Arizona Outdoors Club

Coconino National Forest: Kachina Trail
2025-09-19 14:00 - 2025-09-20 17:00 UTC
A moderate 10.5 mile out and back hike through Coconino National Forest. Expect 1,509ft in elevation gain with lots of meadows, forests and nice views.
This is a 2 day, 1 night trip. You should plan on bringing a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, plenty of water, snacks, as well as a good pair of shoes.
Trip Plan: Coconino National Forest: Kachina Trail – Google Docs

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Indian Maiden Falls Swimhiking
2025-09-21 07:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver)
Join me on a trip to Arizona’s most secluded swimming hole! Although it’s just a 3.5-mile (7-mile RT) hike to the falls, it’s quite the adventure to get down to the swimming hole. With a 2,000ft drop over 1.8 short miles, it’s a very steep hike to get up and down into the canyon. When in the canyon, we will have to swim through the river or shimmy along the walls to get to the falls.
You must know how to swim! Make sure to bring sun protection (sun hat) and lots of water (3-4L), it will be a high of 90 and sunny! AllTrails link, make sure to read the reviews!
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Night Hike: South Mountains Javelina Canyon to Mormon Loop Trail
2025-09-25 19:00 - 23:00 UTC
This is a 5.8 mile out and back night hike that should take around 2.5-3 hours to complete. The route has 856ft in elevation gain and some interesting overlooks of the city lights.
We will meet in the Trader Joe’s parking lot at 7pm and should make it back around 10 or 11pm the same night.
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Flatironx2 Training Hike (Difficult)
2025-09-26 04:50 - 11:30 UTC
This hike is designed to prepare for a 44 mile backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon. It will be difficult in two ways. 1. We will meet outside of Trader Joe’s at 4:50 am in the morning and will leave by 5:00. 2. Despite the fact that this is a short hike, the elevation gain is significant. The plan is to summit Flatiron not one, but two times for training purposes. It is imperative that we meet at the specified times for this trip, as this is the only way to avoid dangerous hiking temperatures. Leaving early also serves as good preparation for the hike we are training for in the Grand Canyon.
You should bring a good pack to carry your items, at least 6 water bottles worth of water, an easy to carry lunch, snacks, sunscreen, a hat and a good pair of hiking shoes.
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Collaboration Trip with Nature at ASU
2025-09-26 15:00 - 2025-09-28 12:00 (America/Denver)
Join us for an unforgettable two-night camping trip hosted in collaboration between Arizona Outdoors Club and Nature at ASU! This trip is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow students, explore Arizona’s beautiful outdoors, and learn about local ecosystems in a fun, relaxed environment. This trip is open to students of all experience levels—whether you’re a seasoned camper or a complete beginner. It’s a great chance to relax, meet new people, and experience Arizona’s natural beauty while learning more about the environment. We will be camping near Bear Canyon Lake.
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Saturday Flatironx2 Training Hike (for those who can't make Friday)
2025-09-27 04:50 - 11:30 UTC

Humphreys Peak Fall Colors Backpacking
2025-09-27 07:00 - 2025-09-28 22:00 UTC
Come see fall colors on a difficult backpacking trip up Humphryes Peak! Humphrys is the tallest mountain in Arizona at 12,852 feet! We’ll be summiting via Wetherford Trail and taking Snowbowl back as a loop, which will be about 22mi +5,500 feet total. To split this up, we’ll be doing it in two days as a backpacking trip camping at Fremont Saddle (11,357′), just below tree line.
The dates for this trip may change as we see if this is going to be an early or late fall. Make sure to bring warm clothes, it will be cold at the top! Expect below freezing temps at night.

