Please do not hike if you are sick or not feeling well.  You will avoid infecting others and your body needs rest to get well. 

Click here for our COVID 19 guidelines.

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Hikes for the Week of June 1.

All hikes Meet at 5:45 am Depart at 6 am

Monday: Estrella Mt. Regional Park Rating C

Wayne Wills will lead a C hike in the Estrella Mt. Regional Park. 7.6 miles, 800 ft. Elevation gain. We are going on Toothaker/Gadsen/Butterfield loop. 

Approx 7 miles, out and back, with an elevation gain of 750 ft. We will follow the trail to a large wash, and parallel the wash for 2 miles or so. The trail is relatively flat, with long views of the Estrella Mountains and valley to the East & West. There are foothills to the left and larger mountains to the right as you travel east on the Gadsden Trail. Porta-Johns are located at trailheads. Park fee is $7.00 per car. Driving distance is 20 miles RT.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EstrellaMountainRegionalPark/Coldwater-GadsdenButterfield

Directions to Estrella Mountain Regional Park - Toothaker/Rainbow TH

Turn left out the main gate onto Pebble Creek/Estrella Pkw (south) South of I-10, turn left onto Vineyard Ave. just across the Gila River. Turn right into Estrella Mtn Park and pay park fee of $7.00 per vehicle. Drive around the park to the left.

Trailheads and rest rooms are on the far (West) side of rodeo arena.

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Monday: Estrella Foothills Community Park. Rating B. Marilyn will lead hikers on a 9-mile, 1200 ft. loop on the following combination of trails: SR, PA, JR, QAR, UY, BJ, UT, GU, UY, GR, RR, PA, SR.

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Estrella-Foothills Photos

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Estrella-Foothills/i-S2vrfMP Maps

Directions to Estrella Foothills Park - High School Trailhead (26 miles RT)

Turn left out the main gate onto Pebble Creek Pkwy (south), which becomes Estrella Pkwy on the other side of I-10. 

Continue into and through the Estrella Mountain development. 

Turn left into the parking lot just before the Estrella Foothills High School building. 

Park at the far end of the parking Lot. 

Restrooms are on the left by the ballpark.  No park fee.

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Tuesday, 6/2/20. RATING D 

White Tanks Reg Park. D+ rating. Sonoran Loop, mid length including the Technical Section. 5.3 miles and about 400’ of elevation gain.

Sonoran Loop - Competitive Track - Short Version (White Tank
Mountains). Rating D. This is a 4.2 mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 250 ft. This is a one-way competitive bike trail with a few ups and downs through washes. The high point gives you nice views back to the east. A short detour on the second half of the hike takes you to a Crested Saguaro. There’s a porta-john at the trailhead. There is a $7.00 park entrance fee. Driving distance is approx 30 miles RT.http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Sonoran- Loop http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Competitive- Loop
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.
Park fee is $7.00/car for all trailheads (except from the library which is $2.00 per hiker).
Restrooms are at the trailhead for each of the hikes (inside the library for the hikes from the library).
Sonoran Loop Trail is at the end of the main road, slightly right off the end of the paved road. The restroom on this hike is a porta-john.

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Wednesday, June 3rd Wayne McKinney will lead a C hike from Estrella Star tower. 6.5-7 miles.  

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Wednesday: Brown’s Mt/Cathedral Rock/Balanced Rock Loop (McDowell Sonoran Preserve).  Rating B. This is an 11.3-mile loop with an elevation gain of 950 ft.  There are great views of the surrounding mountains (Weaver’s Needle, Four Peaks, Tom’s Thumb, etc.) as well as great rock formations along the trail. There is a nice restroom at the trailhead (it is Scottsdale) and no park fee.  Trail condition - great hiking trail.  

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/McDowellSonoranPreserve/Cathedral-Rock Photos

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/McDowell-Sonoran-Preserve/i-sMqPSnf Map 

Directions to MSP - Brown’s Ranch Trailhead (100 miles RT) 

Take Loop 303 North and drive to I-17. 

Turn left (North) on I-17. 

Stay right and immediately take exit 222 going right onto Dove Valley Road. 

Follow Dove Valley Road about 10 mi. (name changes to Sonoran Desert Drive). 

Take Cave Creek Road North (left). 

