hike Arizona on our Snag and Save hikes, here are the directions to the trailheads that we will be starting from.
Piestewa Peak Park (Phoenix Mountains Preserve). From Highway 51, take the Glendale Ave exit. Head east on Glendale Ave (which actually turns into Lincoln Ave as you head further east). About 3/4 of a mile from Highway 51, you take a left turn at the traffic lights onto Squaw Peak Drive. Follow this road straight into the park and stay on this road all the way to the far end where you come to a circular parking area and can drive no further. This is where we will be meeting to start this hike.
McDowell Sonoran Preserve (Gateway Trailhead). For those of you with GPS, the exact address for this location is 18333 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale. We will be meeting at the main building area on the east side of the parking lot. For those of you who still drive around the old fashioned way (like me), here are the directions.
Heading North on Hwy 101, take the Frank Lloyd Wright exit. This exit will drop you onto the service road that runs parallel to the highway (Pima Rd). Stay on this road through the first set of traffic lights (cross over Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd at the traffic lights). Go past the West World entrance. Stay straight until your next set of traffic lights at Bell Rd. Turn right onto Bell Rd. Follow Bell Rd past the Ice Den skating rink and past the Basha’s shopping center. At Thompson Peak Parkway (major intersection) take a left. Follow Thompson Peak Parkway for a few hundred yards. The entrance to the Gateway Trailhead parking area is on your right. Follow the entrance into the parking area and park wherever you find a spot. We will all meet up by the main building.
Heading South on Highway 101, take the Pima Rd/Princess Rd exit. From the exit ramp, stay straight through the first set of lights at Pima Rd. At the second set of lights, take a left onto Bell Rd. Follow Bell Rd past the Ice Den skating rink and past the Basha’s shopping center. At Thompson Peak Parkway (major intersection) take a left. Follow Thompson Peak Parkway for a few hundred yards. The entrance to the Gateway Trailhead parking area is on your right. Follow the entrance into the parking area and park wherever you find a spot. We will all meet up by the main building.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@takeahikearizona.com. See you there!
Spring showers bring new flowers!
February 26, 2010 by Take A Hike Arizona
Scottsdale and Phoenix hiking trails are starting to show off their colors! I did a quick scouting trip to see what is going on out in the desert as far as our spring flower season. The amount of rain we have had over the past month or so should definitely provide us with a much more colorful wildflower season than last year. Anyway, just to give you a real quick update on what we are seeing out there right now….
The Chuparosa, always an early bloomer, is hitting its full stride right about now. You will find the red blossoms on the plants especially abundant on the sunnier sides of the trail and along the warmer areas along the washes. In particular, you can see these plants in full bloom along the sides of the road as you drive around town as well. The Chuparosa further up the slopes and on northern sides of slopes have yet to blossom. For those of you who may not already know this, you can eat the blossoms of the Chuparosa. You will even find them mixed in for color in salads you order from select restaurants around the valley. So go find a blooming Chuparosa and pick a fresh red blossom and try tasting it (please make sure you know it is a Chuparosa before eating it!). Let me know what you think it tastes like.
Other plants not yet blooming quite as spectacularly as the Chuparosa are the Creosote and Brittlebush. Both of these bush-like plants produce pretty yellow flowers. The Creosote flowers are smaller and are accompanied by little white fuzz balls (I’m sure there is a technical name for those cute fuzz balls – if you know it – please tell me). The Brittlebush produces larger daisy-like flowers and can be found all over the desert in the Spring. I also noticed that the Buckhorn Cholla (not Staghorn which is not in this part of the desert) is starting to produce the very beginnings of its blossoms. As you hike along, check out the burgundy color shoots sprouting from the tips of the cholla branches on the Buckhorn.
We’ve also been seeing quite a few tiny little yellow and white flowers sprouting up here and there among the rocky slopes. I’ve yet to see any poppies, lupine, owl’s clover, desert marigolds or any other cactus blooming. As soon as those start popping up, I will be sure to let you know. If you’d like to see what these flowers look like, just go to our photo gallery and head to the Flower folder. We have photos of all kinds of desert flora. If you have any questions about anything you see during your desert wanderings, please give us a shout at info@takeahikearizona.com and we’ll try to help you out or find someone who can! Enjoy the Spring!
