Night Hikes in Arizona: Protecting our Skies

In this episode of “Trail Mix’d,” we travel to Tucson and Flagstaff to do some night hikes and learn about Dark Sky Places and the importance of preserving our view of the night sky. Along the way, we take a trip up the Quinlan Mountains to Kitt Peak Observatory to get a closer look at the stars.

First, Jayarr heads to Tucson to visit Oracle State Park to hike the Nature Trail Loop, which is internationally designated as a “dark sky park.” The trail offers wonderful views of cactus, oak trees and junipers.

At night, you need very little artificial light to guide your way. The stars and the moon light up the quick trail which makes it a perfect night-hike experience.

Oracle State Park in located in the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains and offers many hikes to get you up-close to its breathtaking wonders. The park often hosts “star parties” throughout the year for guests to learn more about the night sky.

Next, Jayarr takes a trip to southwest Tucson, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, to visit the first national astronomical observatory located at Kitt Peak. Nestled in the Quinlan Mountains, the observatory holds one of the largest arrays of optical and radio telescopes in the world.

Finally, Jayyar heads to the middle of a volcanic field to hike the Lava Flow Trail. The Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument’s formation took place thousands of years ago, and today, it offers one-of-a-kind hikes.

Throughout the hike, you can spot the lasting effects of the volcanic eruption and the formations it left behind. At night, make sure to look up! You might just see the Milky Way Galaxy.