First Steps: Exploring Arizona Back Country

Arizona is a great place to explore the outdoors!

Arizona is a beautiful and ecologically diverse state. When summer temperatures are blazing hot in the low country, the northland is cooler. If snow blankets the northland, residents find desert regions to be pleasant. Arizona's terrain stretches from mountain peaks over 10,000 feet down to the Sonoran desert with elevation 1,500 feet. A wide variety of reptiles and warm blooded mammals spread across seven ecological zones, each species specifically adapted to their environment, whether desert or forest, canyon or mountain range.

Hiking trails lead residents and visitors through vast stretches of our state which are managed by the National Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. So much of Arizona is open for exploration as we seek out the hidden niches and wide-open views across Arizona.

The trails found in First Steps lead to interesting destinations across eleven regions, some with unexpected twists and turns. With the exception of the trail to Havasupai, all the trails are day hikes leading to waterfalls and streams, caves and ruins, historical sites and mountaintop vistas. Moore's beautiful color images inspire hikers to explore the Arizona's back country. As an introduction to Arizona's trails, some of the routes may be familiar, other trails may be unknown to hiking veterans. Let's face it, there are so many options for hiking in Arizona!

First Steps will help you start a lifetime of exploration in Arizona's back country. Remember to be prepared as you set out to do some exploring, Ultimately the responsibility to safely return is up to you. Now c'mon, get off the couch and strap those boots on. Let's go for a hike!

Eileen Moore came to love the outdoors as a child growing up in Ecuador, a South American country. When she and her husband became parents, she began introducing her children to hiking the trails of Arizona. Today, her daughters share their memories of exploring the outdoors with their children. Moore and her husband live in Flagstaff with an Irish Wolfhound mix, who keeps them moving, rain or shine. In addition to First Steps, Moore has written The Great Arizona Adventure, a book exploring the natural history of Arizona, Arizona Springs: The Desert's Draught and Standing Watch: The Fire Towers of Arizona.