About Us
Club Information
President Neal Wring PCHCP@gmail.com
VP Nancy Love PCHCVP@gmail.com
Treasurer Ron Hoffman PCHCTreas@gmail.com
Secretary Laurie Rosenbloom PCHCSecr@gmail.com
SMUGMUG: To see pictures of our various hikes around Phoenix and beyond, visit SmugMug. See a Club Officer to get the secret password. https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com
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MILEAGE STATS
WEEKLY HIKING SCHEDULE: DECEMBER 5TH-11TH
All Hikes leave from Eagle's Nest Parking Lot at 7AM. Please check individual hikes for any unusual start times.
DATE: Monday, December 5, 2022
HIKE: B Hike - Spur Cross Ranch CA - Elephant Mountain via Lime Kiln Trail.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Bill Halte
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 10 mile counter clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 1800 feet. The hike starts out on the Spur Cross trail leading into the North Road #48 trail at the drossing into the Tonto national forest. Turn left onto the Limestone Trail #252 and follow the trail past Limestone Spring and Page Spring. Continue past the Tortuga trail junction and then join the Elephant Mountain loop and climb to the Elephant Mountain saddle. At the saddle there is an optional trail to the left leading steeply up to native american ruins (the walls of the settlement are visible from the saddle). Additionally above the saddle there is a rock formation that looks like a Buffalo. Continue on the Elephant Mountain Trail downhill to the junction with Spur Cross Trail and follow back to the starting point of the hike.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Spur Cross Trailhead TRAILS: Spur Cross #4, National Forest Trails #48, Limestone Trail #252, Elephant Mountain Trail, Spur Cross Trail #4
FEES AND FACILITIES: Park fee is $3 per person or free with a Maricopa Park Pass (up to five hikers per pass). Portajohns .25 mile from trailhead on spur cross trail.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Cave Creek Spur Cross Trailhead Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North following it until it ends at I17. Go north on I 17 to second exit Highway 74. Turn right on Highway 74 (Carefree Highway). Turn left (north) on Cave Creek Road (approximately 9.5 miles watch for road after 53rd). Turn left (north) on Spur Road (main road veers left). Go 4.5 miles (1.5 is gravel) to the parking area on the right. Walk down the road .1 miles and pay. DRIVING DISTANCE: 110 miles
URL PHOTOS: http://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/SpurCrossRanchConservationArea/Elephant-Mountain-Trail
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4amRnCq1HxxtwfAVCC
PCHC TRAIL ID: 49
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $8
DATE: Monday, December 5, 2022
HIKE: C Hike - Spur Cross Ranch CA - Metate, Spur Cross, Fairy Duster, Dragonfly.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Ron Hoffman
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 7.5 mile clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. The trail crosses Cave Creek a few times (using wooden planks or rock hopping). The Metate Trail goes through a forest of very large saguaros. The Spur Cross Trail goes for a couple of miles through typical desert terrain. The Dragonfly Trail goes through a riparian area known for its many bird species. Trail condition: overall an average hiking trail with a couple of stony creek crossings.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Metate Trailhead TRAILS: Spur Cross, Metate, Fairy Duster, Dragonfly
FEES AND FACILITIES: Park fee is $3 per person or free with a Maricopa Park Pass (up to five hikers per pass). Portajohns .25 mile from trailhead on spur cross trail.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North following it until it ends at I17. Go north on I17 to second exit Highway 74. Turn right on Highway 74 (Carefree Highway). Turn left (north) on Cave Creek Road (approximately 9.5 miles watch for road after 53rd). Turn left (north) on Spur Cross Road (main road veers left). Go 4.5 miles (1.5 is gravel) to the parking area on the right. Walk down the road .1 miles and pay. DRIVING DISTANCE: 110 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/SpurCrossRanchConservationArea/Metate-Dragonfly-Trails
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Spur-Cross-Conservation-Area/
PCHC TRAIL ID: 199
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $8
DATE: Tuesday, December 6, 2022
HIKE: D Hike - Estrella Mountain Ranch - Fantasy Island North Singletrack (FINS) North Circuit Version 1.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dana Thomas
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 4.1 mile double loop hike with an elevation gain of 460 feet. The hike is on several trails of the FINS bike trails system. The trails meander through several desert hills with many rock formations. There are also a couple of interesting areas: an enchanted forest of stuffed animals and a boneyard of dozens of cow bones. Trail condition: overall, this is a good biking trail.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Fantasy Island Trailhead TRAILS: entry trail, Eileens Entry, Joeys Jaunt,Spent Spade (Enchanted Forest), Marcs Meander exit, Garys Way, Exposure (no sign), Hikers Hiway, Spent Spade, Harvs Howl, Stones Throne, exit trail
FEES AND FACILITIES: No restrooms at the trailhead. No park fees.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to FINS Fantasy Island TrailheadHead south on PebbleCreek Parkway, which becomes Estrella Parkway on the other side of I10. Continue for approximately 12.5 miles. Turn right on West Westar Drive. Go approximately 1.1 miles and turn left into the parking lot (this turn is easy to miss so turn just before a onelevel concrete maintenance building; there is also a tall steel tower for power lines). DRIVING DISTANCE: 27 miles
