Take a (guided) hike!

Want to experience the best of the Valley's extraordinary hiking scene with a little guidance to help get you to the top?

• The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department is ready to help.

Driving the news: Hike Right PHX is the city's new monthly hiking group.

• Park rangers will lead hikes to promote safe hiking for all experience levels.

Why it matters: Hiking is fun and great exercise. But it can also be dangerous when people don't follow safe practices.

Threat level: Falls, dehydration, heatstroke and other problems can lead to rescues and hospitalization.

• A hiker ended up in critical condition after a rescue from Shaw Butte trail last month, and firefighters rescued a man with a medical emergency near the bottom of Piestewa Peak on Friday.
• In December, police and firefighters performed three rescues on different mountains in one day.
• A missing hiker was found dead at Picacho Peak last week.

What's next: Hike Right PHX will hold its first hike March 9 at North Mountain.

• If you want to join the hike, you can register here.
• You can also check out the list of every scheduled hike through January 2025.