Welcome to the PebbleCreek Hiking Club

The PebbleCreek Hiking Club has been established to provide PebbleCreek residents with the opportunity to enjoy recreational hiking in an organized, safe and social environment. Safety is a key concern. Hikers are accompanied by a leader and sweep carrying an emergency locator beacon , medical kit and walkie talkies.   The regular hiking season is the third week of Sept. to the first week of May. During the summer, there are B/C+ hikes held Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and D/D+ hikes held Tuesday and Thursday. During the regular season the schedules is as follows:

A hikes (over 12 miles) are held on Mondays.

B hikes  (8-12 miles) are held  Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

C hikes (6-8+ miles) are held  Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

D hikes (up to 5 miles) are held Tuesdays & Thursdays.

For PROSPECTIVE members
Prospective members must independently walk around Robson Circle twice and complete an Intro hike. Once completed, new members need to submit their registration form and dues.   

COVID Guidance for PebbleCreek Hiking Club Members
These guidelines may be updated by the Hiking Club board at any time as new information on or recommendations about the pandemic occur.

If you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 during the past 14 days, DO NOT HIKE WITH THIS GROUP!!!!  If you or someone you know has been in contact with or is diagnosed with Covid-19, please inform the club by contacting President Dana Thomas PCHCPres@gmail.com or 907-590-4425. This will allow the club to inform other hikers of their possible exposure.

Hikers should read and be aware of the current guidance for self- protection and protection of others offered by the Arizona Department of Health Service posted online at https://www.azdhs.gov/ preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease- epidemiology/ index.php#novel-coronavirus-what-everyone-needs.

Club Hike Meeting Place:

C and D hikes will meet in the parking lot at the Tuscany Falls Sales Office/Model Homes parking lot, which is west of the Arts Center. The A and B hiking groups will meet in the parking lot in front of the Eagle’s Nest Club House. Hikers should wear a mask and/or maintain at least 6 feet of separation at the meet up to protect fellow hikers.

Hiking Group Size Limitation and Advance Sign-ups:

Hiking groups will be limited to a maximum of 12 hikers to limit potential exposure. This approach is consistent with the PebbleCreek guidance posted on the HOA website. Multiple hiking groups (of up to 12 each) may be formed if there are sufficient leaders identified in advance of the hike. Hikers must sign-up in advance of the hike on a first-come first served basis.

The Hike Leader will be the only person who will sign Hikers in for that group's hike. The leader will be responsible for listing the Hikers’ names on the Log-In Sheet, will be the only person to use that pen/ pencil, and will coordinate with the club statistician to scan, or email that information for data gathering. The Hike Leader will remind Hikers that by signing up for the hike, they are agreeing to the club’s liability waiver located on the website and the back of the sign-in form. During this time, members may not bring guests on hikes. 

Hikers should avoid handshaking, hugging, or touching each other, unless the other person is your spouse/ partner. Please do not ask another hiker to get an item out of your pack and maintain social distancing.

The Hike Leader will ensure that any electronic devices, such as Club Walkie-Talkies, In-Reach, etc. will be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe before and after that day's hike. The club is purchasing additional walkie-talkies and medical kits to support additional groups and we encourage members to purchase and carry their own walkie-talkies.

Per club Standard Operating Procedures, the hike leader and sweep retain the right to deny participation because of group size limitations or request a hiker sit out or step back from a hike if the hiker is deemed not physically capable or is lacking proper equipment or adequate water or food.

Traveling to the Trailhead:

The club recommends that Hikers use their own personal vehicles to travel to the Trail Head; spouses/partners may travel together. If non-spouse Hikers choose to travel with each other, we recommend that they wear facemasks while in the vehicle. The driver should wipe with disinfectant the door handles, seats and other items touched in the car before and after the hike. Please do not ask to ride with another hiker at the meet up, if you want to share rides, arrange this personally in advance.

If hikers choose to ride with someone, please sort out an equitable approach, e.g., take turns driving or sharing expenses, on your own. The club will not provide the suggested driver donation.
The Hike Leader should communicate with the group to make sure no one feels pressured to take someone in their car if they have chosen not to do so.

Hiking:

Hikers should maintain a social distancing of at least 6-feet while hiking. When encountering other hikers or bicycles, hikers should step at least 6 feet off the trail if possible or put on their mask. At breaks, please maintain a safe distance by sitting/standing at least 6 feet away from other hikers. Hikers are welcome to wear face masks while hiking if they choose to do so. Please be aware that others may not be wearing masks.
If you cough or sneeze, do so into a handkerchief or your sleeve to reduce the spread of droplets. If you feel unwell during a hike, inform the Hike Leader immediately. All hikers must carry a mask and disposable gloves on every hike in case of an emergency. In case of a first aid scenario, the person(s) rendering first aid should wear disposable gloves and a facemask. Disposable gloves, hand- sanitizer and/or wipes also need to be added to the required items to carry for each Hiker. Wearing glasses or goggles is also recommended. Each hiker should carry an empty plastic bag to dispose of items needed to render first aid.