Geronimo’s Cave
January 19, 2010 by Take A Hike Arizona
As promised previously, here is an update about our hiking exploration to Geronimo’s Cave in the Superstitions. This particular route is one that I have not taken before so it was all new to me! Based on sound advice received from one of expert hiking pals, we started our day by heading up the Peralta Trail. First, I cannot say enough how beautiful the Peralta Trail is, which is why it is the most traveled trail in Arizona! As I’ve mentioned (probably many times) before, it is one of my favorites. With that said, I didn’t think heading over to Geronimo’s Cave was going to be that much different. But, boy was it!
So for those of you not familiar with the area, head up the Peralta Trail up to the Freemont Saddle that overlooks Weaver’s Needle. Do not try to hike up to the cave first. From the saddle, head up and over the rocks to your right where many people go to get an even better view of the Needle. If you look towards the Needle (twelve o’clock), a little to the right (about 1-2 o’clock) is a lone pine tree (a little one). You can’t miss it. As our friend told us, look for “the tree”. I was a little concerned at first until I saw that is is indeed the ONLY tree up there. That tree is actually on the trail that you want to pick up to head toward Geronimo’s Cave. However, the tree is in the opposite direction of where you want to head. So, start hiking on the trail to the right of the saddle that looks like it will take you toward the tree eventually, and you are on the right trail (just don’t bear left to head to the tree when that option appears).
Almost immediately you are in for a scenic treat. The minute you turn the corner and start heading back in the general direction of the trailhead, you have gorgeous views of the other side of the Superstitions that y0u don’t get to see while hiking up the Peralta Trail. It’s nothing but wilderness. At this point, I wish I could tell you to just follow the trail from here on out but it is not so easy. The “trail” is not a clear path or marked in any manner. You may see cairns once in a while that you hope point you in the right direction, but that is about it. The only thing I can tell you is stay parallel to the Peralta Canyon that you hiked up earlier and eventually you may find your way back to the trailhead. Seriously. This hike back via Geronimo’s Cave is not for the faint of heart nor the ill-prepared. You know the rule of thumb used at the Grand Canyon….it takes twice as long to hike a mile up than it does down? Well, reverse that for this hike.
Do not attempt to go back this way if you are running low on water or snacks. It takes some time to return by this route. You should also be concerned about returning this way if you have anyone in your group that has even a minimal fear of heights. There is quite a bit of scrambling over rocks and sliding down steep inclines – often close to the edge of large dropoffs. So take your time.
The cave itself will be off to the left side of the trail in the area where the landscape/rocks have a yellow tint. The cave is quite large and pretty open so you really can’t miss it. You have to leave the trail for a few yards to hike up to the actual cave entrance, but you should see some paths that are worn down a bit from others that have gone there before you. This is a great spot to hang out and enjoy the view for a bit and take lots of photos! After this point, the trail gets a bit scarce. You have to pick your way through the boulders – while staying parallel to Peralta Canyon. You will also have to scramble quite a bit to get back to an area that feels like an actual trail again.
With all that said, my best advice is if you are going to Geronimo Cave for the first time, go with someone who has been there before and can help guide you back to the Peralta Trailhead. Also, be sure to bring lots of water, snacks and really comfortable, sturdy shoes. Some of the descents are pretty steep and can be hard on your toes if you don’t have the right shoes on. I would not recommend bringing younger kids as some of the rock scrambling may be difficult for them to get up and it is a long hike for little legs.
If you are curious about the hike, please feel free to check out the photos we took. They are in our photo gallery on our website under the Superstitions hiking folder. If you would like more information about the hike or would like a guided hike out into the area, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@takeahikearizona.com. We love to share our experiences with you and keep you safe out in the desert!
Hiking in the Superstitions
January 19, 2010 by Take A Hike Arizona
One of our favorite hikes in the Superstitions is the ever popular Peralta Trail. It is so popular that parking can be a problem on the weekends. But even on a busy weekend, the area is so large that you are not competing for space on the trail like you would on Pinnacle Peak, Camelback or Piestewa Peak.
Right from the start, the Peralta Trail has beautiful scenery around every corner. The rock formations along the way are some of the most unique to be found in the valley and during the warmer months, we often see gorgeous collared lizards and blooming flowers of all kinds. From the Peralta Trail you can also find Geronimo’s Cave (if you know where to look). We are heading out there tomorrow for a fun (day off) hike. We’ll be sure to take some more photos – especially of the cave – and post them to our blog. So stay tuned for some more info about the hike and a few other trails that you can find starting from the same trailhead.
