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Phoenix has a surprising amount of fine hiking trails right within city limits - North Mountains Preserve, South Mountain Regional Park, Camelback Mountain, Ursery Mountain Park. Slightly further afield is Lost Dutchman State Park, with spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains and several good hiking trails. Driving the Apache Trail east to Roosevelt Lake is a classic, spectacular drive through some impossibly rugged desert mountains, and past several large lakes. The Superstition Wilderness offers a multitude of excellent hiking routes - and is probably the single best hiking area in the state, behind the Grand Canyon (and about on par with Sedona, with out all the new-agey nonsense).

Speaking of, a longer day trip to Sedona is worthwhile. As would a day trip to the Tucson area (many attractions there - perhaps a combo Sonoran Desert Museum with Saguaro National Park west would be a good day trip).

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a special place, and nearby is a nice section of the Arizona Trail (which runs 800 miles from Mexico to Utah).

Something really off the beaten trail, and uber-quirky at that? A tour of Arcosanti. Look it up. It's something alright.

Edited by: FlagStuff

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Hard to improve much (if any) on FlagStuff's suggestions. I would add a day trip to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (about as far away as Tucson) as a possibility (including the Ajo Mountain Drive and the excellent Bull Pasture - Estes Canyon loop hike). Montezuma Castle National Monument is well worth a short stop on the way if you go up to Sedona.

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Tonto Natural Bridge would be another that is nearby Phoenix. If you're will to drive a bit further, Karchner Caverns is certainly worth a visit.

http://azstateparks.com/find/map.html

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Thanks for the great info! Apreesh!

Arcosanti does look interesting. As we only have one week, the fun will be figuring out which day hikes/trails and drives to do.

Happy trails,

guv