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Showing posts with label Apache Junction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apache Junction. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Second Water Trail

SECOND WATER TRAIL

Mountain vistas on Second Water Trail


Garden Valley, on the western edge of the 160,200-acre Superstition Wilderness, is one of those places that sears vivid images into the memories of those who trek through it. 

Chain fruit cholla in Garden Valley

Rife with otherworldly scenes of desert life in an environment sculpted out of ancient volcanic ash, the area’s story arc spools out from violent origins, cataclysmic geological events, erosion and resurgence.

Globemallow bloom year-round in Garden Valley

Between 25 and 15 million years ago the craggy backcountry was a roiling cauldron of molten rock and white-hot ash that eventually collapsed on itself forming a series of depressions called calderas.  The grand scale “super-volcano” activity was like what’s incubating beneath Yellowstone National Park right now.

Flatiron (center left) seen from Second Water Trail

Ringed by mesas, mountain ranges and bizarre pillars and piles of solidified ash or “welded tuff”, the yawning basins have settled into a quiet old age marked by a slow-motion epoch of falling apart.

Four Peaks viewed from Second Water Trail

 The Second Water Trail offers an approachable option for exploring this haunting hinterland of rugged terrain and mysterious tales of hidden gold caches and lost souls.
Lush desert plants on Second Water Trail

Beginning at the First Water trailhead that’s located roughly 45 miles from Downtown Phoenix near Apache Junction, Trail No. 236 is accessed by following the Dutchmans Trail 0.3-mile to the first signed junction.
Hackberry Mesa (left) rises over Second Water Trail

Twisting over slickrock and sections of crumbling stone, the trail bends northeast, flanking scoured gorges above the course of First Water Creek.
Petrified volcanic ash in First Water Creek

 
Recent wildfire damage has left spots of charred cholla and scarred saguaros, but expansive views of the Goldfield Mountains, Superstition ridgeline, the Flatiron and iconic Weaver’s Needle remain as breathtaking as ever.
White bladderpod blooms Jan - May

 
The trail swings by the junctions for Black Mesa and Hackberry Spring trails which may be used to build longer loop hikes.
Rugged terrain along Second Water Trail

Second Water trail continues through a series of rocky uphill segments that land hikers in the heart of Garden Valley—a sprawling flatland dominated by chain fruit cholla, prickly pear cacti, jojoba, mesquite, hackberry shrubs and fields of wildflowers.
Desert vegetation in Garden Valley

Superstition Ridgeline on the horizon

This once botanically lush plateau took a major wildfire hit, but many survivor specimens and green sprouts pushing out from deadwood hint at recovery.
Weaver's Needle stands out over Second Water Trail

Here, the massive forms of Hackberry Mesa, Four Peaks and the mountains around Canyon Lake to the north begin to stand out on the horizon. Plant life grows more robust as the route starts a spiral down into a reedy, damp gorge where it intersects the Boulder Canyon Trail, the turnaround point for the hike.

Jojoba shrubs and saguaros on Second Water Trail

A major geological upheaval notwithstanding, the slow-burn erosion and superficial smudges incurred regularly on the Second Water Trail are barely perceivable over a single human lifetime.
A rocky ascent on Second Water Trail

 

Fires, rock falls, flood displacements and seasonal transitions are like costume changes in a long-running show with ear worm tunes that hijack the mind but somehow never get old.

Saguaros clutter a ridge above Boulder Canyon

LENGTH: 7 miles round-trip (out-and-back hike)
RATING: Easy-Moderate
ELEVATION: 1,940 to 2,420 feet (878 feet of accumulated elevation change)

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, go east on US 60 to exit 196 for Idaho Road (State Route 88). Turn left and follow Idaho to SR88, turn right and continue to First Water Road (Forest Road 78), which is located about a half mile past the entrance to Lost Dutchman State Park (between mileposts 201 and 202) and is signed for First Water Trailhead. Turn right and go 2.6 miles to the trailhead. Forest Road 78 is maintained dirt with some potholes and washboard sections passable by carefully driven sedan.

INFO: Mesa Ranger District, Tonto National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/recarea/?recid=35525

 

Monday, December 19, 2022

Peralta Regional Park Preview

PERALTA REGIONAL PARK

Trail users spoke. Park developers listened.

Peralta Regional Park will open Jan. 12, 2023

The footprint of Peralta Regional Park isn’t visible from the access road. That was the idea.

The master plan for the Pinal County Park that’s scheduled to open to the public on January 12, 2023, leaned heavily into stakeholder input that advocated for a minimally disruptive footprint and preservation of the natural landscape.