The Plan:
Saturday: Leave Tempe at 7am, drive up, hike to Fremont Saddle (11,357′), 8.4mi +3,400ft, and camp there
Sunday: Summit Humphreys, hike back to the car via Snow Bowl, 13.6mi +2,100ft, grab food, drive back to Tempe

Backpacking checklist (but don’t overpack, keep it as light as possible while bringing the essentials)
Weather
Map
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Gold Digger Trail & Antiquing in Flagstaff
2025-09-27 09:00 - 19:00 UTC
We will be taking a day trip up to Flagstaff to hike the Gold Digger Trail to Two Spot Trail Loop on Saturday the 27th. The trail follows alongside Rogers Lake Nature Area which provides incredible views out to what I believe is Kachina Peak. It then wraps through some of the forest alongside Woody Mountain providing even more beautiful views over Rogers Lake. This is a great hike for beginners and will provide lots of opportunity for photography. After this easy-moderate 5.1 mi, 521 ft elevation gain hike, we will be heading in to town to browse a few antique stores. After spending some time in Flagstaff, we will take the 2-2.5 hour drive back home. Additional costs will include anything you decide to purchase from antique stores, optional lunch in town, and of course splitting gas between your car. There is a dirt road that takes us to the trailhead. It is 7 mi long and washboard style – it should be fine for non 4×4 or high clearance vehicles. The high on Saturday is 64 degrees, there is a 33% chance of rain in the afternoon (as of now), and it will probably be windy. You will need at least 1-2 liters of water, snacks, good hiking shoes or trail shoes, and layers. Additionally a backpack, hat or other sun protection, and potentially rain protection (umbrella or raincoat). Also bring your own money if you intent to eat or shop once we get to Flagstaff! We will be meeting at Trader Joes parking lot at 9:00am on Saturday morning. Please try to be on time as it will be a longer drive to Flagstaff.
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Bell Trail Day Hike (Now 9/28 - Open spots!)
2025-09-28 08:00 - 18:00 UTC
This is a moderate 7-mile round-trip hike on Bell Trail near Camp Verde with about 500 feet of elevation gain. The trail follows the canyon and ends at “The Crack,” a swimming hole along Wet Beaver Creek. We’ll stop here to snack, swim, and possibly cliff jump before heading back. Please bring good footwear and plenty of water. There is a $10 parking fee per car at the trailhead.
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Night Hike: Piestewa Peak
2025-10-02 19:00 - 23:00 UTC
This is a strenuous 2 mile out and back night hike with 1,145ft in elevation. It is close to the Phoenix metropolitan area, so there should be some good views of the city.
We will meet in the Trader Joe’s Parking lot at 7pm and should make it back by around 11pm.
You should bring a headlamp/ flashlight, water and a good pair of boots.
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Brown’s Peak Hiking
2025-10-03 05:30 - 15:30 UTC
Join us on a difficult 4.9-mile hike to the summit of Brown’s Peak, the highest of the Four Peaks, with stunning views and sunny weather (75–98°). Spots are limited to 10 hikers—don’t miss this epic adventure!
🗺️ Location: Brown’s Peak
🌄 Activity: Hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Difficult
📌 Total Miles: 4.9
👥 Max People: 10
🗞️ Costs: Gas
⛅ Weather: Sunny, 75-98°, 8mph winds
🧭 Meeting Place: Trader Joe’s parking lot
🧳 What to Bring: Hiking shoes, water, lunch, snack
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Cathedral Rock Loop: Hill-line and Templeton Trail
2025-10-03 17:00 - 2025-10-04 20:00 UTC
This is a moderate level 7.5 mile hike in Sedona. The path passes along one of the four vortexes in the area, this one is known as the Cathedral Rock Vortex. There is a calm river on the route, so if you want to go swimming, remember to bring some swim gear.
This trip will be two days and one night. You should bring a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent, sunblock, hat, snacks, lots of water and a good pair of boots.
Trip Plan: Sedona, AZ: Cathedral Rock Hill-line and Templeton Trail – Google Docs