Turn right at first light on Dynamite Blvd (later changes to Rio Verde). 

Turn left on Alma School Road; road dead ends at the trailhead. 

There are restrooms at the trailhead.

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Thursday, 6/4/20.  RATING D EXPLORATORY. Maricopa Trail at FINS from Westar entrance to and maybe beyond Rainbow Valley Road. 4-6 miles and minimal elevation gain. I believe this is part of the planned extension of the trail to Buckeye Reg Rec Area.

Directions to FINS - Fantasy Island Trailhead

Turn left out the main gate onto Pebble Creek Pkwy (south), which becomes Estrella Pkwy on the other side of I-10.

Continue for approx. 12.5 miles from Eagle’s Nest.
Turn right on West Westar Drive.
Go approx. 1.1 mi. and turn left into the parking lot (this turn is easy to miss so turn just before a one-level concrete maint building; there is also a tall steel tower for power lines).
No restrooms. No park fee.

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Friday, June 5 Rating C

 Dave Schuldt will lead C hike in Estrella Mt. Regional Park by the PIR Racetrack. Going on Junior and technical loops. 6.5 mile hike with about 400 ft elevation.

Competitive Track – Technical Loop (Estrella Mountains). Rating C. This is
a 6 mile double loop hike. The trail meanders through typical desert terrain with many bushes and Saguaro cactus. There is a porta-john at the
trailhead. Trail condition - average hiking trail. Park fee is $7.00. Driving distance is 26 miles RT.
https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EstrellaMountainRegionalPark

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 Ave
Turn left on Indian Springs Road

At the fence that begins the parking for PIR turn right Follow signs to trails
Pay park fee of $7.00 per vehicle at the self pay station Continue on to the parking on the right.

There is a porta-john at the trailhead.

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Friday: Hawes Loop Trail, Granite Reef Rec Area (Usery Mountain Park).  Rating B.  This is an 11.7-mile, 1700 ft. elevation gain hike with a variety of interesting views.  Most of the hike provides views of Red Mountain, the Granite Reef Dam and the park. Over the first 3 miles, the trail slowly rises about 400 ft through typical desert brush. Around the 5.4 mile point you will pass several large mansions.  There are many large Saguaros in the center of the park which form a large bowl and the trail generally wanders around the edge of the bowl. There is a chance of seeing wild horses on this hike since the parking area is next to the Salt River.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/UseryMountainRegionalPark/Hawes-Loop-Trail Photos

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/UseryMountainRegionalPark/Hawes-Loop-Trail/B-HikeUsery-Mts-Hawes-LoopLynnW2019-2020/i-pPHJtX8 Map/GPS Track

Directions to Hawes Loop Trail (100 miles RT)     

I-10 HOV east to Rt 202E (HOV left exit) 

Rt 202E to Power Rd exit, turn left (North). 

Go about 2 miles to bottom of the hill and turn left into Granite Reef Rec Area. 

Free with Senior Pass; restrooms in the park area. 

The trail starts across the street, about 100 feet north of entrance to parking lot. 

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Saturday, June 6  RATING C

Marilyn Reynolds will lead a C hike in Estrella Mountain Regional Park (by race track) - Desert Rose to Gadsen and return. 6 to 7 miles and 850 ft elevation  (Dana had 6.2 miles & 500 ft elevation the last time he did that hike so could extend on Gadsen).Desert Rose to Gadsden Trail – (Estrella Mountain Regional Park). Rating C/D. This is a 5 to 7 mile in-and-out hike with an elevation gain of 800 ft. The trail meanders through typical desert terrain with many bushes and Saguaro cactus. There is no restroom at the trailhead. Trail condition - average hiking trail. Park fee is $7.00. Driving distance is 26 miles RT.

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EstrellaMountainRegionalPark/Desert-RoseGadsden

Directions to Estrella Mountain Regional Park – Desert Rose Trailhead

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 Ave
Turn left on Indian Springs Road

At the fence that begins the parking for PIR turn right
Follow signs to trails
Pay park fee of $7.00 per vehicle at the self pay station
Angle right immediately after the self-pay station into the open parking area. Drive across at a 45 degree angle – there is a trail sign indicating the trailhead. No restrooms are at the trailhead.