If you want a long, but pretty hike, try Long Canyon! The trail takes you about three miles back into a dense forest that is just teeming with life. You'll start off on an old jeep road. About one third of a mile into the hike the trail divides into three forks. Take the left fork. Just after the half mile point, you'll come to a gate. Step through it. At 1.0 mile you reach another fork. Take the right prong and then the rest is easy.
Now you're hiking along a warm dry area with manzanita bushes and lots of bees in the springtime. Another half mile and you'll enter the forest where the views become really gorgeous. You'll hike past cypress trees with peeling bark that reveals gorgeous browns, oranges, and yellows underneath, and you'll cross several scenic dry washes. Maroon Mountain is to the right with its stark red cliff sides. About two and a half miles into the trail the forest becomes thicker and you'll find huge oaks and ancient alligator juniper trees with rough scaly bark.
Walk deeper into the forest and the views become even more spectacular! Large red-barked ponderosa pines reach upward and steep sloping canyon walls invite the adventurous to scale them for the gorgeous views they afford. If you go off trail, mark the spot so you can find your way back!
When you reach the very back of the canyon the trail runs up against a rock ledge. If you're adventurous/crazy, you can climb up farther onto the rocks for a spectacular view. Be careful! The rocks can be slippery and there are plenty of cacti waiting to grab you! The less adventurous/sane folks will want to stop here and just enjoy a nice walk back through the woods!
