big man tips

PUMPHOUSE WASH TRAIL The north leg of the trail overlooks a sprawling marsh. Pumphouse Wash is a tributary gorge of Oak Creek Canyon that runs between Sedona and Flagstaff, roughly paralleling State Route 89A. The trail wanders through moist meadows. Its rugged, lower channels�that can be accessed from SR 89A just south of the switchbacks 12 miles north of Sedona �are popular destinations for backcountry hiking and technical canyoneering. From the looks of the tangled corridor�s boulder-choked base, vertical walls, slots and pools of dubious depths, it�s difficult to imagine that its headwaters are located 600 feet uphill in unassuming meadows around the tiny community of Kachina Village. Four O'Clock flowers are plentiful in summer. Located 9 miles south of Flagstaff off Interstate 17, the mountain hamlet is an idyllic residential area of log cabins, A-frame summer homes and a hub of nature trails in the Pumphouse Wash County Natural Area. The trail stays on the brown and out of t...

VISHNU TRAIL: A Tiny Trek on the Edge of the Grand Canyon. A hiker on the Vishnu Trail approaches G.C. views. Whether hiked as an inspirational appetizer, warm up walk or add-on trek while exploring around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near the town of Tusayan, the Vishnu Trail is a quick and easy diversion with tantalizing views and opportunities to engage with the Arizona Trail.   Vishnu Trail connects with the Arizona Trail The hike begins directly under the Grandview Lookout Tower, where the well-marked path heads north through wildlife-rich pine-oak woodlands and shrubby enclaves.   After roughly a quarter-mile, glimpses of the hazy, russet chasm begin to appear through the trees. Grandview Lookout under stormy skies. Yes, we got soaked! An oak-shaded passage on the Vishnu Trail. As the trail progresses to its overlook spur, scenic vistas unwrap like unexpected gifts that surprise and thrill.   Vishnu Temple (right) seen from the trail overlook. A metal gate mark...

Cultural Heritage Hikes at Walnut Canyon National Monument View from a "shady side" dwelling Walnut Canyon is one of Northern Arizona�s most fascinating natural wonders.   Over its 20-mile course, the 400-foot-deep gorge cuts through pine-studded plateaus and eons of Earth�s history.   Sinagua cliff dwellings Located just a few miles southeast of Flagstaff, the chasm�s wavy course was created over millions of years by a complicated series of geological events. The canyon�s tilted layer-cake appearance is partly made up of eroded limestone deposits and the lithified remains of ancient coastal sand dunes.   Edible mahonia (barberry) also has medicinal qualities. Although you�d need a Ph.D. to thoroughly understand its geological anatomy, the canyon�s more relatable human element is the focus of a hike along the trails of Walnut Canyon National Monument.   240 stairs descend to the Island Trail The park was established in 1915 to protect and preserve the cultural artifa...

BUBBLING PONDS PRESERVE Blackhawk Trail at Bubbling Ponds Preserve Hikers who enjoy wildlife viewing will have a heyday at the Bubbling Ponds Preserve in Cornville. Cradled among desert hills, wineries and dewy green zones along Oak Creek, the site has two formal trails that loop among the property�s rare and varied habitats. The flat, soft paths pass through mesquite forests, meadows, cattail wetlands, a warm water hatchery for raising native fish and a shady riparian corridor. Informational signs, viewing benches and observation decks help maximize the visitor experience. Lower Oak Creek Important Bird Area Because of its reliable water and favorable nesting niches, the property is a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds, reptiles and mammals including several threatened species. Hikers are practically guaranteed sightings of Great blue herons, Red-winged blackbirds and many common species of waterfowl. With luck, you might also spot a more elusive Snowy Egret, Vermillion Flycat...

HOMOLOVI STATE PARK TRAILS Winslow Tsu'vo Trail Please don�t call this place a �ruin�.   Homolovi State Park is a Hopi ancestral village on the high plains of northeastern Arizona that teems with both animated and spiritual life.    Air-breathing, water-slurping terrestrial entities share space with invisible, but very present human souls who occupied the area from prehistoric times to 1400 AD. March is the perfect time to visit the park. Balmy temperatures and festivities associated with Archeology & Heritage Awareness Month add bonus points to a day trip that�s enjoyable any time of year.   The park is situated at the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau where the ruddy, sun-backed terrain smacks of NASA images of the surface of Mars.   Homolovi I The lifeline of this unforgiving yet striking landscape is the chocolatey flow of the Little Colorado River which feeds a fringe of greenery on the site�s western edge.   Five easy hiking trails explore pue...

SWEETWATER WETLANDS, TUCSON The Santa Catalina mountains viewed from the wetlands Not so long ago, the area surrounding Tucson's Sweetwater Wetlands was home to dusty croplands and tumbling tumbleweeds. This desert expanse along the usually dry* channel of the Santa Cruz River provided little in terms of quality wildlife habitat. Recognizing an opportunity to transform the site into a desert oasis with a multi-faceted set of objectives, the City of Tucson constructed the wetlands to serve as a water reclamation facility that recharges the local aquifer and provides reclaimed water for reuse in city turf irrigation thus conserving potable water for human consumption. The project also restores and protects important plant and animal ecosystems. According to the Tucson Audubon Society, more than 300 bird species have been spotted at the site. Warblers, waterfowl, song sparrows and wading birds are drawn to the watery, green oasis along with critters like racoons, deer, reptiles and a...

V Bar V Heritage Site Petroglyphs at V Bar V  After surviving centuries of exposure to Arizona's extreme climate, the petroglyphs at V Bar V Heritage Site almost succumbed to cow butts. There's an air of mysticism about the tiny alcove that bears the etchings of the Southern Sinagua people who lived in the area from A.D. 1150 to around 1400. Shaded by sandstone bluffs near the banks of Wet Beaver Creek east of Sedona, site is wrapped in a strip of viney, deciduous forest that insulates it from the surrounding high desert heat. It's no wonder the cows found it too. Ranch relics along the trail Beautiful mysteries in the rock Seeking water and a shady spot to wallow away the days, grazing cattle from ranch operations that occupied the property during the 20th century would congregate at the cliffs, rubbing their hides against the ancient embellishments. Luckily, a rancher who understood the historical value of the rock art fenced off the site before the cows could scour awa...