Hikes – Page 5 – On the Loose Live

Popular Pinnacle Peak for Panoramic Views and a Great Workout! Scottsdale, AZ

March 25, 2024livevigorously

Distance: ~4 miles out and back

Elevation gain: ~1K (Trail high point is ~2,900 feet.)

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous depending on your speed and fitness level.

Popular with locals and visitors alike, this trail is a great go-to if you’re in the area and have a limited window for a hike or trail run. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views and a great workout. I enjoyed jogging the climb so much, I forgot to take pictures-lol, so you’ll have to come see the views for yourself. The trail doesn’t let you scramble to the actual peak, but tops out and then drops you down the other side.

Notes: Parking is free, but limited. Weekdays are less busy than weekends. Pinnacle Peak Park has a visitor center and restrooms, interpretive signs along the trail, and apparently rock climbing routes too. They offer fun activities as well, including moonlight walks, astronomy talks, yoga classes.

Getting there: 26802 N. 102nd Way Scottsdale, AZ 85262 · (480) 312-0990.

Sunrise Peak Via Sunrise Trail, Scottsdale, AZ

March 2, 2024November 23, 2025livevigorously

Distance: ~4.50

Elevation Gain: ~1,375

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous, depending on your fitness level

Whether you go for dawn patrol or not, this hike will deliver a quick workout with great 360 panoramic views, seasonal wildflowers, and iconic Saguaro galore. Aptly named, this trail is rated the number 1 sunrise hike in Scottsdale so you may want to rise and shine for it. Several additional trails connect at the top to extend your adventure in the Sonoran Preserve Park.

Getting There: 2101 N. 145th Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85259. Trail parking is at the east end of Via Linda at 145th street

Happy Trails!

Wonderful Mount Washburn, Yellowstone National Park

August 28, 2023November 5, 2024livevigorously

Distance: 7.3 Miles RT (According to my Garmin, 6.8 miles according to Alltrails, and 5 miles according to the sign in the parking lot-lol.)

Difficulty: Easy (depending on fitness level and altitude acclimation), gradual ascent and descent on an old service road.

Elevation Gain: 1,332 ft over 3.5 miles to reach the fire lookout at the peak.

Wonderful Mount Washburn, at an elevation of 10,219 feet, is the most popular summit hike in Yellowstone National Park. It’s easy to see why. Named in 1870 after Henry D. Washburn, the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition leader, the hike features panoramic views from the start, wildflowers, wildlife sightings (only chipmunks and a grouse for me), a fire lookout tower with interpretive exhibits, an enclosed observation deck, and restrooms. Bagging this peak is relatively easy as you ascend gradually on an old service road.

Notes: No dogs. Be prepared for rapid weather changes and afternoon thunder and lightning storms, especially in the summer. Be bear alert and bring bear spray just in case. (They love this trail too.)

South & North Trailhead options: The South Trailhead is located along the Grand Loop Road between Canyon and Tower (7-mile route). To access the north trailhead (shorter route with a little less elevation ~5 miles), take the unpaved Chittenden Road 1.3 miles to the trailhead. From the top, I spied a couple more trails to explore, but alas, I ran out of time.

Happy Trails!

Chasing Waterfalls: Hidden Haven, a Hidden Gem, Brian Head, UT

July 12, 2023December 6, 2023livevigorously

A short, shady stroll with some trail washout and a little scrambling at the end delivers a wonderful waterfall reward.

Great to top off another hike, take a roadtrip leg stretch, or have a lovely picnic spot.

Stay tuned for the videos.

Getting there:

The trailhead parking lot is located on the north side of SR-143, otherwise known as the Brian Head-Panguitch Lake Scenic Byway. Enjoy the entire scenic route if you can.

Happy Trails!

Exploring East Zion Backcountry–Watch out for the Quick Sand! (No, really!)

April 21, 2023November 5, 2024livevigorously

It’s been a minute since I’ve posted, I know. I’ve lost my mojo for it. It seems I’d rather be out in the wild adventuring versus reporting my adventures per se. Also, I’ve taken to off-the-beaten-path explorations, the kind that require a backcountry guide or advanced GPS and navigation skills to demystify. While my zeal for verbal show and tell has waned, I’ve become quite keen on photography. For now, my posts will be picture focused. Sorry, not sorry.

East Zion is magnificent, vast, and remarkably people-free. It’s also free of official trails, which makes navigation a challenge, except for those intrepid, experienced back-country types with finely honed navigation skills. This territory is not for families, recreational hikers, “tourons”, instaorons, or tikorons, if ya know what I mean. It’s potentially dangerous with hazards like quicksand and near vertical scrambling on slick slickrock with precipitous drops. Yep, you read that right—quicksand. “Did you see where little Timmy went?” Oops, that first step can be a doozy. I didn’t realize they had quicksand out here either. Not something you want to find out the hard way. Another reason to hike with a buddy and to have some kind of emergency alert system.

Sound scary? It should. It seems weekly, there are rescues and deaths in the ravishingly beautiful, but harsh playground of Southern Utah. A simple reflecting pool in a wash can turn into your worst nightmare. Quicksand can be lurking in the glistening sand next to a puddle in a wash like the one below. Your foot may sink up to the ankle or in a split second you could be submerged up to your waist and immobilized as happened to an experienced backcountry hiker I know. On the same hike, another experienced backcountry hiker I know slipped on the slickrock and fractured and dislocated her shoulder. Sure, accidents can happen walking out your front door, but you’re particularly vulnerable to the elements when you’re out in the backcountry.