76 FUN & GAMES BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE SUNRISE PINNACLE PEAK 26802 N. 102ND WAY, SCOTTSDALE 480-312-0990 SCOTTSDALEAZ.GOV Sunrise aficionados have their pick of perches in the Valley. Still, it’s easy to sleep on Pinnacle Peak. Rise and shine: The well- marked round-trip trek is about 4 miles, on a trail that’s fun for anyone wanting to learn facts about cacti and other desert life as they walk. Those who start early get a spec- tacular sunrise that electrifies the entire Valley. Even though the trail can get crowded, there’s still plenty of room to get your meditative moment in or take a panoramic shot of the mountains. Once you’ve enjoyed the sunrise, head home to catch some extra snooze time. This, in fact, is how to sleep off Pinnacle Peak. i i i BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE SUNSET LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 15600 N. 16TH ST. 602-262-7901 PHOENIX.GOV Hole in the Rock at Papago Park is famous for its sunset views — and crowds so thick you’ll most likely have to sit on a tourist’s lap. Why subject yourself when you can go over to Lookout Mountain? Parking’s a snap. The hike to the top from the 16th Street lot is about a mile and reasonably accessible even for folks less altitude- or fitness-inclined. Near the top, if you find yourself flagging, you can rest on a couple of smaller peaks with great views. The steep final push rewards you with a 360-degree view of the sprawling Valley and that incredible Sonoran Desert sunset, sans crowds. If you’re embarking on this after-work adventure, though, don’t forget water and watch those summer temps. BEST NATURAL PHENOMENON SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS COUGAR SHADOW Many of the Valley’s most memorable expe- riences are right-place, right-time scenarios. Case in point: the twice-yearly cougar shadow that appears on the Superstition Mountains. The curious natural phenom- enon roars to life for a few days every March and September around the spring and fall equinoxes, when sunlight hits the Supersti- tions’ craggy topography at a peculiar angle and casts a puma-shaped shadow. The effect, visible 30 minutes before sunset, draws viewers from across the Valley. (Pro tip: It’s best seen from the intersection of Goldfield Road and Superstition Boulevard in Apache Junction. Park along the shoulder and bring a lawn chair.) Is it a little cornball? Abso- lutely. But that’s kind of AJ’s thing. It’s also a rare and uniquely Arizonan experience we can call our own. NYC has Manhattanhenge. We have this. i i i BEST HIKE WITH DESERT VIEWS BATTLESHIP MOUNTAIN SCRAMBLE 16802 AZ-88, APACHE JUNCTION This majestic, boat-shaped peak in the Superstition Wilderness turns hikers into adventurers as they traverse a strenuous, 11-mile journey deserving of a movie soundtrack. Park at Canyon Lake Marina (or First Water Trailhead) and watch tearfully as day-trippers take their boats out into the peaceful lake. You’re about to have the complete opposite kind of day. Grab cold water and plenty of snacks before embarking — you’ll need the salts and calories. Cross Highway 88 onto the Boulder Canyon Trail #103, which begins with a steep mile-long hike before crossing lower La Barge Canyon. The miles feel epic, and you’ll revel in the surrounding peaks’ majesty as you trek. If you’ve got the weekend, set up a base camp before climbing to the peak about 8 miles in. You’ll benefit from the rest before the final push: a dangerous Class 3 technical scramble with severe exposure. The peak features boulder hopping and otherworldly views of the gorgeous desert. i i i BEST HIKE WITH WATER VIEWS BUTCHER JONES TRAIL BUTCHER JONES RECREATION SITE 3 E. BUTCHER JONES BEACH ROAD, FORT MCDOWELL 602-225-5200 FS.USDA.GOV/RECAREA/TONTO The Sonoran Desert goes down smoothest with a body of water bigger than a front yard after some flood irrigation. Butcher Jones Trail gives hikers an easy but interesting trek beside gorgeous views of Saguaro Lake. The varied terrain takes adventurers through borderline marshy parts before opening wide to a rocky mountain section. Once you curve around the mountain, the elevation gain goes flat and it’s a stroll to turnaround point Burro Cove. There you can stop a spell and admire a postcard-ready view of Four Peaks. The whole endeavor out-and-back is basically 2.5 miles of lake views. Just don’t forget to buy a Tonto Pass in Fountain Hills before you get to the trailhead; you’re not allowed to park without it. i i i BEST FAMILY HIKE MORMON TRAIL 8610 S. 24TH ST. 602-262-7393 PHOENIX.GOV The perfect family hike requires easy parking, a clear trailhead and a distance that won’t grind your children down into sullen monsters. South Mountain’s Mormon Trail fits the bill and then some. The trailhead is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Phoenix and has plenty of parking, both on-site and nearby parallel parking if the lot fills up. While it’s techni- cally a longer loop system, families looking for an easier hike can explore this dog- friendly trail’s mile-or-so out-and-back portion. At times, it’s a fairly steep climb, with a 720-foot elevation change, that features plenty of interesting rock forma- tions for kids to use their imagination. At the top of the out-and-back, hikers are treated to a wonderful Valley view of down- town Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and even Mesa in the distance. The whole trip is easy enough that your 5-year-old or grandfather could try it out on Thanksgiving morning. i i i BEST UNPAVED HIKING TRAIL SPUR CROSS RANCH CONSERVATION AREA 44000 N. SPUR CROSS ROAD, CAVE CREEK 602-506-2930 MARICOPACOUNTYPARKS.NET Tucked deep into the foothills and crested saguaros of Cave Creek, you’ll find 2,154 acres of hiking trails that feel leagues away from the concrete confines of Phoenix. The park dates back to 2001 and is managed jointly by the state of Arizona, Maricopa County and the town of Cave Creek — though technically it’s run by javelinas, mule deer, coyotes and enough avian species to make a birder drool. On top of that, Spur Cross Ranch is home to 90 or so sites that trace their roots back to the Hohokam people who called the region home roughly between the years 700 and 1200. Head there to burn off last night’s beers or enjoy a nice day out amid the saguaros and sagebrush — you’re not going to find a better unpaved hiking trail system in the greater Valley. i i i BEST PAVED HIKING TRAIL NORTH MOUNTAIN 10608 N. SEVENTH ST. 602-495-5458 PHOENIX.GOV For hiking trails you can either risk tripping over roots, rocks or rubble — or opt for a fully paved, accessible path that lets you focus on the Valley’s panorama below. The city of Phoenix has abundant craggy trails and then this beauty that gives you a glide path up the North Mountain’s 2,104 feet of elevation. You can gaze south and get a banger of a view of downtown and South Mountain, or toward the west, where you can usually see all the way out to the White Tanks. At 1.3 miles out and back, North Mountain doesn’t look foreboding … that is, until the 700 feet of elevation gain leaves your hot lungs lurching up your throat. Fortunately, the view from the top near the constellation of radio towers gives you plenty of return on your exercising investment.