WALNUT TRAIL

WALNUT TRAIL Tonto National Forest On warm summer days, a faint vanilla-butterscotch fragrance rides on the canyon updrafts along the Walnut Trail #251. The sweet aroma comes not from the wildflowers or blooming shrubs, but from the bark of very old trees. At roughly 120-150 years of age, the dark bark of Ponderosa pine trees begins to crack into rough yellow-russet plates that emit the scent when warmed by the sun. These gigantic trees thrive on the slopes of Oak Spring Canyon near Pine-Strawberry. In addition to the candy-scented air, this trail features excellent views, abundant wildlife and two springs that support tiny pockets of Arizona walnut, sycamore and canyon grape. HIGHLIGHTS: Hike features dozens of species of native plants, including robust stands of native Arizona walnut trees. LENGTH: 7 miles round-trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 6,000’ – 5,180’ Driving distance from Phoenix: 125 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From Payson, travel north on Highway 87 for about 13 miles to just south of the town of Pine. Turn left onto Hardscrabble Road (Forest Road 428), and follow it for 2 miles to the trailhead for Pine-Strawberry Trail #15. Finding the route: From the trailhead, follow the Pine-Strawberry trail #15 south for .10 mile to the junction with Walnut Trail #251. From there, go right and continue downhill into Oak Spring Canyon. Information: (602) 225-5200 or fs.fed.us/r3/tonto

RAPTOR HILL

RAPTOR HILL Dead Horse Ranch State Park A hike up Raptor Hill drives home the important impact the Verde River has on the surrounding landscape. Climbing the arid hillsides above the river, startling contrasts between the high desert scrublands and the green river gorge below assault the senses. The abrupt transition from a moist, burgeoning oasis to a parched lunar-scape happens in just 500 feet of vertical hiking. From high points along the trail, the ancient ruins of Tuzigoot National Monument and remnants of 20th century mining operations dotting the mountainsides frame unobstructed views of the Verde’s rare and fragile ribbon of life. HIGHLIGHTS: Visual vantage points above the Verde River LENGTH: 6 miles round-trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 3,350’ – 3,850’ GETTING THERE: From the park entrance, follow the main road to Flycatcher Road (2nd road on the left) where there’s a “Tavasci Marsh” sign. Follow this road less than a mile to the signed parking area. Information: Visit pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/deadhorse.html or call (928) 634-5283 Fee: There’s a $6 day use fee per vehicle.

BROOKBANK TRAIL

BROOKBANK TRAIL Coconino National Forest Built by an early Flagstaff settler to provide a route to the alpine meadows that define the upper reaches of the Dry Lake Hills, this old wagon route is a favorite destination for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Buried in deep layers of snow in winter, the bowl-shaped meadows become soggy, seasonal lakes in spring. Water lingers in these high-altitude ponds into early summer when they dry out and are transformed into a riot of wildflower color. On the sun-drenched summit plateaus, patches of aspens and whispy, thigh-high grasses frame peek-a-boo glimpses of the San Francisco Peaks. HIGHLIGHTS: Close to town, alpine meadows, conifer forests and up-close views of the San Francisco Peaks. LENGTH: 5 miles round-trip Rating: moderate ELEVATION: 7,700’ – 8,400’s Driving distance from Phoenix: 165 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, travel 3 miles north on Highway 180 to Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420). Turn right on FR 420 and continue for roughly a mile, then veer left on Elden Mountain Road (Forest Road 557). Continue on FR 557 for 3 miles to the signed Oldham trailhead on the right. Park there and hike up the road about a tenth-of-a-mile to the Brookbank trailhead on the west (left) side of the road.

MOUNT UNION

MOUNT UNION Prescott National Forest Priceless glimpses of Arizona’s beautiful central highlands await hikers on the summit of Mount Union--the 7,979-foot highpoint of the Bradshaw mountain range. Although this granite pinnacle is little more than the loftiest lump on a forested ridge above the Hassayampa River Basin, a hike to the peak still manages to deliver an enjoyable mountain experience complete with panoramic views, dizzying canyon drop-offs and a fire tower that has been in active service since 1933. The uphill slog to “bag the summit” begins on the Dandrea Trail # 285. At just under the one-mile point, turn right onto the Yankee Doodle Trail # 284 and follow the cliff-hugging path to the peak through a landscape infused with weather-worn scrub and eroding volcanic rock. HIGHLIGHTS: high point of the Bradshaw Mountain range LENGTH: 4 miles roundtrip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 6,849 -7,979 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 130 miles GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 262 for Highway 69. Go west (toward Prescott) on Highway 69 to Walker Road (County Road 57 which is just past the Costco center). Follow Walker Road south for 10. 5 miles to Poachers Row Road , turn left and follow the road to its end where there’s a sign for trail #285 across the creek. There’s limited parking along the road. Do not park in or block the private driveways in the area. INFORMATION: (928) 443-8000, http://fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/bradsahw.shtml