Park is located just outside Tonto National Forest

“The less development, the better,” says Kent Taylor, Director Pinal County Open Space and Trails of input received from stakeholders.
Kent Taylor, Director Pinal County Open Space and Trails

Pre-construction feedback from government agencies, and trail users like bikers, hikers, and equestrians, helped ensure that park planners thought of everything.

“A couple of things that we never considered came out of our conversations with stakeholders,” Taylor said. “First was an idea for stargazing which we incorporated into the plans with a trail and stargazing node.

Trail to the Stargazing Node

Second, the potential for rock climbing came up and that will be addressed in the park’s future phase two planning.”

The park offers a primitive, pristine and safe outdoor experience.

Occupying a natural pocket of Upper Sonoran Desert at the edge of the Superstition Mountains and Tonto National Forest a few miles north of U.S. 60 near Gold Canyon, the site is a unique outdoor recreation hub that straddles the gap between an amenity-rich park and bare bones backcountry experience.

A drive-up tent camping site

Roads are dirt and picnic, and camping sites are simple and designed with profiles and colors that blend into the landscape.  There’s no electricity or water.
Hike-in backpacking campsites are bare bones.

“The park is 500-acres, but only 22 acres were disturbed for construction,” Taylor said. “We used existing dirt roads where possible and didn’t want to over develop.”  Extra care was taken to preserve the native vegetation and soils as well. “We harvested 100 saguaros during construction. Eighty of those were replanted in the park and another 20 were given to Tonto National Forest to use in forest restoration projects. Disturbed ground was restored and planted with native seeds."

It's located near popular recreation hubs.

While the park is new, the surrounding desert has long been a popular destination for outdoor recreation. The park sits just a few clicks down Peralta Road (Forest Road 77) from the Lost Goldmine Trail, Carney Springs Trailhead, and the Peralta trailhead--a busy jumping off point for the Peralta Canyon, Dutchmans and Bluff Spring trails in the Superstition Wilderness.

Stargazing node, under construction on Dec. 16.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not glamping (No glamorous hot showers here, kids.)

Camping in the park embraces the low-impact theme. “Glamping” it’s not. There are no RV accommodations or cabins. Only tents are allowed.  There are two types of tent camping opportunities to appeal to those in search of an authentic roughin’ it style experience with the comfort of being within a managed space with a nearby site host and rangers in case of an emergency.  The choices are simple or primitive. Traditional “car camping” sites are drive-up clearings with a picnic table and fire pit.  Hike-in backpacking sites are accessed from non-motorized trails and are no more than small clearings where pack-hanger posts are the only luxury afforded.  Neither have electricity, water, or trash service so campers must pack in what they need and pack out all waste.

The Desperado Trail in Peralta Regional Park

All camp and picnic sites have easy access to 9 miles of non-motorized trails and a quarter-mile barrier-free interpretive walking path. “Even in a compact space we were able to build trails with good diversity from easy to difficult.” Taylor says.

Except for the Desperado and North Star Trails, which have some difficult sections, park trails are rated moderate and link up nicely for creating loop options.

Barrier-free interpretive trail has educational signs

The stargazing node will be a big draw.

The park’s shiny penny is its stargazing node. Equal parts vortex, sanctuary and educational launch pad, the tiny gathering place is tucked into a natural bowl-like amphitheater with big sky views.  The science-centered node features a circular siting area with directional posts and room for telescopes.

The park was built with minimal environmental disruption

A short trail leads to the cliff-bound site that flanks a tree-cluttered wash. It’s a beautiful little spot that oozes as much spirituality as it does science.  
Picnic ramadas are designed to blend into the landscape

While it's not yet designated an official International Dark-Sky Association location, certification work is on the agenda. Taylor, who has camped out in the area, says nights here are free of light pollution and extraneous sound. So stars, planets and galaxies will be  really pop against the inky darkness.  

 “We anticipate a lot of interest in night sky viewing here as well as requests for weddings, which can be arranged by permit.”

Celestial events will shine at the Stargazing Node

When asked if there’s going to be a prize for the first person to site a UFO, Taylor laughed.

“We hadn’t thought of that.”

Park map

  

KEY PARK FEATURES:

• 9 miles of non-motorized trails that range in difficulty from barrier-free to challenging.

• Stargazing

• Car and tent camping sites

• Picnic ramadas

• Interpretive trail

• Equestrian staging area

• Waterless restrooms

PARK HOURS: dawn to 10 p.m. daily for day-use

FEES:

Day-use:  $7 daily. Pay in advance online, or at park entrance by scanning a QR code or with exact change at the self-serve kiosk.

Camping & Picnicing:

Camping and picnic sites are first-come-first served but may also be reserved online.

