Adero Canyon

There is nothing quite like getting back on the trail after a long hiatus.

Because the Valley of the Sun has hundreds of hikes – long and short, mild to challenging – there is really no compelling reason you can’t get out frequently and put in a mile or two. But often life gets in the way, and you can usually find an easy excuse to not hit the trail and enjoy the great outdoors.

On the first really perfect weekend of 2008, a group of Fountain Hills Times employees, including Editor Mike Scharnow, Reporter Ryan Winslett and Subscription Manager Austin Yenglin, joined some 20 Fountain Hills and Scottsdale residents to walk through Adero Canyon in the McDowell Mountain Preserve.

You access the trail at the end of Eagle Ridge Drive. The hike is led by trail stewards. Since the first 1.7 miles are on private property, the guides take you through the first part, then offer a number of optional hikes.

The morning started out chilly with a breeze, so a jacket and extra shirt felt good. That is the key to winter hiking in this part of the state: layers are the only way to go.

There is an “easy” trail to view Fountain Hills and the fountain, a more challenging hike and a third taking hikers up some 600 feet higher in elevation than the other two. We chose the “medium” hike, and traveling along the Promenade/North trails was moderate. The elevation gain was minor, and there were few hard climbs. The Western Loop provides hikers with a more aerobic walk.

Whatever your choice, the preserve is an outstanding place to experience the Sonoran Desert. There is every imaginable type of cactus, signs of wildlife and vistas offering unique perspectives of Fountain Hills.

Because our hike was relatively early in the “hiking season,” flora was green but not flowering. This will be a stellar spring because of the perfect timing of winter rains. Birds were out but not abundant; by the time this publication hits newsstands, there should be a proliferation of avian species as well as wildflowers.

The vegetation also very well may lead to a scary summer; typically when we have these colorful springs, we have the antithesis when the rain stops. Everything dries up, turns brown and provides a scenario for wildfires. Remember that as the temperatures rise.

We were fortunate to be in the preserve not long after it had rained. There was lots of standing water, and there were some running springs here and there.

Living in this desert, you learn to appreciate what lies beneath the scorching sun. The Sonoran Desert is not as unrelenting as you might imagine. It is lush and full of surprises. When you really pay attention to your surroundings, you will discover a hidden world.

Look up and you can see hummingbirds sitting on an ocotillo branch. Observe a hawk taking advantage of the currents. At eye level, you can view any number of plant varieties, geological formations. On the ground, you will find creatures, more plant life, a plethora of rocks.

The colors are endless. Take time to listen to the air moving through the trees and to hear the whirring of a hummingbird’s flight.

Take advantage of these pretty days and take a hike. You’ll have something to think about and talk about for days afterwards.

This hike was featured March 2008.