Serendipitous Beginnings After leaving our full time jobs to pursue freelance work in 2013, we set off on a roadtrip from San Francisco to New York that changed our lives. One of our first stops on that trip was Joshua Tree, CA—a place that stuck with us as we continued to travel, and ultimately became […]
As much as we love the desert, sometimes it’s nice to have a change of scenery. Luckily here in Tucson you don’t have to travel far to experience something completely different. Towering at 9,171 feet above sea level, Mount Lemmon’s change in elevation from the base to the peak is comparable to that between Mexico […]
It’s easy to see why Seven Falls trail is one of the most popular trails in Tucson. It has a little bit of everything: beautiful mountains, saguaros, water … and it culminates at a breathtaking waterfall! The trail is located on the east side of Tucson, so about an hour drive from JTH Tucson. It […]
A great hike to celebrate dropping temperatures is Black Rock Loop. The trailhead is located at the Sweetwater Preserve which is a 20 mile scenic drive from JTH Tucson. The parking lot starts you off on Saguaro Vista trail (full of dense Saguaros) which then leads to Black Rock Loop (that loop is about 1.6 […]
Hugh Norris Trail in Saguaro National Park is a moderate out and back trail named after a respected Tohono O’odham police chief, and is our absolute favorite trail on the west side of the park. The trailhead is only a few minute drive from JTH Tucson, and though it’s 9.8 miles in total it can […]
Valley View Overlook Trail in Saguaro National Park is an easy out and back trail that we especially love for spotting all kinds of native desert plants. The trailhead is only a few minute drive from JTH Tucson, and the trail itself takes only about 30 minutes making it a perfect quick adventure into […]
Split Rock Loop Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a moderate loop trail that we’ve been really enjoying lately. We find that it’s not as trafficked as other trails in the park (like Hidden Valley or Barker Dam), but offers similar beauty (think rock formations, Joshua Trees, and incredible views). There’s so much beauty […]
Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a moderate to challenging hike with an elevation gain of 1,060 feet. The first half of the trail can be pretty steep, but the whole trail has incredible views of Joshua Tree. The trail itself is a total of 2.9 miles and is clearly marked. It is […]
Arch Rock Trail in Joshua Tree National Park is a great short hike and one of our most frequent hikes in the summer season due to its short length and infinite beauty. The trail itself is a pretty quick 1.2 mile out and back hike and is clearly marked, which allows us to get some […]
Willow Hole trail in Joshua Tree National Park is unlike any other trail we’ve hiked in the desert. Once you arrive to the turnaround point of the trail—Willow Hole—you’ll be surrounded by lush green vegetation that feels surreal to the area. As one of the few oases to visit in Joshua Tree, it’s also a […]