KELSEY WINTER CABIN TRAIL

KELSEY WINTER CABIN TRAIL Kaibab National Forest Expansive Sycamore Canyon is Arizona’s second largest gorge. (Guess which one comes in first). Tucked into beautiful pine, juniper and oak forests, Kelsey Winter Trail #3 is the longest of the five trails that criss-cross the central portion of the canyon. It’s also the best way to sample the woodlands, high-chaparral prairies, historic ruins and many flowing springs that make this chasm such an interesting destination. The drive in to the trailhead is half the adventure—the access roads are nasty. Yet, the beauty of this trail makes the kidney-jarring ride worth the effort. From the trailhead, begin hiking downhill along the canyon wall on the Kelsey Spring Trail. Views of Sycamore Canyon along this passage cast an eye-opening spotlight on the magnitude of this “little crack in the earth”. At the half-mile point, the trail meets Kelsey Spring. Here, a short spur trail plows through a wind-swept field of silken grasses for a fun side trip to a trough set up to collect the precious water that seeps from the cliffs. From Kelsey Spring, the trail moves through thick mixed-conifer forests, volcanic boulder fields and open meadows shimmering with vivid purple Wheeler Thistle and blaze-red skyrocket flowers. Babe’s Hole—a spring protected by a funky old cement rim and wood planks—marks the 1.2-mile point just before the junction with Geronimo Spring trail. From here, stay left and continue on the Kelsey Winter Trail--where route finding becomes a challenge. Fallen trees and overgrown vines sometimes obscure the trail past this point. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry a good map and compass when hiking this trail. Once past the obstacles, good signage leads the way to Dorsey Spring, the cabin ruins and yet another spring, which spews fresh cool water year-round. HIGHLIGHTS: Dense coniferous woodlands, canyon views, several springs and cabin ruins. LENGTH: 11 miles round-trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 6,600’ – 6,100’ DOG RATING: 1 paw Driving distance from Phoenix: 175 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, go west on Historic Route 66 to Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231). Turn left onto FR 231 and drive 14 miles to Forest Road 538. Turn right onto FR-538 and go 5.7 miles to Forest Road 538E. Turn right onto FR 538E and go another half mile to Forest Road 538G. Continue straight ahead on FR 538G for one mile to Kelsey Trail Road on the left. Because this road is so rough beyond this point, it’s smart to park at the turn off and hike the final quarter-mile to the trailhead. A high clearance vehicle is required. INFORMATION: (928) 635-8200 or fs.fed.us/r3/kai

SECOND WATER TRAIL

SECOND WATER TRAIL Superstition Wilderness Classic desert landscapes, a sprawling valley populated with thousands of teddy bear cholla and a tiny pocket of green where spring water feeds willows and waist-high grasses are the highlights of the Second Water Trail #236. Because the trailhead is easy-to-access and the route is relatively straight forward, this trails attracts lots of visitors. The hike begins on the Dutchman Trail #104, following it for a short distance to the junction with trail #236. From the junction, turn left and follow Second Water trail through a maze of creek beds, sandy flood plains and open fields studded with cactuses and thorny shrubs. As the trail undulates through canyons and washes, views of the stark, yet beautiful landscape chiseled from volcanic landforms open up along the high points before the trail ends at the junction with the Boulder Canyon trail where there’s a tiny spring-fed riparian eco-system tucked into a reed-lined cove. LENGTH: 6.3 miles round-trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 1,900 feet – 2,450 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, take Highway 60 east to the Idaho Road exit (Highway 88), go left onto Highway 88 following the signs to Lost Dutchman State park. Continue to one-quarter mile past the park entrance and turn right onto First Water Road (Forest Road 78). Follow FR78 for 2.6 miles to the First Water Trailhead. FR 78 is maintained dirt with a few rough spots. There are restrooms at the trailhead. INFORMATION: Visit fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/hikingtrail/wilderness/Trails/superstition/ or call (480) 610-3300

SLATE MOUNTAIN

SLATE MOUNTAIN
Coconino National Forest

summit

Not actually made of slate, this hill is a laccolith, or a solidified heap of lava that pushed up the earth’s crust like a blister, but never broke the surface. Time has since eroded away the mountain’s top layers to expose the grayish-blue igneous rock called rhyolite, which early explorers mistook for “slate”. The moderate 5-mile round trip hike climbs 855 feet to the 8,215-foot summit.
LENGTH: 5 miles round trip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 7,360 - 8,215 feet

GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff drive north on Highway 180 to Forest Road 191 between mileposts 242 and 243. Turn left (west) and continue on FR 191 for just under 2 miles to the signed turn off for the trailhead on the right.

