Fun Trail Guide to Winter Hiking in Arizona

If you are not afraid of a little cold at higher elevations or pleasant weather at lower elevations, then this guide to winter hiking in Arizona will help you plan a great outdoor trip. Plan to be efficient when it comes to hiking in the winter months in Arizona. Not only will you need extra gear for warmth, but you will also need to plan to see beauty and wild life, and plan for safety.

Trails

No matter where you go hiking in Arizona, you will find mixed terrain, including alpine peaks, canyons of dessert sandstone, pine forest, and you can even find stream full of trout, and isolated desserts, springs, and volcanic and granite mountains. Some of the most popular and enjoyable hiking trails are located near towns like Jerome, Cottonwood, and Sedona and Flagstaff.

If you want to hike in a remote wilderness trail near Flagstaff, then you might want to check out Mount Trumbull Wilderness Trail. The trail has a summit which peaks more than 8000 feet above sea level, but the trail is a little more than 5 miles long. The skill level for this trail is easy. For more information visit Trails.com.

Less than 36 miles from Sedona you can hike underground in the Lava River Cave, where you can the past volcanic activity. When you visit this cave you will definitely want to bundle up, because even in the summer it can be as cool as 42° and you might spot some ice sickles. Due to extreme darkness in some parts of this cave, you will need more than one lighting source and non-slip shoes. For more information visit the Coconino National Forest website.

You can hike alongside some water in Jerome at Crooked Lake Nature Preserve Loop. Roundtrip this hiking trail is more than 1.7 miles long and is a moderate level footpath. For more information please visit the Local Hikes site.

Parks

Parks are another great place to hike in Arizona. This is especially true in the Arizona national park system, because you will find myriad of terrain to choose from when you are searching for an adventurous footpath.

If you want to hiking and be surrounded by the beautiful smell of pine trees, then you will want to visit Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. This park is nestled in a tiny valley where the world's largest natural travertine bridge has been growing for thousands of years. The bridge is over a 400-foot long tunnel and is more than more than 180 feet high. It is located in the eastern region of Arizona and is more than 4500 feet in elevation. Please keep in mind that this park is currently open at selected times. For more information about the please call (928) 476-4202, or you can visit there site Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.

Another park you might want to visit for hiking purposes is near the Four Corners area and is about four hours away from Flagstaff. With some towers measuring more than 1000 feet in length, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park considered one of the most photographed and grandest landmarks in USA. The park actually spans between the Utah and Arizona border. It is home to one of the largest Native American Indian Tribes in the Navajo Nation. For more information, call (435) 727-5874 or (453) 727-5875. You can also visit their site Monument Valley Navajo Trival Park.

A classic hiking excursion is in a beautiful and popular archeological site called the Petrified Forest National Park. From Winslow, Arizona you would travel east to get to this hiking destination and you will see a tale of prehistoric residents and view Arizona's Painted Dessert of breath taking science and landscaping. For more information please call (928) 524-6228 or visit the Petrified Forest National Park site.

Products and Gear List:

Free standing tent or two man tent

Wilderness Sport First Aid Kit

Bulbs and batteries for flashlight

Matches or Lighter Covered in Waterproof Bag

Down Filled Sleeping Back for Water Resistance

Foam Filled Air Mattress for Additional Warmth

Camera in Water Proof Bag

Map

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Knife

Compass

A Note About Shoes:

For beginners a good pair of running shoes or tennis shoes will be great to wear while you hike during the day. However, it is highly recommended that you purchase a pair of lightweight hiking boots if you plan to do overnight trips in more challenging and rugged terrain.