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Estrella-Mountain-Ranch/i-Vg6v3Jr/A
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4am1sh1RzL1We_9Buh
PCHC TRAIL ID: 194
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
HIKE: B Hike - Black Canyon NRT - Government Springs to Antelope Hill.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Kris Raczkiewicz or Eileen Lords Mosse
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 10.8 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 1200 feet. This hike goes up to the top of the ridgeline near Crown King. The first couple of miles wander through the desert with little elevation change. It then follows the contours of several interesting canyons as it rises up to the top of the plateau. Lots of expansive views of a valley surprisingly devoid of development even though its only a couple of miles from I17.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Government Spring Trailhead TRAILS: Government Springs to Antelope Hill
FEES AND FACILITIES: No park fees. No rest rooms. Sunset Point Rest Area is 4 miles further up I17 with easy return.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Black Canyon Trail Government Spring Trailhead Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left), then take Loop 303 North and follow until it ends at I17. Turn left onto I17 North toward Flagstaff. Take exit 248 (Bumble Bee). Turn west (left), crossing I17. Drive about 10 miles (the last 8 are on a wellmaintained dirt road) Turn right into an unpaved parking area near an old water tank. DRIVING DISTANCE: 130 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/BlackCanyonNationalRecreationT/Government-Springs
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Black-Canyon-Trail/
PCHC TRAIL ID: 394
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $9
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
HIKE: C Hike - Estrella Foothills - Cairn Canyon Loop.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Kerry Walsh
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 6.4 mile counter clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 600 feet. The hike starts at the parking lot of the Estrella Foothills High School and goes through several washes and up over a couple of saddles. The hike is in typical desert terrain.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Estrella High School Trailhead TRAILS: Sunrise, Park Avenue, Rumrunner, Grasky, Up There, Skallywag, Pirates Cove, Jump Line, Sunrise
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms are on the left by the ballpark. No park fee.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Estrella Foothills Park High School TrailheadHead south on PebbleCreek Parkway which becomes Estrella Parkway on the other side of I10. 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. DRIVING DISTANCE: 27 miles
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Estrella-Foothills/i-kD4TBbW/A
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4anHSItIejVrVYaC1D
PCHC TRAIL ID: 586
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 2022
HIKE: B Hike - Superstition Mountains - Praying Hands, Hidden Canyon, Massacre Falls Loop.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Lynn Warren
DESCRIPTION: This hike is an 8.9 mile counter clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 2000 feet. You start on Jacobs Crosscut Trail for one mile, passing through typical desert terrain with lots of saguaros and jumping cholla. Then turn left (uphill) on Trail 56. Up the hill past a rock cropping is a bench at the junction with a trail going left. This is the Praying Hands Trail and will pass to the right of the lower rock outcropping known as Praying Hands. There are several winding trails that get you up to the saddle, so take any of them that head toward Praying Hands. There are great views of the valley and various rock formations as you travel along the trail. Once you get past the Praying Hands rock formation, the trail is marked by cairns. Massacre Falls will appear around the 6 mile point off to the right. After stopping at the falls, you take the trail angling right back down the mountain to the trailhead. Trail condition: the first and last thirds are good hiking surfaces, with the middle third a boulder covered bushwhack.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Crosscut Trailhead TRAILS: Jacobs Crosscut #58, Praying Hands Trail #56, Massacre Falls Trail
FEES AND FACILITIES: There are no restrooms (though you can go 1.5 miles further up the road to the 1st Water trailhead which has restrooms and then return to the trailhead). No park fee from this trailhead.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Superstitions Crosscut Trailhead Head south on PebbleCreek Parkway to I10. Go east on I10. Exit onto Loop 202 East (carpool lane exit is on left). Turn left on Brown Road to Apache Trail (Highway 88). (Brown Road changes to Lost Dutchman Boulevard in Pinal County). Turn left onto Apache Trail (Highway 88) and go past Lost Dutchman State Park to FS 78 (near mile marker 201). Turn right and follow this dirt road approximately 1 mile. Parking for the Crosscut trailhead is on the right. The Praying Hands hike heads straight out on the Crosscut trail. The Massacre Falls hike heads off to the left, right in front of the parking area. DRIVING DISTANCE: 122 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/SuperstitionWilderness/Massacre-Falls-Trail
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Superstition-Wilderness-/i-8R7GMJS/A
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4al2SLC8ZXU7wwvPNf?e=M6mvTk
PCHC TRAIL ID: 565
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $9
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 2022
HIKE: D Challenge Hike - McDowell SP - Latigo, Dare A Sarah.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dennis Zigmunt
REASON FOR CHALLENGE: D hike rating exceeded: Mileage.