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Quartz Peak Trail Day Hike
2025-10-04 07:30 - 15:00 UTC
Looking for a rewarding desert adventure close to Phoenix? We will be hiking the Quartz Peak Trail! It’s rated as challenging, with sustained climbs and rugged terrain, but hikers are rewarded with amazing views of the valley and a unique summit studded with glinting quartz.
The last few miles of the road are not paved. AWD and a high clearance vehicle is highly recommended.
🗺️ Location: Quartz Peak Trail
🌄 Activity: Day hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate/Hard
📌 Total Miles: 5.6 miles
👥 Max People: 20
🗞️ Costs: ~$10
⛅ Weather: 70°F
🧭 Meeting Place: Trader Joe’s
🧳 What to Bring: Hiking shoes, water, snacks
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Kendrick Peak, lava river cave and Oktoberfest (TRIP FULL‼️)
2025-10-04 08:00 - 2025-10-05 21:00 UTC
We’ll be heading to Flagstaff for Oktoberfest (https://flagstaffoktoberfest.com/, $15/per-person) , then exploring the Lava River Cave before car camping overnight. The next day, we’ll hike Kendrick Peak (about 9 miles with roughly 2,700 feet of elevation gain) and then drive back to Tempe. Don’t forget to bring headlamps for the cave.
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Humphrey's Peak
2025-10-04 18:00 - 2025-10-05 23:30 UTC
This will be a strenuous 23 mile out and back hike. We will car camp the night before at an ancient volcanic lava field and then set out early the next day. The plan is to wake up at 5 and be at the trail head by 6am. It should take approximately 12.5 to 13 hours to complete this hike and the elevation gain is 5,229ft. If you feel the distance is too much for you, it is ok to turn around and go back the way you came.
This hike is also a training/ test hike for the Fall Break Grand Canyon trip. So, if you feel confident with this hike, you can then sign up for the Fall Break trip.
It will probably be a later night, so if all goes well we should return to campus by 11:30pm.
Note: People in Tempe that are interested in this trip will meet in the Trader Joe’s parking lot. People on the Sedona trip that want to do this trip will have a car going from that trip to Flagstaff.
You should bring: tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, warm clothes/ layers (a jacket is recommended as it has been below freezing at night), personal hygiene items (toilet paper, toothbrush, Advil, etc.), a pack to carry what you need for the day of the hike, plenty of food and snacks, plenty of water and a good pair of hiking shoes.
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The Mighty 5 - Utah National Parks [FALL BREAK] (formerly Yellowstone)
2025-10-09 18:00 - 2025-10-14 20:00 UTC
We will be going to ALL FIVE Utah national parks on this amazing 1800-mile road trip!
We’re expecting below-freezing temperatures when camping overnight (around 25°F or -5°C), so make sure to bring lots of cold-weather gear! It will also be raining on 2-3 days of the trip, so rain gear is required. On some days, we’ll be driving very long distances, so please keep that in mind. Every day will be pretty busy, and we will be camping every night, so keep in mind that there won’t be utilities at any of the campsites! We’ll also be leaving Thursday night, so keep that in mind if you have any evening classes or Friday classes.
Itinerary (subject to change):
Thursday: (3 hours) Drive to Flagstaff at 6pm and camp near Sunset Crater at 10pm.
Friday: (7 hours) Leave at 8am, pass through Monument Valley, visit Arches National Park, arrive at camp at 8pm.
Saturday: (8 hours) Leave at 8am, visit Canyonlands, pass through Capitol Reef National Park, visit Bryce Canyon National Park and camp outside it at 8pm.
Sunday: (5.5 hours) Leave at 8am, Drive to Zion National Park and visit park, then drive to Great Basin National Park and camp outside it.
Monday: (6 hours) Leave 8am, Drive through Great Basin National Park, do some hiking, then drive to Las Vegas and explore city, stay in hotel or camp outside city.
Tuesday: (5 hours) Leave 9am, visit Hoover Dam, possibly hot springs, drive home to Tempe.

