SUNSET TRAIL

SUNSET TRAIL
Coconino National Forest

There are a hell of a lot of mushrooms growing in the forests surrounding the San Francisco Peaks. Not the ordinary cream-colored buttons and portabellas available on grocers' shelves, but huge, showy parasites. Neither plant nor animal, mushrooms make a living off the decaying remains of, well, plants and animals. Kingdom Fungi pesters humankind with such maladies as athletes' foot and ringworm and then earns redemption through bread and beer. The shadow of the Dry Lake Hills provides a spore-friendly environment and in summertime, the meadows and forests of the Sunset Trail are in full "schroom".
The fungi show provides a convenient distraction from the affects of thin air. Starting at 8,000 feet and climbing to 9,274 feet the high-altitude trail passes through a burned area where young conifers and aspens grow vigorously among the charred old growth and little white caps thrive on wood corpses. Once past the destruction, the trail weaves through pines and brilliant meadows teeming with yarrow, daisies, snakeweed, beardtongue, lupine and thistle. The Sunset Trail is not a particularly long or demanding hike. The beauty of this trek lies in the many details along the way: forests, mountains, resurgent life, and the mushrooms that sprout from the dead.

LENGTH: 4 miles one-way
RATING: Easy
ELEVATION: 8,000- 9,274 feet
DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 155 miles

GETTING THERE:
From Flagstaff, drive north on Highway 180 to Shultz Pass Road (FR 420). Turn right onto Shultz Pass Road and continue 5.3 miles to the Sunset Trailhead.

INFORMATION: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/sunset-tr.shtml

BLEVINS TRAIL

BLEVENS TRAIL
Usery Mountain Regional Park

Open to hikers, horses, mountain bikes and dogs on leash, you can expect lots of company while hiking this popular trail. Restrooms, hitching posts and wide, well-signed juctions make for a perfect family-friendly outing among the cholla forests bordering suburban Mesa.
TO FIND THE TRAIL:
From the park entrance, follow the signs to the horse staging area (shown as the "trailhead staging area" on the park map). From here, you can pick up the trail on either the east or west side of the parking lot. Then just follow the signs to complete the loop.



LENGTH: 3-mile loop
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 1,800 – 1,925 feet
BEST SEASONS: October - April
DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 35 miles
GETTING THERE: From central Phoenix, go east on I-10 to US 60 east to the Ellsworth Road exit. Go north on Ellsworth to the Usery Mountain Regional Park entrance.
FEE: $6 daily fee per vehicle
INFORMATION http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/usery/Directions.aspx

WINDGATE PASS

WINDGATE PASS
McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Although this trail climbs more than 1,300 feet, the route meanders uphill in graceful, zig-zagging style—making the ascent less steep than it looks. Beginning in the lower foothills of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains, the path provides a tour of classic Sonoran desert terrain. Abundant saguaro, barrel, cholla and hedgehog cactuses flourish among ironwood and paloverde trees. In spring, the slopes and washes are ablaze in wildflower color. Continually changing points of interest such as contorted rock formations and boulder strewn gullies serve as previews to the high point of the hike---Windgate Pass, a scenic saddle with far-reaching views. There are many ways to get to Windgate Pass—just pick up a map at the Gateway Trailhead and customize a hike to fit your needs. Our route is described below.
THE HIKE: For a quick out-and-back trip to the Pass-- begin at the Gateway Trailhead, cross the bridge and follow the signs to the Gateway Loop trail. Hang a left at the junction and follow Gateway Loop 1.2 miles to Windgate Pass trail. From here, it’s 2.2 miles to the Pass. We returned the way we came.


LENGTH: 7.5 miles roundtrip
RATING: modertate-difficult
ELEVATION: 1,671-3,031 feet
BEST SEASONS: October - April

GETTING THERE:
From Scottsdale, take Bell Road east to Thompson Peak Parkway. Go north (left) and continue to the Gateway Trailhead on the right.

INFORMATION: http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/ or http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve.asp
MORE PHOTOS: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18460&id=1795269672

BARNHARDT FALLS MARCH 13, 2010

BARNHARDT CANYON
Mazatzal Wilderness
Record rain and snow this winter has resulted in one of the best water shows I've ever seen in Barnhardt Canyon.
See my prior entries for more info and directions to the trailhead. If you're ever gonna visit this amazing place---do it this year. The best time to see the waterfalls is from mid-March through mid-April. Don't miss out! See additional photos on my Facebook photo page.

