Desert Summer Walks: Wisdom in the Early Hours
In the Valley of the Sun, summer weather and walking often go hand in hand with early morning or after-dark adventures—for both us and our four-legged companions.
That truth hit home again recently when I was spending time with an overnight pup friend. We started our walks at 5:30 a.m., but soon enough she shifted our start time to 4:45 a.m.—just before daylight. This has become a common rhythm with overnight buddies, past and present, and for good reason:
It’s the coolest part of the day.
The pavement is the most paw-friendly it will be.
Most pups believe longer walks = more joy.
It’s a beautiful way to begin the day, filling both your pup’s and your own cup with fresh energy.
Believe it or not, this wasn’t even the earliest I’ve been out with a dog—that record goes to a walk that started at 3:45 a.m. Bedtime came much earlier that day!
This most recent pup also pushed my own pace, walking briskly and purposefully—so much so that we often covered 2.5 to 3 miles along hilly routes in under an hour. She seemed to be on a mission not only to move but to show me what wildlife was out and about in those pre-dawn hours.
Together, we saw small herds of burros (wild donkeys), a javelina, coyotes, and several roadrunners. None approached us, and more than once we found ourselves peacefully observing the donkeys from just 15–20 feet away.
Each morning, she led me on a different route—through large green spaces, winding neighborhoods, and local parks and trails. She wasn’t much for stopping and sniffing; she was a “let’s keep moving” kind of dog. But seeing the morning world through her eyes—feeling her joy, her curiosity, her purpose—was a powerful reminder of the magic that can unfold when we simply show up, walk the path, and welcome the moment.