Take A Hike Arizona, LLC is one of the very few companies/organizations that holds a commercial permit to hike in this area of the Superstitions. If you’d like to learn more about the excursions we offer in the Superstitions Wilderness Area, just give us a holler at 480-634-8488 or email us at info@takeahikearizona.com. We’d love to take you out there and show you the beauty found in this special part of the Sonoran Desert.
Grand Canyon Camping & Hiking Trip
August 19, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Grand Canyon Wildlife
So, we had a few extra days (4 to be exact) on our hands before the kids returned to school and we figured why not get out of the heat of the desert and go camping up at the South Rim? So we did! We made reservations at Mather Campground, which is one of the campgrounds located within the National Park boundaries of the Grand Canyon. We packed up our camping gear and the kids and headed out. With kids, it’s about a 4 hour drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. We always time it just right so we can stop in Flagstaff to stretch our legs a bit and have lunch.
Mather campground is one of my favorite places to stay (as long as you can get a reasonably sized site with shade). The campground has bathroom facilities throughout (although the facilities on the Juniper Loop by site #118 are closed and currently under construction) and there is also a shower/laundry facility available as well. We sort of like the idea of having a shower handy after hiking the Grand Canyon in 90-100 degree heat all day!
After settling in at the campsite, we decided to go for a walk on the Rim Trail at sunset. It was my 5 year old’s first visit to the Grand Canyon so I was curious to see what his impressions would be. As usual, on the way through the campground and the village, we came across a number of mule deer and elk. I don’t care how often you visit the National Parks, it is still always a great treat to see the wildlife! What’s really nice about the Grand Canyon village area, is you can almost set your watch by when the deer appear around the railway station and tracks. At least during this time of year, you are practically guaranteed to see the deer which makes it a great evening walk for the kids! So, we admired the deer (from a distance) for some time and then hightailed it to the rim for the view of the canyon at sunset. As always, it was spectacular! And yes, my 5 year old was duly impressed with the sheer dropoffs and kept asking what would happen if he jumped/fell from this spot…or this spot…or this spot. Needless to say, his wrist still has the indentations from my fingers wrapped tightly around it!
That was our first foray of the weekend to the edge of the canyon. Since we had kids with us, we decided to do a pretty mild hike the next day that we figured they could handle. We headed down the South Kaibab Trail with the plan to stop at Cedar Ridge, have lunch and head back up. I could only hope that the kids would enjoy their hike into this phenomenal wonder of the world as much as they enjoyed their shuttle bus ride to the trailhead. So, with lots of water, snacks and lunch we started down the trail in the early morning. The temperature at the trailhead (about 7,000 feet elevation) was about 75 – 80 degrees with a forecast of 95 degrees for later in the afternoon. Now, as you head down into the canyon those temperatures increase significantly. It is not uncommon for Phantom Ranch (elevation of 2,400 ft) to be at least 20 – 25 degrees hotter than the top of the canyon. Something to keep in mind when you know you will be hiking out as the day is heating up.
Anyway, we had a great hike down to Cedar Ridge (a descent of 1,140 feet from the rim). The kids did an awesome job and by that I mean, few complaints and few incidents of being too close to the edge of the trail. The one thing to keep in mind about hiking this trail is that there is no water supply available to refill your hydration pack or water bottles. So be sure to bring enough water (about 1 -1.5 liters per hour) for your trip down and back up from Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point. What is nice about Cedar Ridge, besides the view, is that there are restroom facilities available. But there is no water to wash your hands so have some anti-bacterial gel or wipes along with you as well. And Cedar Ridge is a beautiful spot to have lunch. Just ask the squirrels!
The second we sat down we had a number of rock squirrels doing reconnaissance around our spot. We literally were under constant surveillance! Obviously, many visitors before us have conditioned the animals to expect a hand out. As frequent guests of our National Parks, we have learned that you do not feed the animals. First, it makes the animals dependent on humans to feed them, second, the type of food we feed them is detrimental to their health and lastly, they will bite you! Did you know that the Grand Canyon rangers have reported that more people are injured by bites from these cute furry little squirrels than by anything else at the Grand Canyon? I don’t know about you, but I’m in no hurry to go get my rabies shot! So keep the kids (and yourself) away from the squirrels and please don’t feed them your leftovers. Oh and did I forget to mention that all wildlife in the park is protected by federal law and if a ranger does happen to see you feeding the animals that you could be subject to a $500 fine? Ouch.
