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 9 hikers to limit potential exposure. This approach is consistent with the PebbleCreek guidance posted on the HOA website that states that no groups of 10 or more are allowed. Multiple hiking groups (of up to 9 each) maybe 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.

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.

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****NOTE TIME CHANGE AND PARKING LOT CHANGE!!!!

A & B Hiekrs meet at EN while C & D hikers meet at TF.

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Thursday B hike is an early departure – meet at 6:15 am.

Monday October 26 – No A hike this week.  See the A hike schedule.

Monday, October 26 - Bajada/National/Alta Trail Loop (South Mountain). Rating B. 9 mi. loop with an elevation gain of about 1860 ft. It is 2.2 miles from the Bajada Trail parking lot to the National Trail, then 1.5 miles to the Alta trailhead, then 1.5 miles and 1,100 ft climb to the summit and then 2.6 miles back to the parking lot. Restrooms are at the Ranger Station. No park fee. Driving distance is 60 miles RT. http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Other-4/Alta-National-Bajada-Trails

Directions to South Mountain Park (North) Main Entrance

Take I-10 east to I-17 south (exit 143B). Exit I-17 at 7th Ave.
Turn right on 7th Ave to Baseline.
Turn left on Baseline to Central Ave. Turn right onto Central Ave. Follow Central into South Mountain Park. Meet at park office / restrooms. Caravan to trailhead.

Mesquite Canyon/Willow Spring trails (White Tank Mountains). Rating

C+.  Tom Wellman leads.  It is a 6.3 to 8.0 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 1100-1500 ft. The basic trail goes to the base of Willow Springs/falls with an option to go around to the top of the waterfall. The trail starts on the Mesquite trail in area #7 just off of Ramada Way. Mile one is very steep and rocky, around 1.8 miles the trail then turns north and drops into Mesquite Canyon and then over a ridge into Willow Canyon. The trail follows the wash up to Willow Springs where the remnants of a cabin, stock tank and corral once stood at the steep walled end of the canyon. The spring usually has some water, though it might be only a trickle. Trail condition - average hiking trail with a couple of steep climbs. Restrooms and water fountain are at the trailhead. Park entrance fee is $7.00 per car. Driving distance

is approx 30 miles RT. [SCG=6.6/1700/3.8].

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Mesquite- Willow-Springs

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).

Mesquite Canyon/Waddell trailhead is at Picnic area #7. Turn left on Waterfall Canyon Rd and then left at the road just past the Waterfall Trail trailhead to find Picnic area #7.

Tuesday, Oct 27 – Turnbuckle-Granite Falls-Chuckwalla Loop Trail  (Skyline Regional Park - Buckeye). Art Solario leads. Rating D+. This is a loop hike of about 4.4 miles with an elevation gain of about 600 ft. This is one of the trails in Buckeye’s Skyline Regional Park. There are great views of the area from the saddle. There are several optional trails to the tops of the ridges. No park fee. Restrooms are at the trailhead. Driving

distance is 30 miles RT.

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Skyline-Park/Skyline-Regional-Park/

Directions to Skyline Regional Park Trailhead

Go West on I-10. Turn north (right) on Watson Road. Drive to the end of road and trailhead parking. Facilities are at the trailhead.

Wednesday, 10-28-2020:  Quartz Trail (McDowell Sonoran Preserve). Rating C/B. Kris or Eileen leading. This is a 7-8.5 mile out and back hike with an elevation gain of 1100-1500 ft. You start out hiking through a neighborhood of nice houses, before starting to climb the mountain. The C version goes up to a quartz outcropping while the B version continues further up the mountain. There are lots of great views of Scottsdale and Phoenix. Trail condition - overall an average hiking trail, but steady uphill going and downhill coming back. No restrooms at the trailhead. There is no park entrance fee. 

Driving distance is 101 miles RT.

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/McDowellSonoranPreserve/Quartz-Trail

Directions to McDowell Sonoran Preserve - Quartz Trailhead

Take Hwy 101 north all the way around to Scottsdale

Exit at Princess/Pima-Bell road (exit #36)

Continue straight through the light to get to Bell Road

Turn east (left) on Bell Road and go approx. 1.4 miles

Turn south (right) onto Thompson Peak Parkway.

