Silly Mountain Morning Hike Arizona

First I should say that Silly Mountain isn't a description but the actual name of the park. Silly Mountain Park to be exact in Apache Junction, Arizona. This is a short 30 minute or so drive from where I live so it is far enough for me to disconnect with my world for a short time and spend a pleasant morning on the trail. This small park contains several trails for hiking or a short casual meander along the bottom of the mountain.

I combined a few trails on my morning journey and probably carved out a two-mile or so walk among the cacti and scrub brush. My goal for this outing was to recharge for the morning and clear my head. Lucky for me I was almost the only one on the path though there were several cars in the rather huge lot at the bottom of the hill. As I climbed, I became more and more relaxed as the car traffic sounds died away and were replaced by the sound of my footfall on the path and the birds setting about their morning dipping among the brush and balancing on the tops of the towering saguaro cacti.

I would call the path to the top as a moderate climb and the reward is long-distance views of the distant mountains, which were partially in haze on the morning I visited, and a clear sight to the rather famous (at least for this area) Phoenix arrow. This rock arrow was laid out by boy scouts in the 1950's and point the way to the airport which is about 20 miles away.

For anyone who doesn't want to actually climb the mountain, there is a fairly short nature walk just off the parking lot with signs pointing out the various trees and cacti along the path. There are a few benches on this path and it is typically a great place to view birds and jackrabbits.

Find Your Own Path Inspirational Desert Path Magnet

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There is something about the crunch of dirt and gravel and the song of birds that relaxes me. It is what keeps me coming back over and over for a new hike and a new escape. To take a short mini-vacation from normal life allows me to return to life more productive and often more creative than when I left. Nature can heal in many ways. I almost always find what I seek on the trail even if it is just a few minutes of silence.

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