So, with lunch done and the day starting to heat up quickly, we started heading back up the trail towards the rim. The hike back up is about 1.5 miles and we needed to go up that 1,140 feet that we just came down quite easily a short time ago. It quickly became apparent that we made a wise choice to turn around at Cedar Ridge (as originally planned) versus heading a bit further down to Skeleton Point. The kids got tired with the steep climb and the increasing heat as did my husband who was backpacking our 5 year old up. But, we made sure everyone took frequent rest stops and drank lots of water. I even had a couple of bandanas that I wet down and used to cool off heads and necks. That helped immensely. We made it up the trail with no issues and still had water to spare at the top. So, overall I would have to say that our camping/hiking trip to the Canyon with our kids was a success. My husband actually admitted that he enjoyed camping (never did it before in his life!) and my kids will have fond memories of their Grand Canyon adventure and their favorite shuttle bus.
If you have never visited the Grand Canyon and would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at Take A Hike Arizona. We do not guide hikes in the Canyon, but we love to share our knowledge about it with those who are interested and we do know of a few great companies that do provide guiding services there if that is something else you would like to know about. If you are going to the canyon, have a safe trip and send us your photos! We would love to see them.
Kids Camp Schedule
August 8, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Heading into the desert!
Well, the summer has been fun so far. We’ve been keeping busy doing sunrise, sunset and night hikes during the hot desert season. Check out some of our beautiful photos from these excursions when you have a chance. The sunsets this summer have been amazing! One of the things we’ve really enjoyed this summer is our Parents’ Night Out kids camp. This is a night hiking camp for the kids which is about 4 hours long. During the summer it is a great opportunity for parents to get out for a night knowing their children are having a great evening themselves. This camp was so popular that we are offering several additional opportunities for parents to tell their kids to “Take A Hike“!
The next night hiking camp for kids will be held on Friday, August 28, 2009. The kids will love this night hiking camp made just for them! We will take the kids out on a desert scavenger hunt for fluorescent gems, go on a scorpion hunt (we don’t get that close to them!), look for small desert critters that come out at night and we will get them actively involved in lots of fun desert themed activities and games!
For only $30 ($25 for each additional sibling) the Camp Adventure includes: Guided hike, pizza, water, snacks, refreshments, use of backpack, an arts & crafts project, and lots of FUN!!! See below for our night hiking camp schedule.
Also, as we head into the Fall season and the weather cools, we will once again be offering our Kids’ Day Hiking Camp. We often schedule these camps to coincide with the Scottsdale School District calendar. Our day camps are 5 hours long and similar to the night camps include water, refreshments, snacks, lunch, an arts & crafts project, fun interactive desert themed games and a guided hike into the Sonoran Desert. The cost for this hiking camp is $40 per child ($35 for each additonal sibling). See the schedule below for our upcoming day hiking camps.
Please keep in mind that these camps do fill up quickly. If you would like more information or would like to reserve your child’s space, just give us a call at 480-634-8488.
Parents’ Night Out/Kids Night Hiking Camp
Dates: August 28, 2009, September 25, 2009, November 20, 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Meeting Place: McDowell Mountain Community Center, 10607 E. Paradise Lane, Scottsdale, AZ
Kids Day Hiking Camp Schedule
Dates: Wednesday-November 11, 2009, Monday-December 21, 2009, Wednesday-December 23, 2009
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Meeting Place: The Gateway Trailhead, 18333 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ
Saguaro Cactus Fruit
June 3, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Saguaro flower awaiting pollination
Well, I would have to say it is finally here…….the summer. It’s not official by the calendar yet, but anytime it consistently reaches 90 – 100 degrees everyday and the kids are on “summer vacation”, that’s good enough for me! One of the things that we (at Take A Hike Arizona) really like to see as the weather warms up during this time of year, is the ripening of the Saguaro fruit on the Saguaro cactus.
The Saguaro is the largest cactus found in the United States and can only be found in elevation ranging from sea level up to 4,000 feet. But, that is another blog post entirely. So back to the fruit. Typically, the cactus will bloom in late May to early June with the fruit appearing and ripening about one month after that. This year, the flowers appeared a bit earlier than usual and you can now see the fruit starting to ripen at the top of the cactus.
The Saguaro flower requires pollination before it will produce any fruit. The flowers are most often pollinated by bats, White-winged Doves, Mourning Doves, bees, and other types of birds. Once the flower is pollinated, it will produce a 3 inch long fruit that contains as many as 2,000 seeds! The seeds are very tiny and and kind of remind me of the small poppy seeds you find on bagels – except the saguaro seeds are even smaller. The fruit is a very important seasonal food as it ripens during the driest part of the year right before the summer rainy (moonsoon) season. Many desert animals depend on this fruit for sustenance during this time of year.
