Outdoors & Rec

With so many gorgeous desert trail options in or near Phoenix, we can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to go take a hike.

It’s roughly 90 degrees outside, so it’s probably a good time to start jogging, right? Right!? Alternatively, you could follow our lead and just talk about how you should totally run a 5K for the next 10 years. If you’re ready to actually take the plunge into the world’s most…

Arizona has a wealth of things to enjoy for outdoorsy types, and for those who enjoy skateboarding are no exception. There are more than 20 various skateparks and other great spots to hit around the Valley such as The Wedge and Desert West. But during summer, it’s just not as…

The time of year when we really appreciate Arizona weather is upon us, as is Yoga Rocks the Park. The event returns Sunday, February 23, with its third annual five-week celebration of yoga, music, giving, and getting outdoors (before we all collectively hibernate)…

Echo Canyon Recreation Area at Camelback Mountain re-opened Wednesday morning after a yearlong closure, and excited hikers jammed the renovated parking lot. One of the main features of the redeveloped trailhead and staging area was the expansion of the lot from 66 to 135 spaces. But rangers were turning away…

It was a fine morning on the day after Christmas, crumpled gift wrap still lying in the sleepy Paradise Valley homes below as a 17-year-old climber clung desperately to a sheer rock face at Camelback Mountain. Getting to the top of this freestanding 100-foot finger of pink rock on the…

The Desert Botanical Garden is celebrating 75 years this weekend with — what else — a garden party. Since opening in the late 1930s, the 140-plus acre garden has been home to more than 50,000 plant displays and is no stranger to hosting a myriad of cultural events — from…

The new entranceway to Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon Trail won’t be finished in time for a planned November 30 opening, a Phoenix official said on Tuesday. The city had previously announced a “firm” date for the re-opening of the trailhead, which has been closed since January 28 for the $5…

Camelback Mountain’s reformed Echo Canyon Trail, trailhead, and parking area will re-open to the public on November 30, officials say. When the short, popular summit trail closed on January 28th for a $3 million renovation, hikers were told only that they could come back sometime in the fall. Now, says…

For those looking to escape the Valley’s heat, we introduce some hikes just a bit north and therefore a bit cooler in these summer months. Here are three (of countless more) options for beautiful and accessible trails for the hikers among us who aren’t loving the weather right now…

As the country’s largest urban park, the 16,000-acre South Mountain Park and Preserve has many trails for a hiker to explore its variable and unique terrain. We enjoy taking an easy-going day hike on the north edge of the park that provides an exciting and scenic climb through the granite…

At 12,637 feet, Humphrey’s Peak is Arizona’s tallest mountain and is located within driving distance of Phoenix, just 11 miles north of Flagstaff. One of the extinct volcanoes in the San Francisco Range, Humphrey’s offers a unique hike to its summit for those of us looking for a weekend getaway…

With the ultra popular Echo Canyon shut down for the majority of the year, hikers have flooded to the gates of the Piestewa Peak summit trail. Though there is a debate over the comparable difficulty of the two trails, avid Echoers run up and down Piestewa alongside the tourists and…

As the heat wave rolls on and we start to question our commitment to 120-degree weather, let’s take a moment to remember the amazing things about Phoenix and the state of Arizona as a whole. We may not be Boulder, Portland, or Seattle, but we have incredible outdoor activities at…

Arizona’s monsoon season has arrived. Last night a dusty storm blew through the state, bringing (a little) relief from the high heat and a great excuse to snap a photo or two. Arizonans took to social media to share what they saw. Including the awe-inducing shot above, here are five…

You may interpret “water hiking” as toting a portable mister along the trail up Camelback, but dear reader, there are places with real water, too. Wet hiking is a perfect way to explore Arizona while keeping cool. Canyons, creeks, and springs fill our desert landscape if you know where to…

As the summer overtakes the Valley, the heat comes and we retreat indoors. But for those still eager to get outside, walk some trails, and climb some mountains, summer can be beautiful — if you’re prepared. Here are eight basic tips for hitting the trails in these triple-digit days. Despite…

Phoenix skateboarding clothing company, Pyramid Country celebrated the 4/20 with the release of its latest eye candy video featuring skateboarding tricks, 3D art, and a whole lot of weirdness, that’s now online. Pyramid Country includes skateboarders Aric Blattner, Pat Green, Cameron Harper, Ryan Sublette, Marshall Winter, Evan Okeson, Justin Modica,…

For those who really want to get away, Orbital Technologies has great news. The Private Russian company and lead contractor for the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation have teamed up to create a commercial space station for research and tourism purposes slated to be built, shot into space,…

It’s been a rough day for arachnophobes — news traveled from Sri Lanka this morning that scientists have identified a spider the size of a human face. Introducing the Poecilotheria rajaei. See also: – Scientists Discover Genitalia-Headed Fish – Scientists Discover Jumping Cockroach – We’re Doomed: Scientists Discover Spiders with…

If you’ve looked at a calendar lately, you know that Phoenix’s small window of good weather is about to close. Time to break out the yoga mat and get your “om” on at these (almost) free outdoor yoga and pilates classes. Poolside Yoga at the Montelucia Get resort-style relaxation without…

Earth had its fair share of outerspace scares last week when fragments of a meteorite hit Russia in the Ural Mountains and an asteroid flew 17,200 miles from Earth’s surface (a closer pass than orbiting communication satellites). This morning, NASA released a 72-frame video of the asteroid dubbed DA14, which…