PERALTA CANYON to the LONE PINE

PERALTA CANYON to the LONE PINE
Superstition Wilderness

Anyone who has hiked in Arizona for more than 5 minutes knows about this trail. It’s extraordinary beauty, proximity to town and easy access make the Peralta Canyon Trail #102 a mecca for trekkers. Although short in length, the route is rugged and rife with obstacles such as slick rock, water crossings (in winter) and sections where---to the untrained eye—the trail seems to disappear. Surprisingly green for a desert hike, the route is shaded by hardy trees and shrubs including hackberry, Arizona madrone, desert oaks, jojoba and sugar sumac. Through out the hike, contorted volcanic rock formations vie for attention, increasing in complexity with each foot of elevation gained.
A popular turnaround point for the hike is the Fremont Saddle where views of the signature landmark of the Superstition Wilderness—Weaver’s Needle---dominate the sweeping valley vistas. From here, a fun way to extend the hike is to continue on to the lone pinion pine visible on the northeast ridgeline. To reach it, simply head east from the saddle along the many paths-of-use for just under a quarter-mile. The extra effort pays off with up-close views of the Needle and refuge from the crowds at the saddle.


LENGTH TO FREMONT SADDLE: 5 miles round-trip
LENGTH WITH SIDE TRIP TO THE TREE: 5.5 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 2,400 – 3,800 feet



GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, take US 60 east to about 8 miles past Apache Junction and look for the “Peralta Trailhead” sign on the side of the road. Turn left onto Peralta Road (Forest Road 77) and drive 8 miles to the trailhead. NOTE: FR 77 is good dirt and passable by sedan. There are nice restrooms but no water at the trailhead. The parking lot fills up quickly on weekends, so plan to arrive early or park in the overflow lot. NO FEES.

INFORMATION: fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/wilderness/superstition
MORE PHOTOS: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17772&id=1795269672&op=6

LEVEE TRAIL

LEVEE TRAIL
McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Sorry, you can’t drive your Chevy to this levee. That’s because it’s located within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve where efforts to preserve our beautiful desert include restricting motorized vehicles to designated parking areas. This makes for a nice, quiet amble among saguaros, chollas, creosote bushes and myriad desert trees, shrubs and wildflowers. And, the views aren’t too shabby, either. The majestic peaks of the McDowell Mountains, which rise to 4,000 feet, make an impressive backdrop for this easy desert stroll. Open to bikes, horses and foot travel, the Levee Trail is a major connector route for many of the more challenging trails in the preserve. However, by itself, it’s a worthy destination for novice hikers, those with tots in tow or anyone looking for an effortless, local outing.

LENGTH: 2.4 miles roundtrip
RATING: easy
ELEVATION GAIN: minimal

GETTING THERE:
From Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Bell Road exit and continue east on Bell to 104th Street. The trailhead is on the north side of the road.
INFORMATION: http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/ OR http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve.asp

BURRO CREEK

BURRO CREEK Burro Creek Wilderness Area Betcha haven’t hiked THIS one. Burro Creek is a 23-mile-long desert waterway located in the rugged and remote wilderness north of Wickenburg. There’s no “official” trail--just follow the creek. Conditions vary according to water levels. In dry times, it’s possible to hike for miles without getting wet feet. However during periods of heavy rain and snowmelt, wading is required. The area is known for its active wildlife including beavers, javalina, shore birds and families of wild burros dodging among the copper-colored cliffs and mesquite forests. When we visited here in January 2010, we were “greeted” at the head of the access road by a resident landowner who reminded us to respect the private property in the area. As long as you park in the Burro Creek Campground and stick to the creekbed, you’re legal. LENGTH: 6-9 miles round trip RATING: difficult ELEVATION: 1,960 – 2,100 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 114 miles 1-way. Roads are paved up to the last 1.5 miles, and passable by sedan. GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go NW on US60 (Grand Ave) to Wickenburg. In Wickenburg at the intersection of US60 and US93, go north on US93 for 59 miles to the turnoff for Burro Creek campground—between mileposts 140 and 141. Turn left (west) onto the campground access road and continue 1.5 miles to the parking lot. Facilities include restrooms and running water. INFORMATION:

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/dev_camps/burrocr.html