Great Southwest Hiking destinations

[TNJ]

Got some vacation time coming up this summer, and want to go somewhere with good hiking trails. Some place that will offer up a good slice of the great southwest.
Been to Grand Canyon. Been to the Taos area. Been to Moab.
Been to Zion Ntl Park, and the Grand Escalante area.
Where to now?

S.
j

[fetishfrog]

Sequoia National and Kings Canyon National Forests are hard to beat and because of the ever popular Yosemite (also incredible) are virtually untouched in the summer.

[coldfingaz]

Sedona, AZ

[Grady]

Colorado National Monument. Near Grand Junction, Colorado.
Best kept secret on the planet. Well I might have went a little overboard.
But, it is a must see.

http://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm

[cg]

Originally Posted by coldfingaz

Sedona, AZ

Agree!

[southpaw68]

Originally Posted by coldfingaz

Sedona, AZ

Another vote for the Sedona / Prescott area here.

[Doodad]

Anywhere else in Utah. Go to Canyonlands (my fave) or Capitol Reef. For a real different slice, try Great Basin just over the border. You have salt flats leading to a 14,000 foot isolated mountain range with a glacier and caverns. Very different and about five different eco zones to explore.

[tele_phil]

Here's a unique hiking trip.

San Juan Mountains in the Lake City, Telluride, Ouray, Silverton area. If you are into fast packing "back packing in a minimalist style" here's a great trip. Book your trip for the Hardrock 100 (100 mile trail running race) time frame. Go to their website and look up the course to plan your route. Get B&B's in two or more of the towns the run goes through. Pre-drop fresh clothing and stuff at the B&B's. Hike sections of the course spending one night out with a very small tent or bivy-sack approach.

Some of the most beautiful mountains in the Rockies. If you time it right you can follow the Hardrock 100 course which will be marked for ~4 days.

[MVrider]

Head to Durango, CO. Take the narrow gauge railroad up towards Silverton and get off at the whistle stop. Hike all you want in some beautiful country. Flag the train down and they'll stop to pick you up on the return trip. Stay out as long as you want - days, weeks - but make sure to get back to the whistle-stop before the snow starts falling.

[TNJ]

Oh...been to Sedona/Flagstaff.

I like the idea of the Rockies...even Lake Tahoe area.
But, what will the weather be like in June there?
Snow???

S.
j

[Bluedawg]

Just did a short hike at Saguaro National Park (west) last saturday ...

very nice ... I love the big cactus

A few years ago we hiked into the Superstition wilderness east of Phoenix .. an awesome place ..

definately winter hikes ... summer temps can get above 110F at both places

+1 on Sedona

Someday I want to go back to Natural Bridges park in Utah and hike there

Also nice ... Canyon de Chelly, Chiricauhua, Cochise Stronghold in AZ

Bandolier in NM ...

someday I'm gonna go to Chaco in NM
http://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm

as well as Mesa Verde and canyon of the ancients in CO

and of course

The Grand Canyon ... hard to see it all in one trip

[MVrider]

Originally Posted by TNJ

Oh...been to Sedona/Flagstaff.

I like the idea of the Rockies...even Lake Tahoe area.
But, what will the weather be like in June there?
Snow???

S.
j

Snow. Or maybe rain. Or maybe 85 degrees and no precipitation for days. Or maybe all three in the same day. A couple of years of years ago, we had 81 degrees at 12:30 noon. Three hours later it began snowing. We had eight foot drifts out of that one. If you can predict weather in the Rockies, you'll put every weatherman out of business. Snow has been recorded in every county of the state (Colorado) in every month except August.

[Peteyvee]

Originally Posted by TNJ

Oh...been to Sedona/Flagstaff.

I like the idea of the Rockies...even Lake Tahoe area.
But, what will the weather be like in June there?
Snow???

S.
j

The weather in the Sierras/Lake Tahoe area should be OK in June with leftover snow at the higher elevations (above 9,000 ft). Word of warning: If you're camping, be prepared for any kind of weather. I've seen it go from 70 degrees with clear blue skies and no wind to a 20 degree blizzard with gale force winds in 30 minutes in the Sierras (even in August). The mountains make their own weather.

You also might want to check out the Eastern Sierras from Lee Vining (back side of Yosemite and not as crowded) to the Bridgeport area along scenic 395 (south of Tahoe). Nice camping and hiking spots abound. Great fishing too!

[guitfiddle]

Go visit Monument Valley. If that don't blow your mind, nothing else in the SW will. After that, head to Lake Powell.

[Bluedawg]

Originally Posted by guitfiddle

Go visit Monument Valley. If that don't blow your mind, nothing else in the SW will. After that, head to Lake Powell.

The Navajo Nation has built a very nice hotel overlooking the valley, too.

Great place for sure.