Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon State, but the Grand Canyon is only a section of Arizona's vast terrain. The city of Yuma is located in the southwest corner of Arizona between the Yuma and Gila valleys. Thanks to Hollywood filmmakers, Yuma has a reputation as an Old West outlaw town, but it's really a quiet and friendly desert city with active residents who take advantage of the many outdoor groups.
Types
While Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is the largest city, Yuma's population continues to rise. With a population around 90,000, younger people are relocating to Yuma. The city's median age is 31 compared to the average age of 34 for the rest of the state. Therefore, the various hiking clubs are geared towards young environmental activists.
Distribution
The Yuma Chapter of the Audubon Society offers its 150 members a monthly hiking fieldtrip in addition to the monthly meetings they have on Tuesdays. Saving the habitats of birds is the Audubon Society's main focus. The Yuma chapter is but one of the National Audubon Society's 500 chapters nationwide.
The Arizona Natural Plant Society has a chapter in Yuma that organizes hikes every weekend geared towards appreciating the florae of the area.
Membership
Joining one of Yuma's hiking groups is not complicated at all. Most of Yuma clubs are under the guise of larger organizations where volunteering and promoting environmental issues are the biggest concerns. The lack of stress on membership and dues is probably what attracts Yuma's youthful residents to being a part of the hiking community.
Trails
Yuma has several invigorating trails that range from beginner to advanced. The Painted Desert Trail is an intermediate level, 1.3-mile loop that traverses the Colorado River and takes about an hour to complete. The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Trail is a one-mile long trail that is home to thousands of Canadian geese and cranes during the winter. For the Yuma hiker, there is plenty to see and explore.
Benefits
Since Yuma is a small town, each hiking group has a specific purpose and niche. Whether one is interested in birds or plants, conservation is the theme of the nature societies in Yuma. Through hiking, members are helping the environment and spreading awareness.
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