Mesquite Canyon Trail

Mesquite Canyon Trail

White Tank Mountain Regional Park.

Edge-hugging segment of Mesquite Canyon Trail

Towering over cotton fields, citrus groves and an ever-expanding landscape of subdivisions, the White Tank Mountains on the western edge of Metro Phoenix rise to just over 4000 feet.

Mexican gold poppies open in daylight.

For more than 30 million years, tectonic upheavals, volcanic events and erosion have shaped the range into a mass of canyons, ruptured ridgelines and scoured drainages where “white tanks”— depressions in buff-colored granite—retain rain water.  The inhospitable terrain is made approachable by way of the trails within White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell.

Make it a loop with the Willow Canyon Trail if you like.

Poppies galore!

Benches are placed at scenic spots along the first 0.25-mile.

Dainty Desert Hideseed grow in moist clefts.

Excellent views appear in the first mile of hiking.

Complex geology of the White Tank Mountains.

A lone Mexican gold poppy hides among dry grasses.

Long switchbacks ease the climb.

Although the park has many family-friendly, effortless routes, most of its more than 30 miles of trails involve difficult-to-extreme mountain ascents. While challenging hiker-favorites like Ford Canyon and Goat Camp pass through some hazardous sections of loose rock, precipitous edges and steep climbs, Mesquite Canyon Trail rises to equally dizzying heights with fewer obstacles. 

Brittlebush grow along the Mesquite Trail

The route may be accessed at either the main trailhead staging area or at ramada #7.  Starting at the ramada bypasses about a mile of flat, easy hiking and delves right into the uphill trudge.  The first quarter mile follows a roomy dirt track with benches placed at scenic overlooks.

Fragrant desert lavender attracts pollinators.

One of the best features of this trail is that great views can be had after only a short bit of climbing and the vistas continue to improve around every bend. A half-mile in, the lung pumping begins as the trail narrows and takes on a series of long switchbacks that snake up the canyon above a gorge with brilliant white stone at its base and a daisy chain of tanks.  Crowds become noticeably thinner once the path transitions into an edgy traverse of outcroppings of layered metamorphic rocks bent into accordion-like folds and gigantic boulders with peeling veneers.  Tucked among clefts, scree and exposed ledges, springtime wildflowers give reasons to pause on the way up. 

A fresh crop of jojoba fruits ripen on bushes. 

The "white tanks" can be seen at the bottom of Mesquite Cn.

Lush fringes of brittlebush, jojoba and cholla shade patches of Dainty Desert Hideseed, lupine, Emory's rock daisies, globemallow, buckwheat, scorpionweed and bright orange Mexican gold poppies that unfurl when warmed by the afternoon sun.  

Watch for fiddleneck near drainages.

The twisted terrain contains a glut of micro climates that bounce between mossy gullies and parched flats. The varied pockets of shade, sun and moisture foster a vast assortment of blooming plants.  

A scenic point on Mesquite Canyon Trail.

At the 1.8-mile point, you can opt to make an 8.4-mile loop using the Willow Canyon and part of the Ford Canyon Trails, otherwise continue uphill to the trek’s high point and the junction with Goat Camp Trail above Slick Rock Canyon.  This breezy turnaround perch makes for a fine lunch spot before descending among woke poppies.

Globemallow is a common sight in Mesquite Canyon.

Bud on a pink variety of globemallow.

Lupine grow in open areas along the lower trail.

LENGTH: 5 miles one-way from the main trailhead or 4.2 miles one-way from ramada #7

RATING: difficult

ELEVATION: 1540 – 3023 feet

GETTING THERE:

20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell.

Construction on Interstate 10 and surface streets in the area may cause detours. Check the Arizona Department of Transportation website for updates. https://www.azdot.gov/home

Follow the main park road to the trailhead staging area or continue to Waterfall Canyon Road and ramada #7. There are restrooms at both sites.

INFO & MAPS:

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/white-tank-mountain-regional-park/park-activities/hiking/

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WILLOW CANYON-MESQUITE LOOP

WILLOW CANYON-MESQUITE LOOP White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Waddell Ingeniously engineered to sample all that’s great about the White Tanks, this loop route is a perfect way to get to know the terrain of this range buttressing the western edge of Metro Phoenix. Even with punishing budget cut backs and staff reductions, Maricopa County somehow manages to keep our regional parks clean, maintained and safe. Your six-buck park entry fee is put to good use. Known for its beautiful white granite “tanks” (depressions in the rock scoured out by running water) and graceful, meandering trails, the park harbors a surprising amount of water. The coolest water hole I’ve seen there can be found off of the Willow Canyon (WL) trail. To get there, start at the Mesquite Trail (MQ) sign at Ramada Way. I like to start here instead of at the trailhead staging area because I find the extra 0.9-mile trek flat and dull---better to get to the good stuff quicker. Hike 1.7 miles on MQ and pick up the Willow Canyon (WL) trail heading northwest (go right at the sign). Willow Canyon trail is only 1.6 miles in length and the spring area spur is located off to the left near an old gate. This makes for a good place to take a break before continuing on WL to the Ford Canyon junction. Here, go south (left) and hike 0.7 mile to the MQ trail, and head east (left) to complete the loop. PHOTOS: For old times sake, I dug these photos out of my 2004 files. They were taken with a crappy point-and-shoot camera, so they’re not the best quality. Bear with me---I’m hauling the big lens out there this weekend. LENGTH: 10 miles roundtrip from Trailhead (horse) Staging Area OR 8.1 miles roundtrip from the Ramada Way trailhead. RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 1,600 – 2,995 DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 45 miles one way GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go 18 miles west on I-10 to Loop 303. Go north on 303 to Olive Ave., turn west and follow Olive all the way to the end at the park entrance. TRAILHEAD (HORSE) STAGING AREA: Once inside the park, go north on the main drag—White Tank Mountain Road— roughly 1.2 miles to the signed staging area on the right. RAMADA WAY TRAILHEAD: Once inside the park, go north on the main drag—White Tank Mountain Road— roughly 1.2 miles and turn left onto Waterfall Canyon Road and go 0.8 mile to Ramada Way. Turn left onto Ramada Way and follow it 0.2 mile to the trailhead. FACILITIES: maps available at the park entrance, restrooms, picnic ramadas, horse staging, nature center. HOURS: Park hours vary, check Web site for current info. All trails close daily at sunset. DOGS: leashed dogs are allowed. Owners must bring poo bags and clean up after their dogs. INFO: Maricopa County Parks & Recreation, 623-935-2505 http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/