Arizona has a multitude of hiking opportunities in its vast national forests, parks and one of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon. It is a desert landscape that also provides hikers cactus filled vistas to enjoy by foot. There are trails for all levels of hikers from beginner to expert.
Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
The Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club tends to focus its activities in the lower desert hiking areas where the climate remains cooler during the winter months. As the temperatures increases, the club then explores the higher desert regions. Some of the groups hikes take place in the Grand Canyon, Mogollon Rim, the Goldfield Mountains and Flagstaff. The organization provides meet-up locations for club members to carpool to the hiking detinations. To join the club, prospective members must fill out a membership form at the AZ Hikers website. The cost for joining is $25 for singles and $35 for families.
Southern Arizona Hiking Club
In addition to hiking, membership in the Southern Arizona Hiking Club has many opportunities, such as car camping, trail maintenance, monthly slideshows, conservation, adopt-a-highway and wilderness children's hikes. In order to join the club, potential members must be wiling to follow the code of conduct, as well as, paying dues. The initial cost is $40 per year for those who want to receive a hard copy of the club's newsletter, The Bulletin. For those who prefer to receive The Bulletin electronically via email, the cost is $25 per year. To join, go to sahcinfo.org and fill out the online application.
Off the Beaten Trail
Off the Beaten Trail is a hiking organization of over 300 single people living in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The club has both hiking and social events and is free to join. In order to participate in the events listed on the calendar page of the website, simply click on the event and RSVP. Some of the hiking opportunities include hiking Monumnet Valley & Canyon de Chelly and Horton Creek. Social activites include happy hours, free comedy mixers and visiting music festivals.
Friends Outdoor Hiking and Backpacking Club
Friends Outdoor Hiking and Backpacking Club has approximately 60 club members of both singles and married people. Hiking activites include difficult off-trail hikes, barbeques, bolder hopping and easy hikes at Arizon'a destinations, such as Usery Mtn Recreation Area, South Mountain Park, Estrella Mountain Park, McDowell Sonoran Preserve. In order to join the club, there is a $15 yearly membership fee for singles, $25 for families. For non-members, the hiking meetings are free and $3 to take part in the hikes. To join the club, contact the club at friendshiking.com or send a check to Friend's Hiking Club c/o Kurt Sedler, 50 East Myrna, Tempe, AZ. 85284.
The Ramblers
The Ramblers is a hiking club based out of the University of Arizona, Tuscon. Membership in the club is open to the public and the only fees required are those associated with equipment, fuel and permit fees. The club is "member-driven" and hikes are determined by the members with the initiative to plan them. Meetings are held every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in room 307 of The University of Arizona's Forbes Building.
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