Hiking in AZ
 

We will be staying outside Sedona (~ 3 miles from OakCreek), in the Rio Verde foothills in Scottsdale & outside Tucson for a week each in late January & early Feb 2019. We're interested in some easy to moderate hikes and nature walks that we could do. Due to knee issues, trails with slight inclines are best for us. No more steep climbs for us anymore. Thanks for your help!

In Tucson, you can find a variety of hikes in Sabino Canyon. Consult a ranger or a volunteer at the Gift Shop area for specific info and maps. We do relatively flat hikes oftenwitha little vertical area to bet baxkupto the road at the end.

Thanks for the info!

In the Tucson area, saguaro National Park and Catalina State Park both have some good easy trails, too.
Be sure to take lots of water!

VTTraveler -- thanks for recs & the reminder.
In terms of clothes - are short sleeves and long pants ok? I will take layers but just trying to plan if I will be warm hiking or it's coolish. Could I just wear tennis shoes or are hiking boots needed?

Another ditto Sabino Canyon for Tucson. Also check out Tohono Chul for nice easy strolls in a beautiful garden, plus you can have lunch there. Very nice.
Here an excellent site for hiking in the entire state, it uses the the ski symbols for a quick glance at difficulty.
https://www.hikingproject.com/directory/8007022/tucson

Other interesting places to visit, though not for hiking are DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, and the Sonoran Desert Museum.

Short sleeves could be OK, but definitely layers, weather could be cool and changable. I'm not a fan of sneakers for hiking, trails could have loose rubble. I'd at least use a lightweight hiker / trail runner with a good traction. I also have ankle roll issues with sneakers.

I think layers/multiple options are the way to go. My husband and I were in Tucson in late January last year and encountered some unusually warm weather for that time of year (in the high 80's) but also a few days where the overnight temperatures dipped below freezing. It cools off a lot at night. For easy hikes I was comfortable with my good sturdy New Balance shoes.

I know a lot of people really like and recommend the Sonora Desert museum. We had made a point of going there at the beginning of the trip, hoping for a good orientation on the desert and found it somewhat disappointing--sort of a glorified zoo.

Clothing for Tucson- layers are best. Mornings and evenings are cool but mid day to late afternoon are warmer. I usually wear a long sleeved tee shirt, jeans and a light vest or sweatshirt which I take off as the day warms up. Sedona will be cooler.
The Phoenix arwa including Scottsdale is at a lower altitude than Tucson and thus warmer. In the summer Phoenix is sometimes 10 degrees warmer than Tucson.

Well, I guess I will eliminate my hiking boots, but pack lots of layers. Was hoping I could take less, but I guess not.
Thanks, everyone!

Don't over pack. If you find you are cold make a quick stop at Walmart for a sweater or hoodie or even a cheap pair of hiking boots. When I'm ready to head for home, I've been known to wrap dirty clothes around something I've bought on the trip and send it home in a USPS flat rate box.

Not to worry-I only do carry on. I often donate shoes or clothes at the end of a trip.

How did your hikes go?

May be going to Sedona in October...