Turn left on McDowell Ranch Road.

Turn right into Quartz Trailhead parking.

Wednesday October 28 - Indian Mesa (I-17 at Exit #236) – Rating C+. Kerry Walsh will lead.   This is an in and out hike of 7+ miles with an elevation gain of 1300 ft.  The hike starts out by crossing the Agua Fria River.  If the river is low you can hike along it to the base of Indian Mesa.  If not, once across you go up out of the riverbed and hike parallel to it.  If the lake is full, you will add a mile to the hike to get around a finger of the lake.  You can see Indian Mesa from the parking lot – just look down the road at a flat-topped white stone mesa.  You will probably encounter some of the free-range cattle that wander around along the riverbed. There are lots of views of the riverbed, Lake Pleasant, and the mountain ranges to the west of the lake.  This area is closed from 15 December to 15 June

as a Bald Eagle breeding area. The final 10 feet or so up to the top is very steep, but there are great views even from the saddle 50 feet below the top.  No restrooms at the trailhead.  Park fee is $7.00.  Driving distance is 100 miles RT.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/LakePleasantArea/Indian-Mesa 

Directions to Lake Pleasant East and Indian Mesa Trailhead

Take Loop 303 north to I-17.

Turn left onto I-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; approx. 4 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).

Keep left at the next Y (3.7 mi. from I-17; sign points to Boat Launch).

Pay $7.00 at the self-pay station.

No restrooms at the trailhead.

Thursday October 29 – EARLY DEPARTURE - Blue wash near Cave Creek. Clare Bangs leads a bushwhack hike. Rating B.  Meet at 6:15 am and depart at 6:30 am.  No distance or elevation provided for the B hike.  The C hike at Blue wash is a 7-8 mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 900-1000 ft. It goes down a series of dry waterfalls to an intersection with Camp Creek. Just past the intersection going up the ridgeline is a section of the Maricopa Trail. We take that up to the road. On the return we stay in an interesting wash, which comes out at Camp Creek. Then we go up Camp Creek about a third of a mile to a wet waterfall of about 15 feet. Beyond that the creek stays above ground and meanders through a lush riparian area to a campground. The return goes up the ridge running parallel to Blue Wash, providing views of the whole area. Trail condition – part is in a sandy wash and part is an average trail with one steep section going out of the main wash. No restrooms at the trailhead. There is no park fee. Driving distance is 122 miles RT. 

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/CaveCreekRegionalPark/Cave-Creek-Other

Directions to Cave Creek - Blue Wash/Camp Creek Trailhead 

Take Loop 303 North to I-17. Turn North (left) on I-17. Turn right (east) on Carefree Hwy (Hwy 74) and drive to the end. Turn left on Tom Darlington/Scottsdale Road (just in front of the Boulders Resort) Turn right on Cave Creek Road and continue past the turnoff to Bartlett Reservoir. Drive just over 2 miles past that turnoff. Trailhead will be on the left just past the Blue Wash #1 sign. No restrooms at the trailhead. 

October 29 - Verrado North Trail (White Tank Mountains). Rating D+. Dennis Zigmunt leads. This is a 4.7 mile lollipop loop hike, with 640’ of elevation gain, towards Dead Man’s Pass, then to the Petroglyphs, returning via SOB trail. The first part of the hike is rather flat then you parallel a wash and follow it up to a point that will give you nice views of the west side of the White Tank Mountains. Good hiking trails. No facilities at the trailhead. No park fee. Driving distance is 18 miles RT. GAIA map. 

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.

