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| - What a gorgeous trail - shame on me for living in Scottsdale this long and not hiking Sunrise Peak until now! After my long, drawn-out acceptance that Camelback is no longer the epitome of hiking in the Valley, this trail provided much encouragement to escape the masses that now crowd more popular hikes and to continue exploring the amazing landscape that is Arizona.
I would call this an intermediate hike. Nothing too technical required by way of footing, but the incline is fairly steady and rarely gives up. This of course means footing on the way down should be taken with care, as you may grab a granular patch gravel and find yourself slipping. The steepest sections don't last very long, making the majority of the hike very enjoyable without feeling too labor intensive or too mild - excellent heart-pumping but accessible climb. My dogs faired very well despite some rocky portions, and the trail was mostly wide enough to pass people coming up and down without too much pause. Traffic was steady but never crowded. I imagine lots of water is key on warmer days, but try not to pass this up in winter months, as it's truly breathtaking on a cool, crisp morning. Bathrooms at the trailhead are great, but you'll not find much hidden cover along the trail if you need to go again. May want to have a lookout with you :)
The views. Holy crap the views. Plenty of places to stop and take it in, but the Peak itself will not disappoint. A 360 perspective out to 4 Peaks, over to Camelback, South Mountain and beyond. A real treat especially on a clear day. If like me you are a bit jaded about sharing more popular hikes with inexperienced hikers and tourists, go enjoy a lesser traveled trail and bask at the top in a much superior vista!
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