The fruit itself has many uses for us humans as well. After being plucked (i.e., harvested) from the cactus with long saguaro rib poles, the seeds are meticuously separated from the pulp. This is a very time consuming, painstaking process done by hand. The seeds are then dried and can be ground down into a flour or even eaten as is. The pulp can be consumed as a juice or can be boiled down to make a syrup. Some of the syrup, in turn, can be used to produce a wine that the Tohono O’odham Indians use as a ceremonial drink to usher in the rainy season. The fruit is actually quite nutritious. The seeds are 30% fat and the pulp contains about 10% protein and 70% carbohydrates (which is why it makes such great wine!).
If you are interested in finding out more about harvesting and eating saguaro fruit, check out some southwest ethnobotany books at your local library, attend an ethnobotany lecture offered by Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, or travel down to the Tohono O’odham reservation just south of Tucson. The Tohono O’odham offer food products harvested from the desert including Saguaro juice and syrup. If you live in the Phoenix metro area, you may also be lucky enough to find these items at a local farmer’s market in your area. If you do come across the opportunity to try a taste of Saguaro fruit, the juice, syrup or wine, I would highly recommend trying it. It has a unique flavor all its own and you may find the natural desert flavors grow on you pretty quickly! Let me know if you try it and what you think! Happy harvesting!
The Peralta Trail
May 12, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
We just got back from a great hike out on the Peralta Trail in the Superstitions Wilderness Area. This 4.5 mile (roundtrip) hike is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First, although you gain about 1,300 -1,400 feet in elevation, the trail meanders its way up to the saddle versus using steep switchbacks. This makes the trail very manageable for anyone wanting to head out on it. Second, I never get tired of admiring the dramatic volcanic rock formations along the way or coming up over Freemont Saddle for a fantastic view of Weaver’s Needle. I love the view of Weaver’s Needle so much that I used it as our backdrop for our holiday photos last year!
What’s cool about the Peralta Trail (and the Superstitions in general) is that you get a lot more than just scenic views on your hike. This area is rich in vegetation and wildlife. This year the Superstitions had some of the most beautiful Spring flowers, more so than anywhere else in the valley. As a matter of fact, there are a number of flowers still blooming out there this week. Then during the warmer months (like now), you will find plenty of lizards darting about.
The Peralta Trail is one of my favorite places to find gorgeous Common Collared Lizards such as the one in the photo above. These critters can be tricky to spot. I’ve found them most often on the upper third of the trail (up above the yellow tuff line that is on your right side as you head up). Look for them on the volcanic reddish brown pockmarked rocks. They seem to love hanging out in the sun on those particular rocks. If you move slowly enough, you may be able to get a few good closeup photos of the lizard before it runs and hides. You might also be lucky enough to be treated to the sight of it hopping as it moves away from you. It is amazing how graceful they can appear as they quickly hop from one rock to the next! I sometimes wonder if they have hidden springs in their legs!
If you like the photo of the lizard above and you just have to see more of them, check out our wildlife photos in our photo gallery. You will also find some great photos of the hikes we have done in the Superstitions as well. So, if this sounds like a hike you’d like to try, just head out east on US Highway 60 until the highway turns into a 4-lane road. Then look for the turnoff for Peralta Road. Turn left onto Peralta Road and follow that all the way to the end (about 8 miles on a dirt road). The trailhead is at the very end. Facilities (or some semblance thereof) are available at the trailhead. If you are heading to the trail from the Scottsdale area, leave yourself at least 1.25 hours for the drive and get there early! The parking lot gets full on the weekends. Of course, we at Take A Hike Arizona, always recommend you take a guided hike into this area as it is wilderness and rescues do take place there much too frequently. And besides, how else are you going to find those elusive Collared Lizards??
Take A Hike Arizona Lends a Helping Hand
May 7, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Kadija
There is a special lady named Kadija who is near and dear to many hearts including ours at Take A Hike Arizona. Kadija, a single mom with 2 young boys, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Kadija is known to be a dynamo (with an attitude) driving people to do their very best in their fitness regimes and their lives. Her loyal followers are always inspired by her unswerving support in their efforts. She always exudes confidence and a great enthusiasm toward life. She will be no different in her fight against cancer. But she does need our support.
