. "0"^^ . . "2014-03-17T00:00:00"^^ . "This is my go to hike when I A. have my 3 year old with me B. have out of town guests who want a taste of hiking in AZ but are not really accustomed to it and C. want to feel like I got some exercise and spent some time outdoors without really pushing it. \n\nThe trail itself is well maintained and well laid out, providing a few scenic resting points along the way, which is nice if you're a beginner or hiking with little ones. There are beautiful views of the surrounding areas. My fianc\u00E9e and I always love looking at the huge, expensive homes built into the mountains and the sprawling views of Arizona skyline never get old. The facilities are great as well with a large parking Area, public restrooms, and lots of information and brochures about the park and the area. The only downside is it that's its a very popular trail and can get congested on the weekends so if you can get out there on a weekday, I'd recommend it.\n\nI would categorize this as an easy to moderate hike, with the first half being much easier than the second but the trails are wide so you can feel comfortable going at your own pace and allowing people to pass as needed. As you start to descend the first hill to the Owls Rest stop, be aware that it will become more challenging so if you are a beginner I might recommend turning around at that point until you get used to it. Again, I often hike this with my 3 year old daughter and although I do have to carry her at times she manages it relatively well. If you take your time and enjoy it its a great way to spend the day. It seems to be a good choice for trail running as well, relatively flat and lots of up and down to make it interesting. I'm looking forward to trying that soon!"^^ . "0"^^ . "3"^^ . "4"^^ . .