Hikers Paradise right in Scottsdale–Dogs too!

When you live in weather like we do here, I find myself hiking year around.  Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak (formerly known as Squaw Peak) mountains are the best exercise I have ever enjoyed.  So many people feel cooped up in gyms and weight rooms.  Nothing like being outdoors and experiencing the best cardio available.  True, you need discipline so that you always wear sun screen, hats or visors are always a good idea, take plenty of water and always wear the best hiking tennis shoes with newer soles, or light weight hiking boots.  Warning: Do NOT ever break in hiking shoes on a hike!  Speaking from personal knowledge…not recommended!!  Also, if you do hike make sure your toenails are trimmed or you may lose them…more personal experience!  ouch

Both mountains have  more than one path.  Piestewa Peak has quite a wide variety of paths up, over and around it.  The main hike would be the one where you go up to the top.  It’s just over a mile to the top, the website can give you all the details.  http://www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/hikephx.html  , and there are many other paths that lead many different directions and offer a variety of levels of difficulty. 

Camelback Mountain, is our most note-worthy mountain that most people have heard of because it is the landmark that Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley are all wrapped around . Not too mention–it does look just like a camel’s back truly–you decide?

There are 2 main paths to the top of Camelback Mountain, both of them lean toward advanced hikes-(notated as strenuous and difficult by park service) but  each one offers a different type of hiking.  Also, check the web-sites because dogs on leashes are allowed on most of the paths  http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/hikcmgud.html .  As a full time realtor for eXp Realty–hiking offers me an escape to do what I love but just a short distance from work or home–minutes is all it takes.  These 2 peaks are so centrally located to everything–that you can consider these hikes a work-out and not a day trip. 

If you are thinking about relocating to the Valley, please call me and I can give you any real estate info you may need while considering buying a home in the Scottsdale or Paradise Valley area.  Please check out my websites for more info   www.scottsdaleparadise.com  or  www.phoenixpowersearch.com

Wendy Cracchiolo   602-672-2806    wendy.c@scottsdaleparadise.com

In the fall I am starting a hiking company that helps visitors hike all these great trails, have fun, be safe and learn lot’s of great information about the area.    Watch for “Happy Trails Hiking Company”–more later….