Winter Hiking with Dogs in Arizona

Is Arizona an idyllic place to hike with dogs during Colorado’s cold and snowy months? It sure sounds appealing when you live in a northern climate. Arizona can be a great place for two and four-footed creatures to hike during Colorado’s frigid temperature months but only if you prepare and condition.

Choose your outings carefully and always evaluate the possibility of reptile encounters. Rattlesnakes in the Sonoran Desert, where we’ve hiked for the last several years, usually don’t come out of hibernation until the overnight temperatures stay in the fifties and the daytime soar into the high seventies. That’s why we especially enjoying hiking with our Labrador Retrievers during the December through mid-February period. Our long-time vet recommends snake avoidance training for canines hiking in the desert but fortunately we haven’t needed to test the effectiveness of Layla’s schooling. Call me a wimp when it comes to snakes. That’s fine!

Here are some tips, accumulated from hikes primarily within a hundred-mile radius of Phoenix, to consider to help keep you and your dog safe and happy on the trail:

• Leash your dog. That’s required by many state and local parks as well as federal agencies in some areas. But there are other reasons to do so: You can help keep Fido away from those nasty and hurtful cacti spines (needles). The spines almost seem to jump out to snag one’s clothing and attach to a dog’s paw. After a wind or rainstorm, cholla cacti spines are spread everywhere. A leash also helps control Fido’s inquiring nose from sniffing holes, underneath rocks and too close to prickly pears, barrel, cholla and saguaro cacti.
• As in Colorado, some people just don’t like dogs, so a leash prevents encounters with non-dog lovers.

Before setting out on any hike, make sure that both you and your loyal four-footed companion are physically conditioned. That probably means that dogs (and humans) coming from cold climates need to acclimate to Arizona’s winter heat and hard packed dirt as well as gravely trails. Remember that the blistering hot sun can zap energy quickly. We walk our dogs in a nearby county park for several days to acclimate all of us before we choose a hike. If your dog infrequently exercises or walks only on carpet or pavement, take him first on short walks before graduating to longer ones.

When picking a hike, consider:

• Will the trail offer any shade either in the morning or afternoon? If not, bring extra water.
• If a loop hike, which direction will provide shade in the afternoon when the sun is the hottest?
• If there are anticipated sources of water, are range cattle probable in the area? If so, also bring extra water for Fido instead of permitting him to drink water from a stream that may be contaminated with giardia. During one wilderness hike near the Arizona Trail, we encountered a herd of cattle including an ornery bull that made us stop until he ambled ever so slowly from his resting place across the trail to his heifers. We waited ten minutes before he did so. We weren’t about to hassle the old boy that had very large horns. Thankfully, our leashed dogs just watched in silence.
• Look for hikes that may have water sources along the route: waterfalls, pools of water, springs or creeks. These sources of water provide a good opportunity for dogs to swim or at least wade and cool off. When our Labs shake after a dip, their humans also cool down!

  

• Remember that water sources may be available one year but not the next. That’s what we learned on one of our favorite hikes in the Mazatzal Wilderness. Last year, the dogs loved splashing in a waterfall and two swimming holes. This year, the waterfall trickled and only the upper pool offered a splashing opportunity.

If possible, begin your hike early to mid-morning to enjoy cooler temperatures.

What are two essential supplies to pack for any desert hike?  Plenty of water is crucial. It’s best to overestimate how much you and Fido will need. Last year, we misjudged the necessary amount of water when we started our hike in fifty-degree temperatures. Our miscalculation meant turning around much sooner than planned, disappointed but hydrated. Plyers or a Leatherman tool with plyers are the second essential supply. Invariably one of our dogs steps onto a cactus spine which requires prompt removal. Plyers work well to remove the spine and afford more distance between the spine and the human hand than tweezers. As in Colorado, we also pack:

• A plastic, folding dish for the dogs;
• dog biscuits;
• four booties for the dogs in case of cut feet; and
• some goo called Mushers Secret that we apply to Layla’s aging feet to prevent cuts and sometimes to Ranger’s paws when the hike covers very rocky terrain.

Watch for Fido getting too close to a ledge or overlook so that he won’t fall off a cliff or eat goodies left behind by other hikers. We’ve noticed that Layla seems particularly attracted to rock outcroppings which offer fabulous views. She may love the vistas but more likely wants to hunt for discarded food from hikers who stopped for a snack at a scenic overlook!

December and January are our favorite months to hike with our dogs in the Phoenix area. By mid-February, we’re on alert for the early awakening of rattlesnakes. A month later, the rattlesnakes seems to be out in droves. Last year, the snakes came out of hibernation in late February because of the unseasonably warm winter. When that happens, we abandon our hikes in a nearby county park and head to trailheads starting at higher elevations of 4,000 feet or more. That works for a couple of weeks and then it’s time to head back to the mountains of Colorado! Enjoy your hikes in Arizona. Be safe!

Related post: https://www.caryunkelbach.com/climbing-colorados-14ers-with-dogs/