Juniper Tank

JUNIPER TANK

Juniper Tank is a wildlife haven in Coconino NF

Forest Road 525 serves as an artery of access to multiple recreational destinations. 

Bear Mountain viewed from FR 525 west of Sedona

Located in a

pocket of airy desert scrub between the craggy red rock faces of the Secret Mountain Wilderness and juniper-studded grasslands of Coconino National Forest west of Sedona, the road leads to several OHV routes, the Palatki and Honanki heritage sites and the rugged and remote Loy Canyon hiking trail. 

A wire gate marks the entrance to Juniper Tank

A steady stream of vehicles, usually laden with camping equipment, bikes or trailers, kick up dust along the dirt-and-gravel track. 

A fringe of mesquite provides cover for wildlife viewing

While the obvious recreational draws account for the majority of traffic, a tiny wildlife oasis just steps from the rev-and-roar of 4x4s holds a surprising flip side to the road’s offerings.  The hike to Juniper Tank can be short or long, depending on where you begin.  I parked in a dirt lot 1.3-mile from SR 89A and walked 1.95-miles up FR 525 to the gate for FR 9574 at the Diamondback Gulch OHV trailhead which marks the start of the walk to the tank.  Even though the road walk shares space with motorized traffic, the views more than make up for the dust.  To the west, Mingus and Woodchute mountains stand out over acres of golden rangeland dotted with cacti, junipers and yucca. 

Windmill Mountain soars above Juniper Tank

Directly ahead, the lopsided mound of 4,651-foot Windmill Mountain looms over water-scoured drainages while the iconic forms of Loy Butte, Capitol Butte and Bear Mountain anchor a wall of russet-and-buff-colored wilderness peaks.  From the gate, it’s a one-mile roundtrip walk to and around the tank. Follow the closed road, which is open to foot and equestrian use, as it descends over jostled red earth that traces the cut of a drainage.  

Critters leave their signatures at Juniper Tank

A few yards in, the road splits. Stay right and keep walking as the road gradually degrades into a narrow trail and overgrown footpath. 

Silverleaf nightshade berries grow around Juniper Tank

Windmill Mountain on the Juniper Tank hike

Flocks of birds and scurrying critters are the only clues that a wildlife water source is nearby.  Look for the opening in a post-and-wire fence just ahead, pass through and follow the paths-of-use to a berm that contains Juniper Tank.  

The road to the tank narrows to weedy footpaths

First glimpses of the glassy pond reflecting clouds, mountains and the movements of winged inhabitants are breathtaking. 

Many species of birds flock to Juniper Tank

Trailhead is near Diamondback Gulch OHV area

Situated in a depression surrounded by desert vistas and seep willows, the shallow, reedy waterhole is a haven for desert creatures.  Prints along the muddy margins document visits from bobcats, deer, javelinas, skunks, racoons and dozens of bird species. 

FR 9574 is open to non-motorized use

A fringe of mesquite trees provide places to hide and observe. 

Clouds and trees reflect in Juniper Tank

Patient hikers might spy sparrows, wrens, warblers, shorebirds and maybe even eagles. 

View of Mingus Mountain from FR 525

Dodging catclaw, cacti and a jump over a drainage outlet, the short walk around the tank’s perimeter unpacks rustlings of life, scat, feathers and impressions of a robust community that thrives in a who-knew refuge curiously close to road ruckus.

Forest Road 525 leads to Loy Butte

 

Bear Mountain seen from Juniper Tank

When done taking in the secluded gem, double back and enjoy the sights in reverse.

High-desert scrub dominates the scene along FR 525

LENGTH: 5.2 miles as described here

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 3,962 – 4,291 feet

GETTING THERE:

From the State Route 179/89A traffic circle in Sedona, go 9.7 miles west (left) on SR 89A to Forest Road 525 (Loy Butte Road) on the right.  Continue 3.25 miles on FR 525 to the trailhead at the Diamondback Gulch OHV kiosk.  Hike begins at the gate signed for FR 9574.  NOTE: to extend the hike, park in any of the dirt pullouts or dispersed campsites along FR 525.  This description begins from a parking area 1.3 miles from SR 89A.

