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THUNDERBIRD CONSERVATION PARK
City of Glendale
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| Highpoint on Arrowhead Point (H2) Trail |
With over 14 miles of trails spread over a 1,185-acre
preserve, Thunderbird Conservation Park offers easy access to desert hiking.
The park’s eight trails weave around Hedgpeth Hills---a chain of peaks capped with
black basalt boulders tucked among subdivisions and bustling roadways. Bisected
by 55th Avenue, the park's east and west sections are connected by a pedestrian
bridge. Three of the trails ascend to summits with cityscape views while others
wend around ridgelines and a wetland area with wildlife viewing blinds.
Although the trails are currently identified by a nondescript number system (H1, H2, etc.), proposed new names are much more colorful and speak to each route’s distinct character. For instance, Flatlander (a.k.a. H1A), is---well, flat and sweat-free, while Chuckwalla Trail (H5A) meanders through the park’s prime “fat lizard” territory. A
good way to sample the trails and get an overview of the area is to hike up to the flagpole on Arrowhead Point
Trail (H2) and loop back on Coach Whip Trail (H1) with a side trip to the
wetlands. This trek begins at the Pinnacle Peak Road trailhead and climbs
swiftly to the 0.75-mile point where an American flag anchored in a pile of
volcanic rubble denotes the park's highest point. While on the summit, see if
you can spot the dome of University of Phoenix Stadium, which
will be the venue for Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. From here, the trail descends
down to a junction near some ramadas.
Go left to visit the lake, then backtrack for a 4-mile out-and-back
trek.
LENGTH:
8 trails ranging from 0.25 to 5 miles.
RATING: easy to moderately difficult
ELEVATION: 1400'- 1862'
HOURS: sunrise to sunset daily
FACILITIES: restrooms, horse staging, shade ramadas
GETTING THERE:
North Entrance (as described here): Pinnacle Peak Road
between 53rd and 55th Ave. Go north on I17 to the Pinnacle Peak Road exit 217
and drive 3.5 miles west to 55th Ave.
Main Entrance: 22600 N. 59th Ave., Glendale
INFO:
MORE PHOTOS:
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