Plan a Hiking Adventure! Couple’s Hiking Escapes in Sedona, Tucson & the Rockies
Love to be active while traveling? Hiking is one of my favorite ways to do this! In this episode Claire Cavalieri joins me to talk about the benefits of getting outside and tips on planning trips to a few of her favorite destinations.
Before you travel
Do a quick Google search to find hikes before you leave! Look up hikes that will be near the area you’re traveling to.
Figure out what level of difficulty, mileage, elevelation, etc. that you’re comfortable with, and see what options are within your comfort zone.
If you want to find a hike to a waterfall or with epic views, add that to your search!
I love to use All Trails to find hikes and read reviews. This is also a great way to get current trail updates. I pay for All Trails Plus so I can download maps and I think it’s worth it!
For reference, Claire and her husband prefer to do hikes that are easy to moderate. Here are some of her suggestions!
Rocky Mountains, CO
Seven Bridges Trail can be found just outside of Colorado Springs.
This 3.5 mile hike goes along a beautiful stream and has great views of the mountains.
As the name suggests, you get to cross seven bridges!
There is plenty of shade coverage, which helps to keep the temperature cooler.
Garden of the Gods is a beautiful area to take a scenic drive and stop for nature walks or hikes.
There are lots of trails in this area! This is a great place to visit if you love to see unique rock formations with epic views.
Sedona, AZ
Claire recommends getting the book Sedona Hikes to learn about all the trails in the area.
If you want to visit Sedona, you’ll want to fly into Phoenix and drive about 1.5 hours north.
This 6 mile hike takes you along Oak Creek between the high canyon walls. You get to cross the creek a few times and get great views along the way.
Wear waterproof shoes if you can!
The high canyon walls and trees help create a lot of shade, which allows you to stay cool even when it’s warm.
You can do this hike year round! In the winter the river won’t completely freeze over, but it gets icy.
This is a great place for easy nature walks along the river!
If you’re looking for a place to relax and have a picnic, this is a great location! There are lots of great rocks jutting out over the water to sit on and soak in the sights.
Sit down and dip your feet in the water!
If you’re looking for another adventure near Sedona, you can take the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon! Claire recommends this as a must-see adventure if you have time!
Tucson, AZ
Tucson is about 1.5 hours south of Phoenix.
This 4 mile hike takes you through gorgeous desert landscapes to see ancient petroglyphs!
The hike is on the West side of Saguaro National Park. You won’t believe how many saguaros there are and how huge they get!
This 3.5 mile loop offers stunning desert and cacti views!
The hike is on the East side of the National Park has a lot more scrub brush and a little bit less cacti.
Cascade Mountains, OR
Claire spent time exploring the areas surrounding Bend, Oregon. There are rivers and grand mountains all around you!
Explore the dense woods of Oregon and see the brightest natural blue pool!
A large river runs along the side of the trail as well. The views are stunning!