Camping reservations: $10 per night

Picnic ramada reservations: $10 per day or $35 for group ramadas.

GETTING THERE:

From U.S. 60 in Gold Canyon, turn left at the Peralta Road (Forest Road 77) stoplight and Peralta Trailhead sign just past milepost 204.  Follow Peralta Road 5 miles to the park entrance on the right. Peralta Road is maintained dirt suitable for all vehicles.

INFO:

Peralta Regional Park

https://www.pinal.gov/1204/Peralta-Regional-Park

International Dark-Sky Association

https://www.darksky.org/

 


Monday, December 2, 2019

GOLDFIELD MOUNTAIN VIEWPOINT

GOLDFIELD MOUNTAIN VIEWPOINT
Snow-covered Superstition Mtns seen from Bulldog Canyon

Brittlebush bloom along the roads
 Tucked into a rumpled space at the fringe of suburbia, the Goldfield Mountains north of Apache Junction are rife with exploratory hiking opportunities. 
Destination (center on ridge) visible from the trailhead
This rugged slice of the Tonto National Forest located south of Saguaro Lake and the Salt River is hemmed in by State Route 88, the Superstition Wilderness, Four Peaks Wilderness, Usery Mountain Recreation Area and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation.  It’s a strangely beautiful place of mostly volcanic origins.
Magnificent rock formations in Bulldog Canyon
Wildly contorted buffs, welded ash pillars, eroded hills and natural arches hover over jumbled washes and acres of gorgeous Sonoran Desert vegetation.
Although there are few designated hiking trails in the area, old roads cut by defunct mining operations and ranches serve just as well.  Venturing within the Goldfields is not for inexperienced or directionally-challenged visitors.  But within the heavily-used Bulldog Canyon section, finding your way around isn’t too difficult.
Snow on Four Peaks and Sierra Ancha Mountains 11-30-19
One simple starter hike in the Bulldog Canyon area leads to a small peak at the end of a ridge with panoramic vistas that provide a tempting  overview of the lay of the land. The tour begins at the Dome Mountain Trailhead where a gate marks the entrance to the Bulldog Canyon OHV recreation area. The destination, marked by FAA communication towers, teeters on a high crest the to the west.  Start hiking north on the dirt road (Forest Road 10) which is open to motorized traffic, equestrians, bikers and hikers. Follow the cholla-lined track to the 0.3-mile point where Forest Road 1356 head off to the right. For this trip, veer left and stay on FR 10. Ahead, magnificent views of Dome Mountain (3,381 feet), the highest point in the Goldfields soars above the hilly terrain while the hulking form of the Flatiron and Superstition Ridgeline loom to the southeast.  At just under a mile, where two sign posts mark where FR 10 swerves east (right), make note of an unsigned road heading downhill on the left. This is the optional return route. As the road makes a gradual ascent, views of the Four Peaks and Sierra Ancha Mountains begin to peek out over ridges and mesas to the east.
A short, steep climb leads to high point vistas
Flatiron is a commanding presence on the hike
To reach the peak, continue another 0.1-mile straight ahead, veer left at a 3-way junction and pass a white road gate. Here’s where the route begins a moderate climb on long switchbacks. Soon, gaps in the volcanic terrain frame views of the Salt River Valley and distant Mount Ord to the north.  After few more bends in the road, the peaks of the Superstition Wilderness can be seen to the east.
Horses and ATVs climb the summit ridge
 At the top of the road, an FAA station built into the base the ridgeline’s southern promontory, marks the beginning a short, steep climb to a highpoint with wind-sculpted shallow caves and 360-degree views of the Valley and beyond. On clear days, you can see as far away as the mountains near Tucson and the Mogollon Rim. 


Rich Sonoran Desert plants grow in Bulldog Canyon
North views extend to Mt Ord and the Mogollon Rim
When done ogling the landscape, head back down the hill to the double-signed FR 10 junction. For an optional, more difficult return route, take the road going downhill to the right which roughly follows the overhead powerlines. This option has more ups-and-downs and is steeper than FR 10. Otherwise, just retrace your steps on FR 10 back to the trailhead. Both options are nearly the same length.

