Chirag: I started night hiking accidentally a few years ago, when I used to hike up Thunderbird Mountain and Deem Hills at sunset to capture the Full Moon rising. After I would capture the Full Moon rise, I quickly realized that it was dark and I had to hike back down the mountain in darkness. It was a pleasant, surreal, and eerie experience at first, now it is an exhilarating experience.
Chirag: Night hikes gives one a different perspective than the known daytime views. First thing to notice is the sunset and the changes in sky colors as the sun goes below the horizon. You will notice the beautiful Earth’s Shadow in the sky. If you are really lucky, you may even see the Earth’s Shadow along with Anti-Crepuscular Rays as shown below.
Chirag: As the sun goes down, one will also see the city lights come up tracing the popular streets of the city making them come alive with street lights and car trails. See below.
Chirag: The views become really stunning and spectacular!
Kristen: Where is your favorite place to night hike regularly?
Chirag: My favorite night hike is Piestewa Peak using the Summit Trail to the top. Biggest reason is because it has the best 360° views anywhere in town and it is also the only place within the city where you can hike until 11 pm, legally!
Kristen: What gear do you recommend for night hikers?
Being in the desert, one must carefully select gear that is appropriate for the hike. In the summer, water and snacks are an absolute necessity! Not having enough water has caused many emergencies and could become very dangerous. I would also highly recommend headlamps, smartphone with maps, and even a light jacket in case it gets really cool after sunset.
Kristen You’re an incredible nighttime photographer. Where are your favorite nighttime locations?
My favorite night time locations are below:
Watson Lake in Prescott:
Kristen: You’re incredibly committed to your photography hobby. You even sacrifice sleep on Fridays! Talk about a memorable journey you took to get photos.
Chirag: Your headlamps will make it seem like daytime on the trails! It is very comforting when you can see everything. Here is one available on Amazon that is rechargeable and extremely bright.
I can’t thank Chirag enough for his photos and insight. Please give him a follow on Instagram.
As of April, night hiking is now a regular hobby for me! I had a bad experience with buying a headlamp online so I highly recommend heading to see my friends at Just Roughin’ It Adventure Company in Scottsdale. They’ll also give you a ton of advice and answer your questions. Just Roughin’ It is a shop and a tour service so you’re talking to the experts!
If you aren’t afraid of buying online and don’t want anymore advice, then check out my head lamp online. It is Black Diamond, a great price point and is very bright!
Keep in mind, it’s cooler than daytime but if you’re night hiking from June- September it’s still going to be toasty so you need to bring just as much water as you would for a day hike.
I also always bring a spare flashlight, snacks and a first aid kit.
Watch out for snakes. As I embarked around sunset for my last night hike, a park ranger stopped to tell me a lot of rattlers were out and warned me to be careful.
If you’re hiking with a pet, remember the temp has to be below 100 degrees to legally take them hiking in many areas so make sure the temp has dropped. 90s are still toasty for dogs. I only hike with Ace when it’s 85 or cooler. If your dog handles 90s, well definitely clip a light to them. Here’s one I like.
Let’s talk about where to go night hiking. You can’t just go anywhere. Try hiking at night at the wrong spot and your car will get towed!
Here are some places where you can night hike but keep in mind the gate into the parking lots typically close at either 7:00 pm or 9:00pm and the gates to get out close at 10 or 11pm. It’s night hiking, not OVERNIGHT hiking.
Click on each area listed for more details on trail times:
Trails until 11:00pm
Trails open until 11:00pm
Trails open until 10:00pm
White Tank Mountain Regional Park
Open until 10:00pm on Friday & Saturday
Note: Camelback Mountain closes at Sunset.
Have fun, be safe and let me know how your night hike goes!
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