The Phoenix area is a great place to live if you love hitting the trails and getting in a good hike close to home. I have hiked many of them in my time living there but two have really stood out above the rest.

Go John Trail: Cave Creek Park-37019 N Lava Ln, Cave Creek, AZ 85331

Go John Trailhead

I lived very close to Cave Creek Park so I came here rather often. It is far enough out of town to get away from the pollution surrounding the city area but still close enough to be worth going to. In Phoenix terms, it's only about 30-45 mins away from most places, so it's not too far! There are eight trails in all here ranging from 0.2 miles to 5.8 and there is also an outlet to the Maricopa Trail. Go John trail is my go-to at the 5.8-mile mark. This trail has a lot of ups and downs making it challenging enough to get the heart moving. It is not advanced or technical though so it is perfect for people looking to get into shape or without a lot of hiking experience.

What I love about it is the beautiful views of Cave Creek, the surrounding area, and it's general lack of traffic. You can hike, run, mountain bike, or ride horseback here but I have never seen more than twenty people while hiking it. There are always lots of beautiful puppies to say hi to along the way as well. As soon as the cactus flowers start blooming is my favorite time to hike and there are great views of the hot air balloons due to a launch site not far away. WARNING: There are a lot of rattlesnakes in Cave Creek Park so stay aware. I usually see at least two while hiking here!

Goat Camp Trail: White Tank Mountains-20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ 85355

The top of Goat Camp

The White Tanks are where I hike when I'm training for a big hike. They have a fair share of easy hikes but two very difficult ones as well. Here is a map of the trails. My favorite is the Goat Camp Trail. It is 6.3 miles one way and gains 1,734 feet in elevation, mostly in one big climb. After the big climb (just over three miles) you can keep going for a long more steady hike or turn around and head back to the trailhead. If you continue on there are two options. You can make it a whole park loop and continue on Ford Canyon Trail (13.7 miles in all), or a small loop on Mesquite Canyon Trail (11.3 miles in all).

Keep in mind either of these options will drop you at a different trailhead in the park and you will either need to arrange a ride to get you or hike back to the Goat Camp trailhead. It's about a mile or two walk back to your car if you choose to do so. This trail is challenging but full of breathtaking views. Not too many people go past the first couple miles on these trails either so if you seek uncrowded trails, this is the place!

General words of wisdom: Shade is often not plentiful in Arizona so make sure to have a hat and sunglasses as well as plenty of water (for yourself and your 4 legged friends) when hiking any trail, no matter how long or short it is!

AND DON'T FORGET TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THESE GUYS!!!