An FAA site sits below the hike high point.
LENGTH:  3.6 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 2,011 – 2,490 feet       
GETTING THERE:
Dome Mountain Trailhead
From U.S. 60 in Apache Junction, take the Idaho Road exit 196 and go 4.4 miles north to McKellips Road.
Turn right (east) on McKellips and continue 0.4-mile to Wolverine Pass Road, turn left (north) and go 0.8 miles to Tonto Street  where the pavement ends.  Turn right and go 0.2-mile to Cactus Road, turn left and continue 0.2-mile to the parking area. 
INFO:
Arizona Geological Survey
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Monday, January 21, 2019

Massacre Grounds Trail

Massacre Grounds Trail
Weaver's Needle on the horizon seen from Massacre Grds.
It’s curious that even though geologists say that the Superstition Mountains are an unlikely source for rich deposits of gold, myths and legends of finding, loosing and raiding the precious mineral in the unforgiving back country persist. 
Hill 2636 is a distinctive feature along the trail.
From territorial times to the present day, people have been fascinated by the strike-it-rich rumors and tales of ill-gotten gains that ring as loudly and off-key as cymbals in the hands of a restless kid.
Rock pinnacles (L) above Lost Dutchman SP.
Exposure, accidents and violence have claimed the lives of many who followed the lure of greed toward the proverbial mother lode.  For those who believe in ghosts, Massacre Grounds is a good place to find them. 
This rough chute is the most difficult part of the hike.
If you could pick a place to meet your maker, the yucca-studded volcanic mesa surrounded by rolling grasslands, abrupt canyons and sheer cliffs would make for a glorious sendoff.  
The hauntingly beautiful spot at the far northwestern edge of the Superstition Wilderness near Apache Junction is the site of a legendary 1848 ambush where a group of Spanish miners met their demise at the hands of a band of irate Apaches.  Hazy historical accounts suggest that the Apaches took the miner’s pack animals but left the gold—further stoking the quest for hidden treasure.  A good place to tease out the vague, conflicting but always intriguing history of the area’s rough-and tumble past is the Superstition Mountain Museum. The small, but packed space located along State Route 88 not far from major trailheads has regular educational events and exhibits. 
Hikers on the saddle. (R) beneath Hill 2636.
The museum’s new exhibit “The Gold Seekers” uses photos and artifacts to give an overview of the area’s infamous fortune hunters while adding incentive to take a hike into them thar hills.
Gory history notwithstanding, Massacre Ground Trail is a real treat to explore.
Yucca and agaves at the massacre grounds.
View from Massacre Falls
Volcanic structure of the Massacre Grounds site.
Climbing gently along a well-defined path, the route cuts through the remnants of 35-million-year-old volcanic activity. Contorted lava flows, volcanic necks and rugged washes shaded by desert trees and shrubs complement wide-open views of the surrounding wilderness. 
Desert holly grows in  moist drainages on the trail.
The first mile makes a mild ascent of the foothills at the base of craggy mountains. Acres of chain fruit cholla cover the flats that provide a platform for viewing the Four Peaks on the northern horizon and the colorfully layered mounds of the Goldfield Mountains to the west. 
Chain fruit cholla frame views of Four Peaks.
Once past the wilderness boundary fence, the climbing intensifies as the route swings over the saddle of Hill 2636—a dominant conical butte. 

From this point, the distant urban profile of Downtown Phoenix is barely visible to the southwest. 
Four Peaks are visible throughout most of the hike.
Goldfield Mountains on the western horizon.
After a dip into a damp, shady corridor, the trail meets its most difficult challenge—a 0.1-mile slick rock chute. The loose rock and high-steps of this short section look intimidating but getting through isn’t too tough for anybody with nubby footwear and the smarts to take it slow.  
A primitive trail leads to the base of Massacre Falls.
With the climbing mostly in the rear view, the final trudge to the massacre site is a breathtaking journey up a sloping mesa to a junction above a precipice that meets a hoodoo-topped wall of stone. To the south, the signature stone pinnacles of Lost Dutchman State Park appear as giant slabs falling away from the massive cliffs that encompass the Massacre Falls. Dark stains on the rock veneer show where waterfalls cascade over the cliffs after heavy rains. A well-worn path to the right heads down the escarpment to the base of the falls. To the left, a slender footpath traces the edge of the mesa’s broken brim, culminating at the purported location of the miners’ bloody last stand.  Trail’s end is a desolate platform at the cusp of sky and stone with no signs of conflict and no pot of gold.  But the site’s aura resonates in eerie canyon echoes and the calls of ravens passing overhead.
View from Massacre Grounds.
The trail to the massacre site.
LENGTH: 6 miles round trip (including side trip to the falls)
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 2116 – 3185 feet
GETTING THERE:
From U.S. 60 in Apache Junction, take the State Route 88 (Idaho Road) exit 196 and continue 7.5 miles on SR 88 to First Water Road (Forest Road 78) located just past Lost Dutchman State Park on the right.  Go 0.5 mile on FR78 to the signed Crosscut-Massacre Ground Trailhead on the right.  FR 78 is rough dirt passable by carefully-driven sedans.
INFO:
Tonto National Forest
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