FR 525 is maintained dirt and gravel suitable for all vehicles up to the trailhead.

 

Camino Campana

CAMINO CAMPANA

Camino Campana was dedicated on 10-31-21

 

Desert pop quiz!  What’s metarhyolite?  How many entrance holes are in a packrat midden? What’s the function of a “nurse plant”?  In what ways do dead saguaros benefit the environment?  Stumped? 

Chris & Dawn Vandell of Ftn Hills walk their dog Vinny

To learn the answers to these questions and much more, take a stroll on the Camino Campana in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. 

Pablo Moyano of Mesa inspects a geology display

The trail is named for Kathryn “Sam” Campana who has been an advocate for environmental issues, a Scottsdale elected official, non-profit executive, arts advocate, volunteer and mover-and shaker in the planning and development of the preserve.  The 0.74-mile, barrier-free interpretive path which loops through breezy desert at the base of Fraesfield Mountain is outfitted with beautifully-illustrated signs and interactive displays. 

Leashed dogs are welcome on preserve trails

Each of the 11 educational stops along the route explores a different aspect of the surrounding landscape.  Hikers will learn about geology, bird nests, human history, archeology, wildlife and plants.  The wide, stroller and wheel chair accessible trail is perfect for those with mobility challenges or wrangling kids while restrooms and shade at the trailhead round out the family-friendly amenities.  

An ersatz mountain lion stalks its prey

The trail also has a surprise lurking in the mesquite that gives hikers a momentary fright. 

A harmless coachwhip snake slithers for cover.

Who lives here? There's a sign for that.

Look for a metal silhouette of a mountain lion stalking its prey that looks startling real from a distance. 

Seven-month-old Vinny strikes a pose.

Dedicated on October 31, 2021, the meandering loop unwinds its instructive gems with intuitive panache.  A kiosk about washes leans over a wash, a sign directing visitors to look to the sky sits below a hillside popular with raptors and a strategically-placed view station with a postcard-style frame and adjacent selfie stand presents an irresistible opportunity to document the trip. 

The Camino Campana is wide and barrier-free

LENGTH: 0.74 mile loop

RATING: easy, barrier-free

ELEVATION: 2,540 ft

GETTING THERE:

Fraesfield trailhead:

13400 . Rio Verde Dr., Scottsdale.

From Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Princess/Pima exit 36 and go 6.5 miles north on Pima to Dynamite Blvd./Rio Verde Dr.  Turn right and go 5.6 miles to the trailhead on the left.  There are restrooms but no water at the trailhead.

PRESERVE HOURS: Sunrise to sunset daily. Check website for exact times.

INFO:

https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve

 

Pass Mountain Trail

PASS MOUNTAIN TRAIL

Goldfield Mtns & Four Peaks seen from Pass Mtn

In terms of sensory overload, the Pass Mountain Trail works sort of like an old-style 5-disk CD changer to deliver a cycle of ever-changing delights that once engaged, just keeps on spinning.

Approaching the east flanks of Pass Mountain

The 7.5-mile route that loops through both Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa and the urban-wildland interface of Tonto National Forest, packs in the hiking equivalents of mellow slow dance vibes, sultry tangos and pounding hip-hop rhythms. 

Mountain and valley vistas abound on Pass Mtn

An edgy section of the Pass Mtn Trail

Accessible by way of convenient trailheads in the park, the rocky single track blends low desert strolls, a carousel of vistas and just enough raw mountain exposure to serve up one of the most diverse, close-to-town hikes in the Metro Phoenix area.

