Black Canyon Trail: Windmill Valley Segment

BLACK CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL: WINDMILL VALLEY SEGMENT

Cactus close in on the Black Canyon trail near Lake Pleasant

Registering somewhere between a honk and a howl, the vocalizations of the feral burros that roam around Lake Pleasant are as gritty and unbridled as the beasts themselves.

Wild burros roam the Windmill Valley segment

Sturdily built and resilient, the desert-adapted, North African imports first arrived in Arizona in the 1600s carrying supplies with Jesuit priests.

Bradshaw Mountain vistas early in the hike

Valued for their strong backs and hardy work ethic, the burros soon found additional employment with prospectors. During boom times, they hauled ore but when the mines went bust, they either wandered off or were released into the wild where they thrived in the arid territory. 

Cholla cactus bloom April through May

Make no mistake, these docile-looking vegetarians are not to be messed with. Unlike their cousins the horse, these rough-around-the edges members of genus Equus are hardly the type to stride elegantly before feathered fascinators at a racetrack.

They can be scrappy and so it’s smart to observe them from a distance. Hikers can almost bet on seeing the free-roaming wild donkeys, that average about 350 pounds when full grown, in the Bureau of Land Management’s Lake Pleasant Herd Management Area which is located 25 miles north of Phoenix, west of Interstate 17, north of Carefree Highway (State Route 74) and northeast of the lake.

Desert snow blooms March through May

American carrot grows in a fire scar along the route

Much of the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail passes through this swath of Upper Sonoran Desert in the hilly backcountry of the Agua Fria River watershed.

Mesquite trees color a wash bright green

New River Mountains viewed from a high point

The 3.5-mile Windmill Valley segment, which is just a few miles east of the lake, is a scenic trek that winds through prime burro habitat. 

Bladder sage bloom March through June

The hike begins across the road from the Table Mesa trailhead with an easy walk among huge saguaros with majestic views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the north and a flank of flat-topped mesas near the north coves of Lake Pleasant.

Brilliant magenta Strawberry hedgehog cactus

Table Mesa (far right) seen from the trail

The trail quickly descends into a wash area and fire scar.  Torched trees and ashen cacti stumps belie an understory of resurgent shrubs and wildflowers. It’s in this short section of trail where the most species are found.

Buckwheat is a common find February through June

Look for desert marigold, chia, owl clover, desert snow, scorpion weed, globemallow, woolly daisy, white ratany and frilly American carrot.

White ratany blooms April through October

Beyond the fire damage, the trail traces a network of washes, bouncing between ridges and drainages as it gradually climbs 500 feet.  High points showcase vistas of the New River Mountains, Table Mesa and acres of scrubland where springtime color breaks in colorful cactus blooms, golden brittlebush, buckwheat and rare specimens of bladder sage.

Wide open rangeland on the Black Canyon Trail

The remainder of the route twists around stone pinnacles, rolling hills and rangeland ending at the Doe Springs Segment 7.7 miles (on trail)  north of the Emery Henderson trailhead on New River Road.

Low growing woolly daisies bloom Feb - May

While the Doe Springs junction makes for a good turnaround point, hikers can opt to customize the hike length by way of a car shuttle or tying in with the popular Boy Scout Loop for a more rigorous out-and-back trek through burro land.

Miniature wool star bloom March - June

 

LENGTH: 3.5 miles one-way

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 1,921 – 2,450 feet

GETTING THERE:

Table Mesa Trailhead. From Interstate 17, 36 miles north of Phoenix, take the Table Mesa Road exit 236.  At the end of the off ramp, turn left, go a few yards, and then veer right onto Frontage Road (the unsigned west end of Table Mesa Road).  Continue to the large “Table Mesa West” sign, turn left, and continue to the Table Mesa trailhead at kiosk No. 5 on the right, 3.1 miles from I-17.   To reach the start of the hike, walk a few yards farther down Table Mesa Road to the BCT sign on the left.

Roads are maintained dirt/gravel, suitable for all vehicles.

NOTE: While the Black Canyon Trail is not open to motorized travel or shooting, the surrounding area is popular with OHV riders and recreational shooters. Dust and noise may be noticeable.

INFO: Black Canyon Trail Coalition https://bctaz.org