Phoenix - Hiking Locally and in Saguaro National Park + Botanical Gardens

Phoenix is a large city, and local hikes on weekends get very crowded. One of the few hikes I have done here was Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trail right in Phoenix. I found parking on the street next to the trailhead. It was going to be another hot day but not until later in the morning. I didn't know what to expect besides the fact that it was a shorter hike with quite a bit of elevation gain. 

It turned out to me better than I thought. The elevation gain meant some scrambling, especially as I was getting closer to the top. The views of the city were fantastic throughout the hike. I even was able to visualize where I dined the day before at Different Pointe of View!

The trail was very crowded, and several times I had to wait for people to pass to get into the narrow trail in the rock. For some reason, my fear of heights did not make an appearance for which I was very grateful. The view at the top was a fantastic 360 degree view of the entire city. It was a worthy adventure.

I also got to visit Desert Botanical Garden on the free admission day. Picture this: a 140-acre playground bursting with cacti, succulents, and wildflowers. It's not your grandma's garden; it's a wild, vibrant, and downright picturesque oasis in the midst of the Sonoran Desert. It was incredibly crowded that day, something that I considered, but decided it would not deter me from visiting for free. My first stop was the Butterfly enclosure. Because of the time of the day (I went after work), the butterflies were already hiding, but I still enjoyed a brief adventure into their world. I felt bad invading their space when they are about to go to sleep.

The gardens are organizes in loops/trails. I was able to complete all of them in just under 2 hours leisurely stroll.

Desert Wildflower Loop:

The garden features a dedicated area celebrating the ephemeral beauty of desert wildflowers. Depending on the season, visitors can witness a breathtaking display of colors as wildflowers bloom and carpet the landscape.

Cactus and Succulent Galleries:

You can also wander through the Cactus and Succulent Galleries to discover a diverse collection of these iconic desert plants. The garden showcases an extensive variety, from towering saguaros to whimsically shaped agaves, providing a fascinating insight into the adaptability of desert life.

Ethnobotanical Garden:

Explore the Ethnobotanical Garden, where the rich cultural history of the Sonoran Desert comes to life. This area highlights the ways in which indigenous communities have utilized desert plants for food, medicine, and shelter, offering a profound connection between nature and human heritage. This was one of my favorites as it how humans integrated in nature in a reasonable way vs. how we are doing it now.

Desert Discovery Trail:

For those seeking a more immersive experience, the Desert Discovery Trail winds through the natural terrain, providing an opportunity to encounter native wildlife and experience the unique flora in its natural habitat. I personally just enjoyed the incredible variety of plant species. This was my favorite trail here.

Having visited the human-made beauty, I decided to visit Saguaro cacti in the wild in Saguaro National Park. This national park, split into two distinct districts on either side of Tucson, Arizona, offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the mesmerizing landscapes shaped by towering cacti, vibrant wildflowers, and the enchanting rhythm of desert life.

Saguaro National Park is synonymous with the saguaro cactus, and these giants are the undisputed stars of the show. Picture colossal cacti reaching skyward like sentinels of the desert. The park is a sanctuary for these slow-growing giants, some of which have been standing tall for over a century, creating a unique and awe-inspiring silhouette against the Arizona sky.

I picked a popular hike King Canyon Trail to Wasson Peak. The weather was absolutely incredible at the end of October. The trail was challenging enough to get the heart beating faster but not so hard that I would want to take multiple breaks. Nice and steady. 

The views of the cacti and the surrounding landscape exceeded my expectations. There was something about being in desert surrounded by the giants knowing that they only grow an inch a year in good conditions. It reminded me being among giant sequoias but in the desert.

Last stretch before reaching the top

While I didn't hike as much as I wanted in Phoenix, the hikes that I did were wonderful. Some places I visit warrant further exploration of nature at another time, and maybe Phoenix was that for me.