RED MOUNTAIN

RED MOUNTAIN 
Coconino National Forest

Of the more than 600 volcanoes that define northern Arizona’s landscape, only one offers an opportunity for hikers to walk into the innards of a dormant mountain of fire. For reasons not entirely understood by geologists, the northeastern flank of Red Mountain collapsed, exposing the intricate internal structure of the 740,000-year-old cinder cone. Tiny cinders crunch underfoot along the ponderosa-shaded trail that leads into a visually striking arena of towering stone pillars and contorted lava formations. A secured six-foot ladder must be climbed in order to get into the most spectacular part of the mountain where disintegrating layers of red, ocher and black cinders create a maze of clefts and canyons and to explore.

LENGTH: 2.5 miles
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 6700' - 7000'
GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Connect to Highway 180 and continue north for 33 miles then turn left at mile marker 247. Follow the dirt road for .4 mile to the fenced parking area. There are no fees and no facilities at the trailhead.

VULTEE ARCH

VULTEE ARCH Red Rocks Secret Mountain Wilderness What resembles one of those plastic rock-scape thingies used in lizard terrariums and is named for a guy who crashed his plane? Give up? It’s one of the most-visited geological attractions in Sedona--Vultee Arch, a wide sandstone bridge tucked into the red-rock slopes of Sterling Canyon. In fact, the entire Vultee Arch trail oozes with the accouterments of a lizard paradise: warm sandy soils, lots of rocky ledges for soaking up sunshine and shady thickets of pungent pine-and-lavender-scented juniper and cypress trees. The fact that these same trappings also are a huge draw for people, explains the snarled masses of SUVs at the trailhead. Yet, working through the parking corundum is worth the effort to hike this trail to its end where lizards do push-ups on a bronze plaque placed in memory of the crashed plane guy and his wife in view of the arch that bears their name. LENGTH: 3.4 miles out-and-back RATING: easy ELEVATION GAIN: 500 feet FEE: A Red Rock Pass($5 daily fee) is required.  http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/passes/index.shtml

 INFORMATION: Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, (928) 282-4119
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/vultee-arch-tr.shtml
GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 298 for  Sedona/Oak Creek.  Go left (west) on SR179  and continue into the town of Sedona. At the junction of SR179 and US89A (the “Y” traffic circle intersection) turn left onto Highway 89A and continue for 3.2 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn right onto Dry Creek Road (FR 152C) and continue for 2 miles to the turn off for FR 152 on the right. Get on FR 152 and go another 4.4 miles to the signed Vultee Arch trailhead. FR 152 is a bumpy dirt road--although we've seen passenger cars at the trailhead, high-clearance vehicle is a better idea .

DOE MOUNTAIN

View from top of Doe Mountain

Bear Mountain as seen from Doe Mountain

Fancy carin marks a trail on top of Doe Mountain

DOE MOUNTAIN Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness One of the easiest ways to get high enough to enjoy great view vantage points in Sedona is to hike up the Doe Mountain trail. The short, well-worn trail switchbacks among low-growing juniper and cypress trees as it ascends to the top of the isolated red sandstone mesa. Here, many of the area’s most recognizable geological features, including Chimney Rock and Wilson Mountain, are visible in the distance. Once on the summit of the mesa, it’s possible to extend the hike by following one or more of the informal pathways that meander through the high desert scrub to scenic overlooks. LENGTH: 2 miles round trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 4,600'-5,000'  GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to the Sedona/Oak Creek exit 298. Turn east onto SR 179 and continue into the town of Sedona. At the junction of SR179 and US89A (the “Y” traffic circle intersection) turn left onto  89A and continue  3.2 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn right onto Dry Creek Road (FR 152C) and continue to the intersection with Long Canyon Road. From there, turn left to stay on FR 152C . At the intersection with Boynton Canyon Road, turn left onto Boynton Pass Road. Drive for about 1.2 miles to the trailhead on the right. FEE: Red Rock Pass required: http://www.redrockcountry.org/passes-and-permits/index.shtml
  INFO:  Red Rock Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, 928-282-4119
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/doe-mtn-tr.shtml

