With temperatures in the middle 70’s and 80’s, the desert flowers blooming and the birds singing, this is a perfect time to get off your sofa and enjoy our lovely Arizona spring weather.
For those not ready to commit for a long haul, nearby short hiking routes in or near Apache Junction include the two-mile loop that starts at the backdoor of the Library’s neighbor — the Multi-Generational Center — where you can enjoy beautiful vistas of the Goldfield, Four Peaks and Superstition Mountains. If you are ready to venture a little further off of the beaten path, consider these trailheads for shorter hikes:
- Butcher Jones Trail/Saguaro Lake
- Treasure Loop Trail/Apache Trail
- Hieroglyphic Trail/Superstitions‐King’s Ranch Rd
- Brown’s Mtn Trail Loop/McDowell Mt. Preserve (PDF link)
- Usery Mountain Regional Park
Before you go, stop at the Library for the Birds of the Sonoran Desert lecture on Saturday, March 14, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Presenter Vera Walters has taught birding classes through Central Arizona College, Southwestern Field Studies, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, and will discuss the birds of the desert and how they exist in our environment. This learning experience will have you eager to grab a pair of binoculars and become a “birder” yourself.
In addition to your hiking boots and binoculars, consider packing these hiking and field guides.
Exploring the Superstitions : Trails and Tales of the Southwest’s Mystery Mountains by John Annerino
Hiking Arizona’s Superstition and Mazatzal Country: a Guide to the Areas’ Greatest Hikes by Bruce Grubbs
Best Easy Day Hikes Phoenix by Stewart Green
The Creaky Knees Guide Arizona: The 80 Best Easy Hikes by Bruce Grubbs
Field Guide to Birds of Arizona by Rick Wright; photographs by Brian E. Small
Birds of Arizona written and illustrated by Todd Telander
Jim Burns’ Arizona Birds: From the Backyard to the Backwoods by Jim Burns
Have fun and don’t forget your water and sun screen!