I'm taking a break from traditional real estate news and information to take a look at the amenities that draw so many people to Arizona to buy homes and visit our resorts (and please do buy some homes in Arizona and visit the state's resorts). After years of planning, constructing and linking miles and miles of trails, many well known (and some lesser known) trails are near completion within the state. These trail systems offer unique hiking, equestrian, cycling or off-road vehicle experiences to visitors and residents of Arizona. Some more significant trails include:
Regional: The Great Western Trail (Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana). This 4,455 mile trail is intended for use by motorized and non-motorized users. Eventually this trail will connect Mexico with Canada via the United States route. The Arizona section of this trail consists of back country roads that run from Mexico to Utah. Several sections of the Arizona trail are still under consideration or construction. Maps and detailed information about this trail can be found at: http://www.gwt.org/.
State: The Arizona Trail. When complete, this trail will include 807 miles of trail for use by hikers, mountain bicyclists, trail runners, cross-country skiers and equestrians. The trail runs from the southern border to the northern border of the state and requires only 35 miles of improvements to be complete. Maps and detailed information about this trail can be found at: http://www.aztrail.org/.
County: The Maricopa Trail and the Valley's Pedestrian Freeway. The Maricopa Trail is a 240 mile multi-use (non-motorized) trail that links open space projects and trail systems (including 9 regional parks) into one large loop around Maricopa County. This trail is supplemented by the Valley's Pedestrian Freeway conceived by Valley Forward to provide for interconnectivity among trails and parks within Maricopa County. The network of existing trails within Maricopa County is extensive, but there's still plenty of opportunity to help complete this network. Maps and information about how to help complete this trail system can be found at: http://www.valleyforward.org/issues/52/.
Local and Accessible: The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. There are several local trails throughout the Valley of the Sun, but one that might be overlooked is the five mile stretch of the Salt River located just south of downtown Phoenix. Several paved trails easily accessed from ample parking lots are available throughout the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area. This accessible trail system offers unique bird watching and site seeing opportunities. The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is another Valley Forward project that provides unique educational opportunities about varied habitats within the Valley. Maps and information can be found at: http://phoenix.gov/riosalado.
Organizations like Valley Forward have been instrumental in designing, organizing, constructing and maintaining trail systems within Maricopa County. There are several volunteer opportunities to help complete and maintain the existing, extensive network of trails started and supported by Valley Forward. These volunteer efforts are local, convenient and rewarding. Find out more about Valley Forward and volunteer opportunities at http://www.valleyforward.org/. Get outside and enjoy Arizona!
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