 

Hikers:

Temperatures warm up in March.  Please carry and drink electrolytes and keep an eye out for our reptilian friends.  The meet and depart times are staying the same for March as they were for February at the request of a vast majority of hike coordinators.

B hikes will meet at 6:45 am and depart at 7:00 am.  C and D hikes (group 1) will meet at 6:45 am and depart by 6:50 am.  Group 2 C and D hikes will meet at 7:15 and depart by 7:20 am.  Look at individual hike announcements for early meet and depart times when hikes are out of town or across town.

Monday, March 1, 2021 - Picacho Peak (Picacho Peak State Park). Rating B.  EARLY DEPARTURE – Meet at EN at 6:00 am and depart at 6:15 am.  Neal Wring will lead. This is a short, strenuous, all-trail 7-mile hike (2200 feet elevation gain) with ladders and cables. Two cars are helpful for avoiding a 2-mile road walk at the end of the hike. After entering the State Park drive 1.8 miles to Sunset Vista trailhead. Drivers will then loop back and position one vehicle back at the Hunter Trailhead. The hike will follow the Sunset Vista trail around the back of Picacho Mountain leading to the Hunter Trail junction and continue up to the summit. Return will be via the Hunter Trail to the positioned vehicle.

The park entrance fee is $6.00. Driving distance is approximately 200 miles RT. RECOMMENDED: Bring cotton or leather gloves for holding on to the cables. This is a trail to Ale hike - San Tan Brewery in Chandler. 

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/PicachoPeakStatePark/Picacho-Peak-Trail

Directions to Picacho Peak Trails

Take Pebble Creek Pkwy to I-10 East, exit onto 202 South, and then continue onto I-10 East (South).  Take I-10 to Picacho Peak State Park – exit 219.

Turn right into park and pay fee at Visitors Center.

Trailhead for the Hunter Trail (front side of mountain) 2.0 miles to summit is on Barrett Loop. Trailhead for the Sunset Vista Trail (back side of mountain) 3.1 miles to summit is at the end of the road.

The planned Monday, March 1, 2021 - Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trail (Yarnell) hike has been postponed due to weather.  Tom Wellman will reschedule.

Monday, March 1, 2021 - Deem Hills Outer Circumference Trail (Phoenix). Rating C+. Tom Wellman will lead. This is a 7.6-mile loop hike around the Deem Hills Recreation area with an elevation change of 1350 ft. There are distinct vegetation areas on the different sides of the hills. There would be good wildflowers after a wet winter. Good views from the top showing the area north of 101 and west of I-17. Restrooms are at the trailhead. No Park Fee.  

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/DeemHillsPark/Circumference-Trail

Directions to Deem Hills Park  

Take 101 North Turn North on 59th Ave Turn North (left) on 55th Ave. 55th Ave becomes Deem Hills Pkwy. The park is on the right. There is no park fee. Restrooms are at the parking lot. Directions to Deem Hills - Alternate Take 303 North. Turn East (right) on Happy Valley Parkway. Turn North (left) on 55th Ave. 55th Ave becomes Deem Hills Pkwy. The park is on the right…No park fee. Restrooms are at the parking lot.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 - Waddell to Ford Canyon View (White Tank Mountains). Rating D. Gary Baker will lead. This is about a 4 mile in and-out hike with an elevation gain of about 300 ft. From the trailhead, take Waddell to Ford Canyon trail and turn left. Go about a half mile past the “no horses” sign to the beginning of the rocky part of Ford Canyon. Take your break and return to the car the way you came. There are restrooms at trailhead. Park fee is $7.00 per vehicle. Driving distance is 30 miles RT.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Ford-Canyon-Mesquite

Directions to White Tank Mountains Regional Park

Take 303 North (right).

Exit at Northern (next to zoo) and turn left (West).

Turn right on Cotton.

Turn left on Olive and follow it to the park gate.

Ford Canyon Trail trailhead parking is at Picnic area #7. Take the Waddell Trail across to the Ford Canyon Trail.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - Competitive Track – Long Loop (Estrella Mountain Regional Park). Rating B.  Eileen Lords Mosse or Kris Raczkiewicz will lead. This is a 9.6-mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 792 ft. This hike goes through typical desert terrain with lots of Saguaro cactus.  The first half of the hike goes up 700 ft very gradually, and then starts a slow descent before returning to the parking lot. Trail condition -good hiking trail.  Driving distance is 26 miles RT. There is a porta-john at the TH. Park fee is $7.00 per vehicle.

