My mom, Kathryn, probably hikes/walks/runs more than ten miles a week. She is so adventurous!
We went to Sabino Canyon National Park in the Coronado National Forest. $5 to park for the day, or $20 for the year for two (!) cars. We'll definitely be back more than four times. Year pass FTW!
The California desert is much different than the Arizona desert. One: Saguaro cacti. Two: Water.
We loved hiking amid these hundred-year-old cacti to the sound of running water. You feel like you're in God's country. There are palo verde trees, cholla and prickly pear cactus, ocotillo... It's the desert how you see it in movies. This came to mind:
Okay, so Sabino Canyon is much more lush than Spike's saguaro abode.
In the first photo (click on them for more info), you'll see US Air Force veteran Roy Marshall. We stopped to ask him about the water level, if that's typical for Tucson, etc. He went above and beyond his volunteer duty, and lead us on a hike through some of the "roads less traveled", which revealed some hidden gems. I'm so thankful for his help!
The entire area is pristine. People respect the trails. It's well kept. Trash and recycle bins. Bathrooms. Picnic tables. THIS is why we pay taxes!
A lot of people take a tram up and walk or ride down. The tram drivers sounded informative and fun! (I just couldn't imagine being an able-bodied woman watching others walk the tram while I paid to shuttle up the canyon.)
This hike is as tough as you make it. Run, jog, walk, walk with a stroller, backpack, stay on the road... It's fantastic for an out-of-shape news anchor and her wildly-athletic mother. Just a suggestion: take out your headphones. Birds singing are a great motivator.
Learn more about Sabino Canyon: http://www.sabinocanyon.com/trail_sc.php
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