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SOPHIE'S FLAT "A" LOOP
Wickenburg
Sophie Burden made wicked good beer biscuits---an accidental
concoction she created when camping companions guzzled the milk she was saving
for the recipe. Not one to be so easily disarmed, she rustled up some good 'ol
fashioned western ingenuity, tossed a can of brew into the batter instead and
viola, a Wickenburg icon was born. Dubbed the "First Lady of Arizona Inn
keeping" by former governor Paul Fannin (1959-1965), Sophie ran popular Wickenburg dude retreat Remuda Ranch (where her biscuits were legend) frequently taking guests on cookouts to the flats, hills and trails surrounding the property. The ranch was sold in 1968 and is now a high-end treatment facility for eating disorders, where they likely do not serve ale-addled quick breads. The ranch site is private, but the
peripheral stomping grounds remain open to recreational hikers and
equestrians. A roomy, rustic
trailhead with separate parking areas for cars and horse trailers anchors the
site’s 7.1-mile main “A” loop trail. The hiking here is a leisurely amble through a hilly landscape shaped by mining, ranching and harsh desert
conditions. This area northeast of
Wickenburg consists of 9.4 miles of non-motorized trails laid out in
wagon-wheel-style, looping among shared motorized use dirt roads. A maze of washes, Jeep roads and
unnamed trails intersect the route, so be sure to follow the “A” signs to stay
on course.
LENGTH: 7.1-mile loop
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 2400'- 2740'
FACILITIES: restroom, map kiosk
GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to Carefree Highway/SR74 (exit
223) and go west toward Wickenburg. Drive 30 miles on SR74, turn right at US60
and continue to just before the
Hassayampa River bridge traffic circle in Wickenburg and turn right on El
Recreo. Go 0.25 mile, veer right
onto Constellation Road and continue 2.7 miles to Blue Tank Road on the
left. Follow Blue Tank Road 1.3
miles to the trailhead. The last 4 miles are on sedan-friendly dirt roads.
INFO: Bureau of Land Management
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