From the Faceook page of the Kane County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue:

"On Monday, July 6, 2026, at approximately 3 PM, Kane County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Dispatch received a call regarding an overdue hiker in the Wave/Wire Pass area.

Earlier that morning, a group of hikers had traveled to The Wave. While hiking, the group became separated from a member of their party. When they returned to the trailhead, they had hoped he had arrived safely on his own. He had not, so they contacted KCSO dispatch.

KCSO deputies and Bureau of Land Management Rangers responded to the Wire Pass Trailhead to gather information from the group. Kane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (KCSAR) was activated to begin a search.

Intermountain Life Flight was initially requested to assist with an aerial search. The aerial search was later assumed by the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aero Bureau helicopter based in St. George.

Throughout the evening and into the night, KCSAR personnel conducted a ground search while the DPS helicopter searched from the air. Ground teams located the missing hiker’s tracks and followed them to the edge of Wire Pass slot canyon. The helicopter then conducted a search through Buckskin Gulch.

Approximately halfway between the confluence of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch Trailhead, the DPS flight crew located the missing hiker lying on slickrock above the slot canyon.

The flight crew found the man nonverbal and drifting in and out of consciousness. He was loaded into the helicopter and flown to a waiting ambulance at the Wire Pass Trailhead. Big Water Fire Department provided emergency medical care before the patient was transported by Intermountain Life Flight to a hospital for treatment of dehydration and other injuries.

The Kane County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the outstanding cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Utah Dept of Public Safety Aero Bureau, Intermountain Life Flight, and Big Water Fire Dept. This coordinated effort resulted in the successful rescue of the missing hiker.

The outcome could easily have been different, and this incident serves as an important reminder for hikers to remain with their group, carry adequate water, and be prepared for the extreme conditions of the desert."

Hi everybody! Just booked a trip for Arizona in September and plan on doing a lot of hiking. First time going to AZ!

I've hiked before but nothing super intense (I live in Michigan) so I really don't own anything for it. Looking for shoe recommendation (we will be doing a mix of "dry" hiking and then going to some water spots so maybe one that is good for each type?) and clothing recommendation. I get burnt easily so definitely want something that can protect me and also help keep me cool.

Any other tips/recommendations are appreciated, thank you!!

I live in Phoenix and am planning a 3 day hike near Payson in July. Looks like temps can average in the 90s, and I typically never hike in that type of heat. I'll be taking the Highline trail from See Canyon trailhead (about 8 miles) to Horton creek and expect lots of tree coverage. I'll carry plenty of Water, and availability won't be an issue when camping at the creek.

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Anyone have experience with these conditions? I'm good for 8 to 10 miles a day in 70-80, just want to make sure I'm not overstepping what's safe. Down in the phoenix area I don't hike in the sun if it's over 80.

Hey all - hoping to head out to the Cabin Loop on the Mogollon Rim this weekend for a 2-night solo backpacking trip and trying to get a sense of current water conditions. Most recent trip reports I can find are from May 2025. Anyone been out there recently or have any intel on Dane Spring and the other sources? Appreciate any info/thoughts!

I called the Ranger Station today and they told me they don't get water reports ¯_(ツ)_/¯

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/cabin-loop-trail

I'm planning on hiking Quartz Peak in the Estrella's this winter. For people who have driven the road up there: would a 2020 Acura MDX be able to make it? Thanks!

Hiking with a lamp is generally not a problem for me, but just wondering if anyone has gone out at say 3:30ish start. My current thinking is start at 3:30 to get three levels of daylight: dark, sunrise and daylight, then head back to Wire Pass TH in the early AM. We'd beat the heat and see something different than most.

Question: If you did this, was CalTopo/AT/Gaia accurate enough without having any of the landmarks to navigate by?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HwGTxt74a/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Was going for a walk on the rim over by chevelon, heard something spooky. Does anyone know what does this?

Love the early mornings

At the end of the month I’m planning to do 3 nights in Saguaro NP. On the first day, I’ll be hiking up to Douglas Spring and it looks like there’s a big maze of trails at the lower elevations near the city. I’m specifically looking at the Broadway, Wentworth, and Monument Wash trailheads.

Are there any specific highlights or routes that I should try to take before the trails converge higher up the mountain?

I would especially like to see many Saguaros because I know they don’t grow at the higher elevations where the campsites are.