Celebrate National Trails Day This Saturday

This Saturday, take a hike. In honor of National Trails Day, the country’s largest celebration of trails, Editor Robert Stieve wanted to share a few of his favorite hikes. We hope you’ll go out and celebrate Mother Nature — just remember to adhere to the Leave No Trace Principles.

Widforss Trail, North Rim
It’s hard to single out the best hike in Arizona. There are too many 10s. That said, a solid case can be made for the Widforss Trail. It’s quiet, the ecosystem is exceedingly diverse, and over your left shoulder you’ll see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The only thing the Widforss doesn’t offer is elevation gain, which is important to hikers who want to burn calories while drinking in the scenery. Still, this is a 10-mile round-tripper, so a few calories will be incinerated. More

Weatherford Trail, Flagstaff
It’s hard to imagine driving a Model T up the slopes of Fremont Peak, but that’s what John Weatherford had in mind in the 1920s when he constructed an eponymous toll road to the upper reaches of the San Francisco Peaks. It was an ambitious undertaking that was ultimately undermined by the Great Depression. Fortunately, he had better luck with his hotel in Flagstaff. Today, the Hotel Weatherford (he liked his name) is still one of the best places to stay, and his toll road, as it turns out, has turned into one of the best trails in Arizona. More

Barbershop Trail, Mogollon Rim
This trail is not marked by red-white-and-blue barber poles. It would be nice if it were, but it’s not. Instead, this is one of those trails that can be hard to follow. Usually, all you have to do in Arizona is get to a trailhead, throw on a backpack and hit the dirt. You couldn’t get lost if you wanted to. This trail is one of the exceptions. More on that later. More

For more hikes, check out our June issue, featuring easy summer hikes, or pick up Robert’s book, Arizona Highways Hiking Guide: 52 of Arizona’s Best Day Hikes for Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall.

Take a Hike … but Use Common Sense

It’s warming up out there, and that means hikers and mountain bikers need to take extra precautions before hitting the trail. Unfortunately, according to a story that ran on AZcentral.com, there’s been an uptick of mountain rescues in the Valley compared to last year at this time. Translation: People are not playing it safe out there.

“Common sense is the most important thing to take on the trail,” says Robert Stieve, editor of Arizona Highways. “And water is just as important. A gallon a day is the general rule; however, if you’re hiking the desert in the summer, which is strongly discouraged, you’ll need at least double that amount.”

Stieve also advises that you adhere to 10 basic rules — commandments, really — which he spells out in much more detail in his book, Arizona Highways Hiking Guide: 52 of Arizona’s Best Day Hikes for Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall:

• Never hike alone.
• Tell someone where you’re hiking, the route you’ll be taking and when you’ll be home.
• Carry identification and the name and telephone number of whom to call in case of an emergency.
• Before you leave home, check the forecast, and pay attention to the weather while you’re on the trail.
• Study the maps before you go, and carry a compass, not just a GPS.
• On the trail, know where you’re going where you are in relation to the map you’re carrying.
• Take plenty of food, and carry more water than you think you’ll need.
• There’s no such thing as too much sunscreen.
• Don’t overestimate your abilities.
• Adhere to the Leave No Trace principles.

Spread the word and please share these life-saving tips with out-of-town visitors.

100 Greatest Photographs Book Enters Second Printing

Last year, we released a stunning hardcover book, 100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear in Arizona Highways Magazine. The book has sold so well that it’s now in a second printing! So, what are you waiting for? Get your copy today!

From Navajo families and a Mohave girl to the splendor of the Grand Canyon and the grasslands of Southern Arizona, the 100 images that appear in the book are the best to have ever been published in Arizona Highways, as chosen by Photo Editor Jeff Kida and Editor Robert Stieve. As Stieve writes, “In my mind, there was no golden era, just decades and decades of spectacular photography — one great shot after another.” This book celebrates those great shots, both old and new, and pays tribute to the men and women who made them.

You can pick up 100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear in Arizona Highways Magazine at your neighborhood Costco or at the Arizona Highways gift shop, which is located at 2039 W. Lewis Avenue in Phoenix.

We’ve Got the Perfect Gift for Your Thanksgiving Host or Hostess!

Still unsure what you’re bringing your Thanksgiving host or hostess tomorrow? Skip the pumpkin pie, ditch the wine and forget the green-bean casserole. Instead, present them with the 100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear in Arizona Highways Magazine. From Navajo families and a Mohave girl to the splendor of the Grand Canyon and the grasslands of Southern Arizona, the 100 images that appear in these pages are the best to have ever been published in Arizona Highways, as chosen by Photo Editor Jeff Kida and Editor Robert Stieve. As Stieve writes, “In my mind, there was no golden era, just decades and decades of spectacular photography — one great shot after another.” This book celebrates those great shots, both old and new, and pays tribute to the men and women who made them.

You can pick up the 100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear in Arizona Highways Magazine at your neighborhood Costco or at the Arizona Highways gift shop, which is located at 2039 W. Lewis Avenue in Phoenix.

Check Out These Great Gift Ideas…

“In my mind, there was no golden era, just decades and decades of spectacular photography — one great shot after another.” — Robert Stieve

The holidays are right around the corner — OK, not really, but everyone else seems to be getting into the spirit (and not the Halloween variety) — so, with that, why not start thinking about what you’ll be giving your favorite friends and family this gift-giving season?

Not to worry; we have three very good ideas below:

100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear inArizona Highways Magazine: From Navajo families and a Mohave girl to the splendor of the Grand Canyon and the grasslands of Southern Arizona, the 100 images that appear in these pages are the best to have ever been published in Arizona Highways, as chosen by Photo Editor Jeff Kida and Editor Robert Stieve. As Stieve writes, “In my mind, there was no golden era, just decades and decades of spectacular photography — one great shot after another.” This book celebrates those great shots, both old and new, and pays tribute to the men and women who made them.

Arizona Highways Camping Guide: From quiet, isolated high-mountain sites to low-desert locations, Arizona Highways Camping Guide features 100 of the best campgrounds in Arizona. The book, which includes Arizona Highways’ iconic photography and maps, is sorted by region and written for car-campers and families. Detailed information about locations, amenities, seasonal accessibility and fees is included with each listing.

Arizona Highways Hiking Guide: Fifty-two of the best day hikes in Arizona — one for each weekend of the year, organized by seasons. Robert Stieve, editor of Arizona Highways magazine and an experienced backwoods trekker, selected hikes ranging from easy walks in the woods to challenging journeys to Arizona’s highest peaks and deepest canyons — including the Grand Canyon. In-depth trail guides, descriptions, warnings and GPS coordinates are included with each hike, along with the magazine’s classic fine photography.

All three books are available at Costco and at the Arizona Highways store.

Buy This Book: 100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear in Arizona Highways Magazine

On sale now, our newest book, 100 Greatest Photographs to Ever Appear in Arizona Highways Magazine, features 100 magnificent images, chosen by Photo Editor Jeff Kida and Editor Robert Stieve, which we’re calling the best to have ever been published in Arizona Highways. This elegant book celebrates those stunning photographs and pays tribute to the men and women who made them.

Here’s the deal: You’re going to want this book … for your coffee table, as a holiday or birthday gift, or just to have, because it’s that spectacular. Order your copy today.