Posts
 |
| A hiker and his dog look out over the Verde River Valley |
With its
long, flowing trails the 21,099-acre Maricopa County park in Fountain Hills is
popular with mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians.
 |
| A rock stack marks the summit of Lousley Hill |
Outfitted
with camp sites, picnic areas, playgrounds and family-friend amenities and
events, the park is a very busy place in Arizona’s cooler months. Still,
solitude can be found, if you know where to look.
 |
| The area is recovering from a 1996 wildfire |
The
1.2-mile Lousley Hill Trail is an under-the-radar gem that’s perfect for escaping
the crowds. The quiet trail offers easy
access, a mild climb and scenic vistas of the Verde River Valley, McDowell
Mountains and distant wilderness peaks. From the trailhead, a short access path
crosses a sandy wash shaded by a mesquite trees to connect with the loop portion
of the trail. Either leg of the loop works for the climbing part although the
left leg is less steep and more gradual that the right.
 |
| The trail makes a moderate climb with great views all around |
The trail hugs
the exposed, brittlebush-covered slopes of a peak on the northern nub of the
Lousley Hills, a north-south running ridge at the park’s east border. The path is well-maintained but a little
rocky. There are rest areas with benches on both legs of the loop to take a break
if needed.
A lightening-cause
fire in 1996 destroyed much of the park’s vegetation. Except for a few
telltale black scars on saguaros, disintegrating tree skeletons and sparse tree
cover, you’d never know that 14 years ago, the area looked like an ashen
moonscape.
 |
| Lousley Hill Trail sports lush spring wildflowers |
Since
then, the scorched earth has given way to a resurgence of desert shrubs, trees
and wildflowers. This is an especially pretty hike in spring when Mexican gold
poppies color the foothills and surrounding plains. Scattered stands of Palo verde trees and
saguaro cacti provide spots of shade throughout the otherwise open-to-the-sky
hike. A series of long, lazy switchbacks
land hikers on the tiny summit. A gigantic rock cairn sits at the top of the
sunny vantage point with 360-degree views.
Look for the distinctive knob of Red Mountain rising above emerald flood
plains at the convergence of the Salt and Verde Rivers and the and hazy
silhouettes of the Sierra Ancha mountain range.
The summit has plenty of nice spots to take a break or hang out to enjoy
the solitude of an isolated desert bluff. If you’re up for more following this
mini mountain assault, consult the park map to build a longer loop or
out-and-back hike.
 |
| Rugged terrain & mountain peaks seen from Lousley Hill Trail |
 |
| The trail's moderate grade is perfect for kids and dogs |
LENGTH: 1.2-mile
loop
RATING:
moderate
ELEVATION:
1,711 – 2,036 feet
GETTING
THERE:
16300
McDowell Mountain Regional Park Dr., Fountain Hills.
From the
park entry gate, follow McDowell Mountain Park Road past the main trailhead
staging area to the Lousley Hill trailhead on the right. There’s a restroom
nearby.
FEE: There’s
a $7 daily fee per vehicle.