Friday October 30 – Granite Dells, Constellation & Willow Lake Dells (Prescott). Rating B. This is an 8-mile multi-loop hike with an elevation gain of about 1000 ft. Lynn Warren leads. It is a scenic hike in the Granite Dells with lots of rock formations and views of the lake with Granite Mt. in the distance. There are lots of great views of the Granite Dells rock formations as well as Willow Lake and the mountains of Prescott. There are a couple of “fat man’s pass” like cuts through the rocks as well as a bridge across a portion of the rock formations. Trail condition - much of the trail is on granite boulders (they use white paint to park the trail) and there are many short hills to go up over and down. No park fee on Wednesdays. There is a restroom at the trailhead. Driving distance is 223 miles RT.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Prescott-1/Constellation

Directions to Prescott - Constellation Trails 

Drive North on Loop 303 to I-17. Take I-17 north to Cordes Junction, Exit 262. Turn North (left) on SR 69 to Prescott. Turn right on Fain Road. Take Exit 317 then left on SR 89. Turn right into the trailhead parking lot. Restroom at the trailhead. No park fee on Wednesdays.

Friday, Oct 30th - Black Canyon Trail – Bob Bentley Segment & Boy Scout Loop (Emory Henderson Trailhead - New River). Rating C+.  Ann Rohlman leads. This is an 8 mile lollipop loop hike, with an elevation gain of 800 ft. There is lots of vegetation with numerous types of cactus. Wildflowers would be abundant after good winter rains. Trail condition - a good hiking trail. There are restrooms at the trailhead. No park fee. Driving distance is 74 miles RT.

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/BlackCanyonNationalRecreationT/BCT-Bob-BentleySegment-Emery-Henderson-TH

Directions to Black Canyon Trail – Emory Henderson Trailhead 

Go left (west) on Indian School to Loop 303. 

Turn right (north) on 303 to Lake Pleasant Road. 

Turn left (north) on Lake Pleasant Road to Hwy 74. 

Turn left for 1 block and then right onto New River Rd. 

Drive for about 6 miles and turn left at the Emory Henderson Trailhead sign. 

Restrooms are at the trailhead.

Saturday October 31 -Rainbow Valley/Toothaker/Pederson/Gadsden/Butterfield Loop (Estrella Mountains).  Rating B. Kris or Eileen will lead. This is a 9.6 mile loop beginning on the west side of the rodeo. The Rainbow Valley trail is wide and relatively flat (320 ft elev. change). It intersects the Toothaker Trail. Turn right onto the Toothaker Trail to the Pedersen Trail. Turn left on the Pedersen Trail.  Turn left on the Gadsden Trail, then right on the Butterfield trail and head back to the rodeo. A restroom is at the trailhead.  Park entrance fee is $7.00 per car.  Driving distance is approx 20 miles RT.

http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EstrellaMountainRegionalPark/Rainbow-Toothaker-Gadsen 

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.

Saturday October 31 - Dog Bone  Airport Road Trailhead Hikes (Buckeye).  Rating C. Marilyn Reynolds leads.  This is an in and out hikes of 7 miles & 800 ft elevation.   The Dog Bone trail system is a sister bike trail system to FINS.  These hikes are in the far eastern section of the system.  While the overall hike is through typical desert terrain, there are several interesting rock formations as well as views of the surrounding mountains.   The first 2 miles are on open desert with a gradual incline to a saddle with a quartz outcropping.  The C hike then continues for another 1.5 miles across the side of the mountain to a field of quartz.  Trail condition – typical desert trail.   No restrooms at the trailhead.  No park fee.  Driving distance is 32 miles RT. 

https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Buckeye-Dog-Bone-Trails/C-Exploratory-HikeDog-Bone-EastLynnW2018-2019/ 

Directions to Dog Bone – Airport Road Trailhead (Buckeye) 

Drive south on Pebble Creek Pkwy for 9.3 miles and turn right (west) at Elliot Rd.  

Continue on Elliott Rd for 2.6 miles and turn left (south) onto Rainbow Valley Rd.  

Drive 2 miles on Rainbow Valley Road and turn right (west) on Ray Road. 

Drive 2 miles and veer right as the road turns (and changes name to Airport road. 

Drive 100 yards and turn left into a dirt parking area just this side of a dirt road going left. 

Park here.  Hike down the dirt road for .25 miles and turn right on the trail.