With fall’s cooler temperatures, our baby boomer hearts start to long for Arizona’s hiking trails.  We captured this photograph a few years back while hiking the Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains.

This view kept me mesmerized for seemingly hours.

The Go John Trail is found in Cave Creek Regional Park, which is part of the Maricopa County Parks system.  The Maricopa County Parks system is the nation’s largest county park system, and contains over 120,000 acres spread over 10 very different and unique parks.

The Go John Trail (map) is a moderate 5.8 mile loop that will take you roughly three hours to complete.  With this trail, you can expect a few hearty, heart pounding inclines, on well groomed trails, with rewarding long range views of the valley, and the nearby Tonto National Forest.

We have probably hiked this particular trail 30 times because of its proximity to our home, the varied landscapes presented, and the wonderful exercise afforded.

A word of caution:  when hiking in Arizona make absolutely certain that you have plenty of water with you, and never, ever hike without telling someone where you are going, and when they should expect your return.

As of this writing,  a day pass is only $6 per car.