CAVE CREEK TRAIL #4

CAVE CREEK #4 Tonto National Forest Traversing a swath of classic Arizona Upland Sonoran Desert terrain, Cave Creek trail is a study in environmental diversity and human history. . The trail can be directly accessed from either the Seven Springs area or from the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. Either way, hikers will encounter lots of dips and twists in the well-worn path as it wanders among remains of early ranching operations, old mines and a smattering of ancient Hohokam petroglyphs and ruins. Although recent wildfires scorched the eastern end of the trail, the gurgling waters of Cave Creek are feeding a resurgence of the sycamore and cottonwood trees that formerly crowded intermittent pockets of riparian plant life that thrive below saguaro-studded hillsides. The creek runs at its fullest during springtime when a riot of wildflowers paint the desert vistas in vivid shades of orange, purple and red. LENGTH: 10.4 miles one-way RATING: Moderate ELEVATION: 3,500 – 2,440 feet GETTING THERE: East trailhead: From the Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Pima/Princess Road exit. Go north on Pima Road for 13 miles to Cave Creek Road. Turn right (east) onto Cave Creek Road (which will turn into Forest Road 24) and continue 9.5 miles to the Cave Creek Trailhead. West trailhead: From the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road head north on Cave Creek Road about 2.5 miles to Spur Cross Road. Turn north and drive 4.5 miles to the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. From the parking area, hike 2 miles up Spur Cross Trail (which becomes Forest Road 48) to the Cave Creek trailhead. There’s a $3 daily fee per person. Exact change is required for the self-serve kiosk. INFORMATION: fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/hikingtrail/ccrd/CaveCreekTrail4.pdf or (480) 595-3300 maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/maps.aspx or (480) 488-6601

CRITTERS

You never know what you'll run into while hiking in Arizona. MOURNING DOVE FAMILY: photo by Arlene B. GILA MONSTER: photo by Gary A. TARANTULA: photo by Pete S. CACTUS WREN: photo by Arlene B. LIZARDS: photo by Mare WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE: photo by Pete S.

MORE CRITTERS

ARIZONA TRAIL CRITTERS Just a sample of the critters we run into while hiking in Arizona. GREATER ROADRUNNER: photo by Arlene B. CHUCKWALLA: photo by Pete S. COYOTES: photo by Arlene B. BLACKTAIL RATTLESNAKE: photo by Mare HORNED LIZARD: photo by Cheryl D.

PERALTA CANYON

PERALTA CANYON Superstition Wilderness The blistering heat of summer kicks the Sonoran desert into survival mode. During daytime, the sun’s heat sends critters scurrying for cover, wilts foliage and mutes the songs of insects and birds. Yet, under the resurrecting respite of darkness, the desert transforms into a hauntingly beautiful hiking destination. This year, the Full Buck Moon*—which will emerge within minutes of sunset—will rise on the weekend of July 28th. Although lunar glow is surprisingly bright, night hiking in the desert is still risky business. That’s why it’s smart to select familiar trails for post-sunset treks. For Valley hikers, one of the most intriguing nighttime destinations is the popular Peralta Canyon trail near Apache Junction. Moonlight bathes the jagged hoodoos that hover above this well-worn local path in an unforgettable, dreamy mauve and ocher haze. As dusk creeps through the canyons, the fragrance of night-blooming cacti--accompanied by a serenade of crickets and frogs—rides on the sultry desert air. If you begin hiking around sunset, you’ll reach the Fremont Saddle—the turnaround point for the hike--in time to witness the celestial dance of twilight as it fades to black. On the craggy saddle, in the embrace of utter darkness, the sight of the moon drifting across the night sky beguiles the senses as it drags an eerie cloak of lunar light over the desert canyon below. *In folklore, July’s full moon is named to celebrate the budding of new antlers on deer and elk. It’s also known as the Full Thunder Moon or Full Hay Moon. Source: Farmers Almanac LENGTH: 4.5 miles round-trip (out-and-back hike to the Fremont saddle) RATING: moderate ELEVATION GAIN: 1,400 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, take US 60 east to about 8 miles past Apache Junction and look for the “Peralta Trailhead” sign on the side of the road. Turn left onto Peralta Road (Forest Road 77) and drive 8 miles to the trailhead. Information: fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/wilderness/superstition Information about sunset & moonrise dates, visit: spacearchive.info/moonrise-moonset-phoenix.txt