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Sierra Nevada Car Camping + Day Hiking
2025-10-10 06:00 - 2025-10-13 20:00 UTC
This will be a 4 day 3 night car camping trip with 22 mile day hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Yosemite National Park. There will be a group A and a group B for this trip. Group A will consist of moderate hiking and group B will be intense.
Group A
Day 1: Drive, establish a campsite, 5-7 mile hike through the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, cache water
Day 2: To be determined (most likely going to be a shorter version of group B hiking)
Day 3: To be determined (most likely going to be a shorter version of group B hiking)
Day 4: Potential sightseeing, drive back
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Group B
Day 1: Drive, establish a campsite, 5-7 mile hike through the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, cache water
Day 2: Glacier Point, Panorama Trail, Mist Trail, Four Mile Loop Trail
Day 3: Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, Pohono Trail to Dewey & Crocker Points
Day 4: Potential sightseeing, drive back

You should bring: a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, layers (it will be cold), raincoat, hat, flashlight/ head lamp, a first aid kit, a pack for carrying all of your things for the day hike, personal hygiene items (tooth brush, toilet paper, Advil, etc.), plenty of food (think about bears when bringing this), plenty of water and a good pair of boots.

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Superstition Storm Chasing
2025-10-11 09:00 - 18:00 (America/Denver)
With Hurricane Priscilla on the way, it’s looking like it’s going to storm all weekend. Now this isn’t good if you’re trying to plan a kayaking trip, but this is good for storm chasing! We’ll be setting off into the superstition mountains for a rainy day hike. Be prepared for the possibility of off-trail hiking and low-grade scrambling as we try to get into a good spot to see flash flooding from a safe spot. We will be hiking an undetermined length and elevation gain, it really just depends on the conditions. Make sure to bring a rain jacket!

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Arizona Hot Springs Backpacking
2025-10-13 08:00 - 2025-10-14 18:00 (America/Phoenix)
This is a 6.7-mile round trip hike in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area leading through scenic desert slot canyons to the Arizona Hot Springs. We’ll camp overnight, swim in the springs, and maybe cliff jump into the Colorado river before hiking back the next morning. Make sure to bring swim trunks, food, plenty of water, hiking shoes, and camping gear.
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Sunrise Hike in the South Mountains: Fat Man's Pass and Natural Tunnel via Mormon Trail
2025-10-15 05:10 - 08:00 UTC
This will be a 3.5 mile sunrise loop hike in the South Mountains with 918ft in elevation gain. We will meet in the McDonald’s parking lot at 5:10am.
Make sure to wear good shoes, bring a flashlight and some water. Be prepared to see snakes.
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Climbmax Rock Climbing
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Come check out the Climbmax climbing gym and take advantage of our $20 day pass with free gear rentals deal!