A close-to-town hike with wilderness vistas

  Park rangers recommend taking on the loop from either the Wind Cave or Horse Staging trailhead in a clockwise rotation (begin by going left) for a longer but milder ascent to the hike’s scenic saddle.  For those who just want to get to the high point vista and then double back, that’s the ticket, however full-loop hikers should consider a counterclockwise (go right) approach.

Tangles of Sonoran Desert vegetation on Pass Mtn

It’s harder that way, but it gets the difficult climbing over quicker and eliminates the chore of negotiating a steep, slippery down climb on tired legs.

Pass Mtn viewed from the park side of the trail

  Heading right from the Wind Cave trailhead, the trail almost immediately exits the park boundary and enters Tonto National Forest. 

Lichens color the cliffs of Pass Mountain

The first relatively flat half-mile runs through classic desert vegetation and ruffled washes in the shadow of the pyramid-shaped Cat Peaks.  

A slickrock passage leads to a scenic saddle

Over the next mile-and-a-half, views of the Superstition Mountains rising above the town of Apache Junction command the eastern horizon as the trail makes a northward bend and a barely noticeable ascent toward on the mountain’s east face. 

Approaching the U-shaped saddle on Pass Mtn

Residual glimpses of rooftops and roads are soon swallowed up in the folds and drainage cuts of the mountain’s wild side. 

Stunning views from the Pass Mtn saddle

A valley flush with saguaros sits below the destination—a U-shaped pass visible on the north ridgeline.  The climb to get there isn’t too difficult until about a half-mile from the top where the route hangs on precipitous edges and a slickrock ledge for an appetizer of adrenaline before the trail emerges on the prize. 

The trail heads north from the saddle

Bam!  The wind-in-your-face jolt of stepping onto the 2,593-foot saddle is a jaw-dropping experience.  With a single bend in the trail, the vistas make an explosive transition from saguaros and suburbs to layers of mountains and river valleys.

A saguaro-cluttered valley precedes a steep climb

Mesquite and Palo verde trees shade the lower trail

 In the foreground, the blocky, colorfully-layered Goldfield Mountains rise above a scoured divide.  Behind them, are the iconic Four Peaks and rows of wilderness peaks stand over the Salt River Valley.  

Another view of the saddle approach

View of the saddle on the right ridgeline

Save for some minor drainage crosses and exposure the remainder of the trail is just a moderate trudge that hugs the mountain’s eastern flanks, unspooling views of the Usery Mountains and hazy peeks at the McDowell range near Scottsdale before it swings south and descends to the base of Pass Mountain for the final 2-mile walk back to the trailhead.

Superstition Mountain views

LENGTH: 7.5-mile loop

RATING: difficult

ELEVATION: 1,866 – 2,598 feet

GETTING THERE:

Usery Mountain Regional Park,

3939 N. Usery Pass Rd., Mesa.

From U.S. 60 in Mesa, take the Ellsworth Road exit 191. Go 6.7 miles north on Ellsworth (which will turn into Usery Pass Road) to the Usery Mountain Regional Park entrance on the right.  The tail may be accessed from the Wind Cave and Horse Staging Area trailheads.  There are restrooms at both trailheads.

FEE: There’s a $7 daily fee per vehicle payable at the park entrance. 

INFO: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/usery-mountain-regional-park-um/

 

 

 

Verde Valley Wheel Fun

Verde Valley Wheel Fun

A student and coach take on "the Dump"

Verde Valley Wheel Fun gets young people off cell phones and onto mountain bikes in Arizona's beautiful Verde Valley.  VIDEO:

Check out one of the program's week-long training camps here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chnnngWWc8Q

Learn more about the program:

https://wheelfun.org/

Take the Trails Survey!

 What does outdoor recreation in Arizona look like in the next five years? 

The answer is up to you! Arizona State Parks and Trails is currently seeking public input for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), and it's so easy to get involved. The SCORP provides a shared vision for all public outdoor recreation in communities across Arizona for the next five years. Learning what Arizona residents want helps identify priorities and distribute grant funding to get projects done and make outdoor recreation in Arizona even better. There are a variety of ways to participate, and varying levels of engagement to fit your busy lifestyle. CLICK HERE to learn more. Plus, you could win some cool outdoor recreation prizes!  

