exactly easy, day hike in South Mountain Park. You gain over 1,000 feet in elevation over the course of the hike and traverse a pretty diverse range of terrain while on the trail, including switchback sections, sandy washes, and minor rock scrambling. There’s also a decent amount of shade along the trail for breaks and rocky out- crops to take in views of the Valley on your way up or down. At the trailhead, you’ll find ample parking and public restrooms. You’re rewarded at the top with abundant saguaros and more great views. The hike might leave you a bit fatigued afterward, but with the exertion comes the satisfac- tion of knowing you challenged yourself a bit on one of Phoenix’s iconic mountains. EEEEE Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area 44000 North Spur Cross Road, Cave Creek 602-506-2930 maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/spur- cross-ranch-conservation-area You probably don’t want to take your rela- tives from Alberta or Connecticut on one of the Valley’s double-black-diamond trails where they could risk their lives. Go easy on the old softies and take them to Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, which has several easy trails cutting through some of the most beautiful and lush Sonoran scenery in the state. We’d swear that a few hundred acres of Tucson’s Saguaro National Monument must have been transferred here — there are so many of the desert’s green giants at Spur Cross. Flat trails like Fairy Duster and Mariposa Hill are great for hikers of all ages. More intrepid non-Arizonans could try several intermediate trails that ascend low hills. Be sure to take lots of water, even for a short hike. Yes, there’s even a double- diamond trail that goes up near the summit of the area’s prominent Elephant Head formation, as long as you promise to keep your out-of-towners out of the news. EEEEE Superstition Ridgeline 6109 North Apache Trail, Apache Junction 480-982-4485 azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman Is this the Valley’s toughest hike? Get out there and try it! What’s the worst that can happen? Quite a lot, actually. The Supersti- tion Ridgeline is for advanced hikers only, and a mountain rescue or worse awaits anyone who doesn’t take it very seriously. For starters, it’s about 12 miles one way, with virtually no escape in between should things take a turn. You’ll need a car or bicy- cle shuttle between trailheads. But let’s fo- cus on the fun: Prepare for full immersion in the Superstition Wilderness, with stren- uous uphill sections, precarious boulder scrambling, navigation by cairns, world- class rock formations, Sonoran flora (albeit much of it torched from the 2020 Supersti- tion Fire), and killer views of the southeast Valley. You’ll climb and top out on several summits as you go, including the Supersti- tions’ highest point. Take lots of water. It starts and ends at either Carney Springs trailhead near Peralta Trail or Siphon Draw Gully trailhead in Lost Dutchman Park — you decide which way to go. Either way, you’ve got a workout ahead of you. EEEEE ‘Sassy’ on Girlie Man Slab McDowell Sonoran Conservancy 23015 North 128th Street, Scottsdale 480-998-7971 mcdowellsonoran.org 74 If you’re ready for lead-climbing, rock on. But it’s not called the “sharp end” for nothing. With no rope fixed above to catch you in a fall, you take the rope up with you, tied to your harness, and clip into bolts or removable gear you place on the rock. If you fall, you fall twice as far as you are above your last piece of gear. So it’s best to start on something with less catastrophic consequences if you screw up. Sassy is BEST OF PHOENIX 2021 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2021.C0M | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 fu n & g a me s B E S T T O UGH-A S S HIK E B T E AK S T EE O A U Y HIKING A S T-OF-T R O WNERS E A T B E L S E T BA EGINNER’S D CLIMB O