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Tom’s Thumb Hiking
2025-10-17 08:30 - 14:30 UTC
We’re going to be hiking Tom’s Thumb! Join us for this epic adventure!
🗺️ Location: Tom’s Thumb
🌄 Activity: Hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate
📌 Total Miles: 4
👥 Max People: 20
🗞️ Costs: Free
⛅ Weather: Clear, sunny
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Building @ Trader Joe’s parking lot
🧳 What to Bring: Water, snacks, proper hiking shoes
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Mogollon Rim: General Crook Connector Trail
2025-10-17 14:00 - 2025-10-19 11:00 UTC
Prepare for a challenging 24.9 mile out and back hike along the historic General Crook Connector Trail. Back in the day this route helped secure supply routes and travel through the wilderness of AZ. It is estimated the trail takes approximately 10.5 hours to complete.
This will be a 2.5 day, 2 night camping excursion. The plan is to camp the night before and set out early in the morning. After finishing the hike, we will camp for one more night and then return the following day.
You should plan on bringing a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, backpack, hat, layers, food, plenty of water and a good pair of boots.
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Fossil Creek and Bob Bear Trailhead (FULL)
2025-10-18 07:00 - 17:30 UTC
Hey guys! We’ll be hiking to Fossil Creek. It’s about an 8-mile round trip, so make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. We’ll get to snorkel in the creek, swim, and explore the area, so pack a swimsuit, towel, and good hiking shoes. Don’t forget sunscreen and maybe a change of clothes for the ride back. Should be a fun adventure!
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Sunrise Peak Hiking
2025-10-22 05:10 - 08:30 UTC
Join us for a sunrise hike up Sunrise Peak!
🗺️ Location: Sunrise peak🌄 Activity: Hiking🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate📌 Total Miles: 3.8👥 Max People: 10🗞️ Costs: None⛅ Weather: High 82, low 65🧭 Meeting Place: McDonald’s parking lot🧳 What to Bring: Water, good hiking shoes, a flashlight, maybe a snack or two
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Coconino National Forest: Elden Lookout, Sunset and Hearts Trail Loop
2025-10-24 17:00 - 2025-10-25 20:00 UTC
This is a slightly strenuous 11.2 mile round trip on Mt. Elden with 2,657ft in elevation gain. The route has good views, ridgeline hiking, forests and meadows. Though it should be noted that there is some steep climbing to be expected for the first 3 miles and certain sections have limited shade.
The trip will be a 2 day, 1 night excursion. We will camp the night before and set off early in the morning. Prepare for about a 6 hour hike. Make sure to bring a tenet, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, hat, sunscreen, layers (jacket), food, plenty of water, a good pair of hiking boots and some ice spikes (depending on how the weather is on Mt. Elden closer to the trip).
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Boynton Canyon & Subway Cave Day Hike/Car Camping
2025-10-25 08:00 - 2025-10-26 12:00 UTC
We will be exploring Boynton Canyon and Subway Cave in Sedona! The Boynton Canyon trail near Sedona offers wonderful views of the canyon floor and the unique desert plants that thrive here, such as Arizona cypress and manzanita. It’s a place where you might see mule deer or hear the calls of canyon wrens. We’ll also be exploring the beautiful Subway Cave! We will be camping overnight in the area.
🗺️ Location: Boynton Canyon & Subway Cave
🌄 Activity: Day hike/car camping
🏔️ Skill Level: Easy
📌 Total Miles: ~5.5 miles
👥 Max People: 20
🗞️ Costs: ~$20 per car in gas; $5 per car for Red Rock parking pass
⛅ Weather: 60-80°F, Sunny
🧭 Meeting Place: Trader Joes on Rural and University
🧳 What to Bring: Camping gear (sleeping bag, pad, tent), hiking shoes, water, food, snacks, sun protection and warm clothes for night.
Signups will open at the end of the weekly meeting on October 1st!
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EDGE OF THE WORLD 🌎
2025-10-25 09:00 - 2025-10-26 19:00 UTC
We’ll be heading to Flagstaff on October 25 and driving up to one of the most scenic campsites in Arizona. The views from the top are incredible, especially at sunset, making the drive well worth it. We’ll spend the night camping there, and the following day we’ll hike Soldier Pass Trail (5 miles) in Sedona before heading back to Tempe. This trip is capped at 25 participants, as the campsite can’t accommodate a larger group.
Please note: the final stretch of road is about 20 miles of rocky, narrow terrain, so a high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended.

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A Mountain Night Hike
2025-10-28 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Old Main Fountain, 400 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281, United States
We’ll be doing a quick, easy hike up A Mountain on Tuesday night! No hiking experience or equipment required! We will enjoy the beautiful view of the Tempe skyline at night and make some new friends! There’s no need for a driver or a huge time commitment on this trip since we’ll just be walking from campus.
We will be meeting at the fountain in front of Old Main and leaving by 7:30PM. We should reach the peak no later than 8:00PM. We will have a good amount of time to hang out and chat at the peak.
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Tonto National Forest: Four Peaks
2025-10-31 12:00 - 2025-11-01 20:00 UTC
This is a difficult 6.9 mile loop hike with 1,870ft in elevation gain and sections of trail considered class four scrambling. Be sure to prepare for at least 20 miles of off-roading along bumpy mountain roads.
This will be a 2 day, 1 night camping trip. We will arrive the day before and set up camp. Then we will head out early to summit before the afternoon weather starts to get bad. You should bring a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, a small pack, food, plenty of water and a good pair of boots.

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