Survey is open through Dec. 31, 2021.

Blowout Canyon Trail

BLOWOUT CANYON TRAIL

Mingus Mountain rises over Blowout Canyon

The new Blowout Wash community trail system in Cottonwood continues to evolve with several miles of new routes added to its menu in the past few months. 

The loopy system that winds through foothills below Mingus Mountain in Prescott National Forest broke ground in 2019.

A new trail climbs to Blowout Butte (L) summit

The first trails opened in 2020 and additional routes rolled out in 2021 with plans in the works for an ambitious trail corridor that will link with the Black Canyon trailhead. 

Cacti frame Verde Valley vistas

Noteworthy among the class of 2021 additions is the Blowout Canyon Trail No. 511 which makes a crawl through the innards of the eponymous gorge by way of a wavy single track cut from the slopes of craggy knobs and buttes. 

Trail passes a crumbling rock wall at the head of Blowout Canyon

The nicely varied 3.2-mile fresh-cut route links up with several other trails in the core of the Blowout Wash system for easy hike customization.  One to try uses the Bullseye Trail No. 557 for a 4-mile loop.  From the trailhead, follow trail No. 557 a short distance and veer right onto trail No. 551 at the first fork.  The first of a relentless sequence of ups-and-downs swings around juniper-studded mounds revealing excellent views of Sedona’s red rock landscape.  Passages through spike-stemmed crucifixion thorn trees and golden grasslands hang over sheer feeder canyons and jumbled drainages fringed with yucca, cactus, and high-desert shrubs.

Near the head of Blowout Canyon

Sparse tree cover allows for unobstructed viewing of a stunning mix of mountain peaks, red rock formations and expansive river corridors and agricultural  plains.  As the route zigzags over and around weather-worn bluffs, glimpses of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff appear as hazy silhouettes out on the horizon.  Roughly 2 miles in, the trail spirals down into the cloistered head of Blowout Canyon following carefully designed switchbacks that mitigate the descent and aid in proper trail drainage and sustainability. 

See-forever vistas dominate the hike

To keep the trail from degrading, never cut across switchbacks.

Near the high point on Blowout Canyon trail

Stay on established paths.  The descent passes by a wall of broken stone where loose rocks spill into a slot canyon rife with low-growing trees that benefit from extra post-storm water that rushes through the sliver-thin ravine. 

Yucca thrive on sunny slopes

Switchbacks make for sustainable trails. Don't cut them!

The trail bottoms out, then

boomerangs up onto a red-rock incline where ocotillos join the mix of a drier micro-climate vegetation. 
A brief, edge-hugging climb tops out on a scenic ridge with the biggest views of the trip.  Hundreds of feet below, glinting roofs in the town of Cottonwood and a grid of vineyards along Oak Creek sit in a yawning valley backed up by mountain views that stretch from Prescott to Flagstaff. 

Mesquite trees frame views of Sedona red rocks

From this point, the trail descends on long hairpin switchbacks to meet up with the Bullseye trail No. 557.  To complete to loop, hang a right and hike just under a mile back to the trailhead. Or go left to add on a few miles and climb up the prominent limestone slopes of Blowout Butte on sister newcomer, trail No. 556.

Blowout Wash trail system continues to grow.

LENGTH: 4-mile loop

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  3,790 – 4,280 feet

GETTING THERE: From Interstate 17 north of Camp Verde, take the Cornville Road exit 293 heading west (go left). Continue 17.7 miles on Cornville Road (aka County Road 30) which will turn into Mingus Avenue and then Forest Road 493 to the large Blowout Wash trailhead.  For reference, the trailhead is 1.5 miles south of the Cottonwood Municipal Airport. Roads are paved up to the last half mile where FR 493 is a dirt/gravel track suitable for all vehicles.