big man tips

RIO SALADO HABITAT RESTORATION AREA Phoenix Dragonflies live in the riparian corridor Just two miles south of downtown Phoenix, where the Salt River once flowed freely, a former dumping ground has been transformed into a thriving oasis in the desert. Hiking in The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is like taking a step back in time to an era before dams placed along the Verde and Salt Rivers in the early 20 th century dried up the channel leaving behind a parched corridor of debris.   Landfills and quarries moved in and the area became blighted.   The site attracts myriad birds and waterfowl In 1993, the City of Phoenix began efforts to restore a portion of the river to improve the urban landscape, help in flood management and provide recreation and educational opportunities.   The $100 million project was completed in 2005. With the cooperation of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County and droves of volunteers, tons of waste were cle...

PINE LAKES TRAIL #316 Thumb Butte North Trails Pine Lakes Trail flanks Willow Creek  Pick a day following a good monsoon soaking to hike Pine Lakes Trail #316.   That way, you�ll have the best chance to see the tiny waterfalls that tumble over logs and rocks in Willow Creek. Canyon grapes grow along the creek Arguably the most ecologically diverse route in the north segment of Prescott�s Thumb Butte Recreation Area, trail #316 packs a lot of interesting elements into its short length. The first half-mile of the trek moves through an exposed landscape of juniper and oak under the imposing pinnacle of Thumb Butte. The trail climbs easily to a point where the Bradshaw Mountains peek out from behind the butte before beginning its descent into the riparian corridor of Willow Creek.   A post-monsoon mini waterfall As the trail switchbacks down into the gorge, the vegetation makes an abrupt shift from sparse scrub and cacti to rich greenery shaded by arching oaks and soaring Pon...

OBSERVATORY MESA NATURAL AREA Flagstaff Observatory Tank along Forest Road 515 Wavyleaf thistle and guests Allow me to introduce A-1 Mountain, ruler of magma, queen of ashes and Mother of the Mesa. This dramatic introduction�admittedly inspired by a certain fantasy franchise�is an accurate description of the 300,000-year-old cinder cone located on the urban-forest interface west of Flagstaff. A-1 Mountain is the source of volcanic materials that built Observatory Mesa and other nearby geological features. Rising to 8,300 feet, the pine-cloaked mound is just one of many visual goodies dished out to visitors of the Observatory Mesa Natural Area. A-1 Mountain is a 300,000 -year-old cinder cone volcano The 2,251-acre site was acquired by the City of Flagstaff in 2013 to preserve native ecosystems and an essential wildlife corridor while allowing for  recreation.   Rich in biodiversity, the landscape is a mix of pine-oak woodlands, grasslands, shrubby range, tiny drainage areas and...

JONES CROSSING Coconino National Forest A doggie paradise The water of East Clear Creek nourishes a sweet ribbon of green across the Mogollon Rim and a hike into the beautiful Jones Crossing area of this perennial stream rewards with exposure to an impossibly lush canyon flanked by contorted limestone cliffs. East Clear Creek The trek begins at Jones Crossing bridge where hikers can follow the stream either north or south. The southbound strip is most scenic and better shaded. Right out of the chute, the route---which roughly follows a closed 4x4 road----drops hikers into a field of thigh-high grasses splattered with OxEye Daisies and wild geraniums. Yellow columbine From here, just follow the water to enter a steep-walled canyon with intermittent pools and trickling rivulets smothered in ferns and bobbing yellow Columbine. Water levels fluctuate so be prepared for wet feet as there are a few spots where crossings require some ankle-deep wading. LENGTH: Southbound (as described here) ...