Start at a popular campground/trail/climbing area, hike through a historical WWII prison camp/reservoir into the beautiful sycamore canyon (one of many in AZ). Cross into the east fork of Sabino Canyon then up Palisades trail to the Palisades Ranger Station. Start in grasslands, down to saguaro desert up to the pine forest. Length and elevation probably make this a difficult hike but nothing was terribly difficult.