place to hike in the Valley is smack-dab in the middle of the city — barely 10 miles from downtown Phoenix. But just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s easy. You’ve got two trail options to climb Camelback: Cholla, which is longer but a bit easier, and Echo Canyon, which is shorter but steeper and more challenging. Whichever you choose, strap on hiking boots and bring plenty of water no matter what time of year you go, because you’ll quite literally be climbing, or clambering, your way up. But your determination will pay off when you reach the top, as the views of metro Phoenix are spectacular in all directions. And if you try but don’t quite make the summit? Don’t beat yourself up. Neither trail is a walk in the park, and you’re much better off making it down the mountain safe and sound. When you’re ready to try again, Camelback will be waiting for you. Best Hike That’s Barely a Hike LOST DOG WASH 12601 North 124th Street, Scottsdale 480-998-7971 mcdowellsonoran.org/lost-dog Maybe you’re a little out of shape. Maybe you’ve got some out-of-town visitors who want to see some local natural beauty without a lot of exertion. Maybe you just feel like taking a gentle stroll through the desert without making a big thing out of it. Whatever the motivation, Lost Dog Wash in north Scottsdale is an excellent choice for a low-impact hike. Located in the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, the trail has nice restroom facilities at the entrance and good signage throughout. Though you may need to keep an eye on your footing (loose gravel can be found in several places on the trail), you won’t encounter much more than some short, gentle inclines (you can barely call them hills). In fact, the most treacherous elements of Lost Dog Wash are the piles of horse poop that often dot the trail. The out-and-back trail is about 2.2 miles each way, which means you can turn back whenever you feel like it, but if you stick it out, you’ll be rewarded with some nice views of the area, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. And if you feel a little more adventurous the next time, the same trailhead leads to more challenging hikes such as the Old Jeep Trail and the Sunrise Trail. Recreational Shooting DESERT SHOOTING AREA Best Spot for AT FORT MCDOWELL 16000 North Beeline Highway, Fort McDowell Many Arizonans take advantage of the opportunities to target shoot on public lands. In the hustling and bustling urban core of Phoenix, that may sound like the Best Ferris Wheel LA GRANDE WHEEL XL AT THE ARIZONA STATE FAIR 1826 West McDowell Road 602-252-6771 azstatefair.com It isn’t difficult to pick out the La Grande Wheel XL amid the glowing, rainbow- colored spectacle of the Arizona State Fair’s midway when the event occurs every fall. Living up to its moniker, the 164-foot-tall attraction is visible from miles away, towering over every other ride, the nearby Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and everything else in the immediate vicinity of the fairgrounds. As such, riders in each of its 36 air-conditioned gondolas get panoramic views of downtown Phoenix, the surrounding sprawl, and the various mountains dotting the horizon. La Grande Wheel XL is touted by its owners, local carnival ride operator Ray Cammack Shows, as the largest traveling observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere, while fair organizers tell Phoenix New Times it’s one of the most popular rides at the event. It’s also one the priciest, typically costing 20 tickets or more per person, but it’s worth the expense for the chance to ride the biggest and best Ferris wheel in town. 80 BEST OF PHOENIX 2022 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2022.C0M | SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