Being a single mom with 2 young children, Kadija supports her family through her coaching as a fitness trainer. Unfortunately, she cannot continue to work at this time and her friends want to help. We, at Take A Hike Arizona, are hoping to raise funds to lend a helping hand. Join us on May 30th at 6:00am at the new Gateway Trailhead in Scottsdale for a sunrise hike. We are not charging for this guided hike, but will instead gladly accept donations to be contributed to Kadija’s fund. We will provide water, snacks, use of backpacks and trekking poles for those who need them. The hike will also be accompanied by 2 knowledgeable guides (June and Tracey) who can tell you all kinds of neat things about the desert flora and fauna.
If you’d like to join us for this hike and support a great cause, please RSVP to Andrea Hood at AHood4@cox.net or call June and Tracey (Take A Hike Arizona) at 480-634-8488 to reserve a spot on the hike. Donations will be accepted at the time of the hike. Checks can be made payable to The Kadija Support Fund (an account that has been set up to accept donations for Kadija). To learn more about Kadija and the fund that has been set up, please visit the website that has been created by iBloom Interactive Marketing at http://www.aboutkadija.com.
We hope you can join us for this beautiful sunrise hike on Saturday, May 30th!
Summer is almost here!
April 30, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Saguaro cacti silhouttes
I am somewhat sad to report that Spring here in the desert is just about behind us. Now that we are heading into May, I expect that things will warm up pretty quickly here. Luckily, we still have many cactus still in the process of blooming or beginning to bloom!
The saguaros are just now starting to grow their buds and a number of them are already blooming those gorgeous large white flowers, which are our state flower by the way. The saguaro blooms do seem to be a bit early this year. Typically, the flowers on these cacti bloom in mid- May to early June with the fruit harvest then falling into late June early July. We also have many cholla cacti starting to show their colors as well as the Little Leaf Palo Verde trees and the Ironwood trees. So, there is still a lot of color to see out there.
But, there is no denying that the warmer, no….hot, okay, the really hot weather is on its way. With that in mind, we (Take A Hike Arizona) are offering our guests the option of hiking during the cooler parts of the day. From May through September, we will have sunrise, sunset, moonlight, and night hikes. Check out the following descriptions to see what you can expect from each hike:
Sunrise: We begin our sunrise hikes in the pre-dawn hours as the sky begins to lighten. Many desert dwellers are nocturnal and these early morning hours provide a great opportunity to see the desert animals, such as coyote, bobcat, and javelina, as they begin to retire for the day. Sunrise hikes are a great option for those visiting the Valley of the Sun during our warmer months.
Sunset: We begin our sunset hikes about one hour before sunset to ensure our guests have an unforgettable view of the sun setting over the valley from the peak of the hike. As the sun sets, the sky provides a fantastic display of rich color and provides a beautiful backdrop for photography. As we watch the sun set, the city lights begin to flicker on and as we hike back down the trail, we are provided with gorgeous views of these lights around each corner of the trail. During the mid to later months of the summer, we will oftentimes be fortunate enough to witness the stunning desert rainbows that hang over the valley right before evening sets in.
Moonlight: Our moonlight hikes start right at sunset. This allows our eyes to adjust naturally to the darker sky as we hike. During our moonlight hikes, we like to point out various plants that bloom only at night during the summer. We look for bats pollinating the saguaro cacti, we look for javelina rummaging in the undergrowth for food, and we listen for the howl of the coyote and the calling of the Great Horned Owls. We take some time to listen to the “quiet” of the desert night and stargaze at the numerous stars that are so visible in our dark desert skies. This is a great excursion that gets you outdoors while escaping the heat of the day.
Scorpion and Tarantula Hunts: Similar to our moonlight hikes, we start our “hunts” shortly before dark to let our eyes adjust naturally to the lack of daylight. We provide flashlights and ultra-violet (black) lights to our guests to help them “hunt” for the scorpions and tarantulas. Scorpions will actually appear iridescent in the glow of the black lights, which helps us locate them. The flashlights will help us find tarantulas and a number of other desert dwellers that are out and about during the evening hours as well. These excursions are referred to as “hunts”, but none of the animals located are ever touched or harmed in any way. It is a memorable excursion that allows you to see these animals in their natural habitat.
So that is it in a nutshell! Come see for yourself why the Sonoran Desert is considered to be the most diverse desert in the world. You will be amazed at how alive the desert really is. Check out a couple of our summer packages now and book your tour today! Space is limited on our night hikes. Stay tuned for more fun facts about the desert and the latest happenings in our future postings. Thanks for checking out our blog!
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