Directions to Estrella Mountain Regional Park - Competitive Trails

Turn left out the main gate onto Pebble Creek Pkw/Estrella Pkw (on other side of I-10). Turn left onto Vineyard Ave. just across the Gila River. Follow Vineyard as it curves to the right, becoming 143rd Avenue. Turn left on Indian Springs Road. At the fence that begins the parking for ISM turn right. Follow signs to trails. Continue to the parking on the right.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - P.A. Seitts Preserve Fingers Hike (Cave Creek). Rating D/C. Nancy Love will lead. This is a 4.5 -7.5 mile multi-finger in & out hike with an elevation change of 400-880 ft. There are several short trails branching out from the trailhead. The hikers will simply select some of them to hike. This is a preserve to protect the assorted vegetation along this portion of Cave Creek. The C version crosses the creek bed. There is a wide variety of desert vegetation including many large Saguaros. This is a good area for Spring wildflowers. Trail condition - good hiking trail. No restrooms and no park fee. Driving distance is approximately 110 miles RT.

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/CaveCreekRegionalPark/Cave-Creek-Other/B-ExploratoryHikeSeitts-Preserve-Cave-Creek-ParkLynnW2017/

Directions to Cave Creek - P.A. Seitts Preserve Trailhead 

Take Loop 303 north and follow until it ends I-17. Turn north (left) on I-17. Exit to the right (east) on Hwy 74 (Carefree Highway) Turn left (North) on Cave Creek Road. Go .6 miles and turn left (West) on New River Road. Go .3 miles and turn right on 54th St Go .4 miles to the parking area on the right near the intersection with 52 St.

Thursday, March 4, 2021 - La Barge Canyon Loop (Superstition Mountains). Rating B. EARLY DEPARTURE – Meet at EN at 6:00 am and depart at 6:15 am.Clare Bangs will lead. This is a lollipop loop hike of about 11.5 miles with an elevation gain of over 1000 ft. The trail surface is a typical trail with

some rocks, gravel, and sand with some streambed boulder hopping and scrambling in La Barge Canyon itself. Follow First Water Trail for about 0.4 miles to the junction with Second Water Trail. Turn left onto Second Water Trail and follow it approximately 3.3 miles down into Boulder Canyon and the

junction with Boulder Canyon Trail. Turn right on Boulder Canyon Trail and follow it for approximately 1 mile as it crosses back and forth over Boulder Creek to a cairn on the left that takes you up a faint trail to the back spine of Battleship Mountain to a saddle. Follow the trail down the other side into La Barge Box. (In warmer weather, this is a great spot to jump in the

main pool and cool off). This section is a great spot to take a break and just explore part of this beautiful canyon. After the break we then head down La Barge Creek, boulder hopping on what are initially some large boulders. As you make your way down La Barge Creek, you have an incredible view of 

Battleship Mountain on your left. La Barge Creek connects to Boulder Canyon and from there it is approximately 0.7 miles back to the junction with Second Water Trail. Then it is 3.3 miles back to the trailhead. Trail condition - half is on established average trail and half is a bushwhack through a rough canyon. No park fee. Restrooms are at the trailhead. Driving distance is 124 miles RT.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/SuperstitionWilderness/La-Barge-Canyon

Directions to Superstitions - 1st Water Trailhead

I-10 east to Route 202 east (stay in HOV all the way).

Take 202 east to Brown Rd., Exit 26.

Drive east on Brown Rd. to Apache Trail (Hwy 88).

Turn left onto Apache Trail (Hwy 88).

Go past Lost Dutchman State Park and turn right at sign to First Water Trailhead. Follow this dirt road approx. 2.6 miles (past the horse-trailer parking on left). Parking is free. There is a pit toilet restroom at the trailhead.

(Brown is Lost Dutchman Blvd in Pinal County on the way home).

Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Maricopa Trail from Northern Ave. Rating D. Dennis Zigmunt will lead. This is a 4-5 mile out and back hike with >200’ of elevation gain and good trail conditions. Trail parallels the White Tank Mountains toward Verrado. Park on the south side of Northern Ave just across the Beardsley Canal. Trail starts just west of parking area. No restrooms and no park fee. Driving distance 22 miles.   

Directions to Maricopa Trail Trailhead at Northern Ave.

Take 303 North (right).  

Exit at Northern (next to zoo) and turn left (West).  

Continue on Northern across Citrus Ave until it crosses the Beardsley Canal.  

Park on the left side of the road on the west side of the Canal.  

Trail will be to your right (west).

