Trail Notes — Hiking Guides, Trail Tips & Outdoor Stories

Your go-to source for trail guides, hiking tips, gear advice, and outdoor stories from Summit Standard Co. From desert trails in Arizona to alpine adventures in Colorado — we cover trails across all 50 states so you can find your next hike and find your standard.

Bell Trail Arizona: A Family Guide to Hiking Wet Beaver Creek & The Crack
Bell Trail Arizona: A Family Guide to Hiking Wet Beaver Creek & The Crack
Most people think of Sedona when they picture Arizona red rock hiking. But just 20 miles south, tucked against the edge of the Wet Beaver Wilderness in Coconino National Forest,... Read more...
How to Read a Trail Map: A Beginner's Guide to Hiking with Confidence
How to Read a Trail Map: A Beginner's Guide to Hiking with Confidence
A trail map is one of the most useful things you can bring on a hike — and one of the most ignored. Most beginners open the app, glance at... Read more...
The Day Hiker's First Pack List: Everything You Actually Need (Nothing You Don't)
The Day Hiker's First Pack List: Everything You Actually Need (Nothing You Don't)
The internet will try to convince you that getting into hiking requires a serious gear budget and a spreadsheet. It doesn't. Your first day hike needs surprisingly little — but... Read more...
Hieroglyphic Trail Arizona: A Complete Hiker's Guide to Petroglyphs, Desert Pools & Sonoran Scenery
Hieroglyphic Trail Arizona: A Complete Hiker's Guide to Petroglyphs, Desert Pools & Sonoran Scenery
Tucked into the southern edge of Arizona's iconic Superstition Mountains, the Hieroglyphic Trail is one of the most rewarding short hikes in the Phoenix metro area. In just 3 miles... Read more...
5 Must-Hike Trails Near Phoenix This Spring
5 Must-Hike Trails Near Phoenix This Spring
Discover the best hiking trails near Phoenix this spring. From Camelback Mountain to the Superstition Wilderness, these five trails are worth every step. Read more...