The Phoenix Mountains Preserve is one of the largest and best parks in any big American city. At 37,000 acres, it’s nearly fifty times the size of New York’s Central Park and vastly more wild. Though many of its desert inhabitants avoid the glare of the midday sun, intrepid hikers can encounter many of them by hiking in the cooler evening hours: desert tortoises, coyotes, owls, gila monsters, javelina, and ringtails.

Our hike of about five miles will take us on a scenic moonlit loop through the wild terrain north of Piestewa Peak and take us about 2.5 hours to complete. This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 24 hours of our start will cancel or re-route this trip at the discretion of the leader, as will fewer than three confirmed signups. Bring a headlamp and at least 1 liter of water.