Friday, March 5, 2021 - Black Canyon Trail – Little Pan Loop/Table Mesa Trailhead ( I-17 Exit 236) Rating B.  EARLY DEPARTURE – Meet at EN at 6:15 am and depart at 6:30 am.  Lynn Warren will lead. This is a 9.6-mile lollipop loop hike with an elevation gain of about 1260 ft.  It covers three segments of the Black Canyon Trail – the Table Mesa, Little Pan, and Williams Mesa segments.  The hike crosses the Agua Fria river twice, so be prepared for water depending on the season you hike it.  It goes through typical rolling desert terrain with distant views of Lake Pleasant.  Trail condition - a good biking trail.  No rest rooms at the trailhead.  No park fee.  Driving distance is 90 miles RT.  https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/BlackCanyonNationalRecreationT/Little-Pan-Segment

Directions to Black Canyon Trail – Table Mesa Trailhead

Take Loop 303 north to I-17. 

Turn left onto I B -17 (north) toward Flagstaff.  

Take exit 236 (Table Mesa Road).

Turn left crossing over I-17, then immediately turn right.

(Pavement ends within a mile; 2.5 miles of unpaved road to the parking area)

Keep right at the first Y (1.2 mi. from I-17--road going left goes into a quarry).

Keep left at the next Y (1.6 mi. from I-17).

Go another 1.9 mi. to a side road on the right (3.5 mi. from I-17).

Turn right on the road and the trailhead parking is immediately on the left.

No restrooms at the trailhead.

Friday, March 5, 2021 - Overton/Go John/Quartz/Flat Rock/Slate Trails Loop (Cave Creek Rec. Area).  Rating C. Ann Rohlman will lead. This is a 6 .6-mile loop on combined trails. Elevation gain:700 ft. Start on the Overton Trail, cross Tonalite Road/parking lot and take the Go John Trail (not the Go John North) to Quartz-turn right on Quartz & then left on Flat Rock. The trail continues out of the park into the Seitts Preserve becoming the Military Trail. Reenter the park by turning right on the Slate Trail. On the Slate Trail, approx. .3 miles after you pass the Quartz trail intersection, there is a strange saguaro on the left named the Michelin Man saguaro.   About .5 miles from the trailhead on the Go John trail (on the left as you hike away from the trailhead, near the junction of the Jasper trail) there is a group of 3 saguaros that look very much like our hiking club logo.  Trail Condition – good hiking trail.  Restrooms are located at the Go John trailhead. Driving distance is 93 miles RT. 

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/organize/CaveCreekRegionalPark/Cave-Creek-Regional-Park/GoJohnOvertonQuartz-and-Variat

Directions to Cave Creek - Overton/Go John Trailheads 

Take Loop 303 to I-17. 

Go North on I-17. Turn right on Hwy 74 (Carefree Highway). 

Turn left onto 32nd Street (sign on right, no light but a left turn lane) and continue into Cave Creek Regional Park.  

There is a $7 fee/car or Maricopa County Pass.   

Continue along the main park road -park at the Nature Center and begin at the left end of the parking lot. There is a restroom further along when you reach the Go John trail.

Saturday, March 6, 2021 - Quail/Rainbow Valley/Toothaker/ Gadsen/ Butterfield/ Rainbow/Quail (Estrella Mtn Regional Park). Rating B. Eileen Lords Mosse or Kris Raczkiewicz will lead. This is an 11.4-mile lollipop hike with an elevation gain of 1140 ft. The trail goes from the Nature Center and wanders through the front portion of EMRP with distant views to the north. It then goes south into more typical desert areas. Trail condition - a very good hiking trail. There are restrooms at trailhead. Park fee is $7.00 per car. Driving distance is 20 miles RT. 

Directions to Estrella Mountain Regional Park – Quail Trailhead 

Turn left onto Pebble Creek Pkw/Estrella Pkw and go to the other side of I-10. 

Turn left onto Vineyard Ave. just across the Gila River. 

Turn right just past the golf course entrance into Estrella Mountain Park. 

Continue straight on Casey Abbott Dr North. 

Turn right at the turn-in to Nature Center. Park at the Nature Center.

Saturday, March 6, 2021 - - Lost Creek/Old Road/Tortuga/ Javalina Trails (Verrado).  Rating C/C+.  Marilyn Reynolds will lead. This is a 7-mile in & out hike with an elevation gain of 1200 ft.  The hike goes through typical desert washes and up to a saddle (or optionally to the peak) of the nearest mountain to Pebble Creek.  No park fee.  No restrooms at the trailhead.  Driving distance is 18 miles RT.  

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountains-Verrado/Javelina-Summit-Loop

Directions to Trailhead at Verrado West 

Go West on Indian School Road. 

Turn left on Acacia Way (just past the high school). 

Turn right on Lost Creek Drive 

Parking for the trailhead is at the end of Lost Creek Drive. 

You walk between the green and a tee on the Raven at Verrado golf course to get to the trailhead. 

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