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 5.2 mile counter clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 500 feet. The hike originates at the Pima/Dynamite Trailhead and has excellent trails. The trail passes an excellent example of a crested saguaro early in the hike. This newly opened trailhead offers hikes through a boulder studded desert environment with many interesting rock formations.
TRAILHEAD NAME: PimaDynamite Trailhead TRAILS: Latigo, Dare A Sarah
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms at Trailhead. No park fee
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: McDowell Sonoran Preserve PimaDynamite Trailhead Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road. Turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North until it ends at I17. Turn left (north) on I17. Stay right and immediately take exit 222 going right onto Dove Valley Road. Follow Dove Valley Road about 10 miles (name changes to Sonoran Desert Drive). Take Cave Creek Road North (left). Turn right at first light on Dynamite Boulevard. Cross Pima Road, trailhead driveway a short distance on the left. DRIVING DISTANCE: 85 miles
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/McDowell-Sonoran-Preserve/i-QMFkJ3K
PCHC TRAIL ID: 710
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $7
DATE: Friday, December 9, 2022
HIKE: B Hike - Estrella MRP - Quail, Rainbow, Toothaker, Gadsden, ColdWater, Dysart, Toothaker, Rainbow, Quail.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Eileen Lords Mosse
DESCRIPTION: This hike is an 11.5 mile counter clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 1300 feet. The trail goes from the Nature Center and follows Quail and Rainbow to the junction with Toothaker. Turn right on Toothaker to the junction with Gadsden. Turn left on Gadsden then left on Coldwater. Continue on Coldwater to the junction with Dysart. Turn left on Dysart and then right onto Toothaker and then left on Rainbow. At the junction with the Quail Trail, turn right and head back to the Visitor Center.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Estrella Nature Center for Quail Trailhead TRAILS: Quail, Rainbow, Toothaker, Gadsden, ColdWater, Dysart, Toothaker, Rainbow, Quail
FEES AND FACILITIES: Portajohn at the Quail trailhead. Parking fee of $7.00 per vehicle.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Estrella Mountain Regional Park Quail Trailhead. Drive south on PebbleCreek which becomes Estrella Parkway south of I10. Turn left onto Vineyard Avenue just across the Gila River. Turn right just past the golf course entrance into Estrella Mountain Regional Park. Pay the park fee. Continue straight then right into the Visitor Center parking lot. DRIVING DISTANCE: 20 miles
PCHC TRAIL ID: 644
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Friday, December 9, 2022
HIKE: C Challenge Hike - Eagletails Wilderness - Arches Loop.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dennis Zigmunt
REASON FOR CHALLENGE: C hike rating exceeded: Bushwhacking.
DESCRIPTION: This hike is an 8 mile clockwise loop hike with an elevation gain of 700 feet. The highlight of this hike is the 6+ arches you can see along the way. But there are also many great rock formations to see. Trail condition: only the last mile or so of the hike is on a trail. Iit is mostly open desert crossing many washes; the main wash you ascend is boulder hopping or loose rocky soil.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Mostly cross country hiking with the final 1 to 2 miles on an old jeep trail
TRAILHEAD NAME: Ben Avery Trailhead TRAILS: No Named Trails
FEES AND FACILITIES: There are no facilities at the trailhead and no park fees.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Head south on PebbleCreek Parkway. Go west (right) on I10 to Exit 81 (Salome Road). Turn south (left) across I10. Turn right on Harquahala Valley Road and go 6.0 miles. Turn right on Centennial, a straight dirt road (to the left is Courthouse Road). Go 7.0 miles to a 3way intersection (BLM Wilderness sign on the left). Take the right fork, which parallels a natural gas pipeline. Go 4.0 miles. This road may be quite rutted and require a high clearance vehicle. There is a BLM Wilderness sign off to the left about 50 feet. Turn left and go 1.5 miles to trailhead. The last .4 miles definitely requires a high clearance vehicle, but you can park on the side and hike to the trailhead, adding .8 miles to the total hike. The final 12.5 miles is on dirt roads and the roads are good until the last 5 1/2 miles. DRIVING DISTANCE: 130 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/EagletailMountainsWildernessAr/Eagletail-Mountains-Arches/C-HikeEagletail-ArchesLynnW2017-2018
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/Eagletail-Mountains-Wilderness-Area/i-77gMj25
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4alzxaIpKYL4Wp8ubb?e=flUWp4
PCHC TRAIL ID: 701
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $9
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 2022
HIKE: B Hike - White Tank MRP - Mule Waterfall B hike.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Kris Raczkiewicz or Eileen Lords Mosse
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 10 mile double loop hike with an elevation gain of 875 feet. This hike begins at the library and proceeds south to hike a small loop of Mule Trail. Returning back to the library, proceeding on Mule, then left on Old Stable Rd. Turn right onto Bajada, following it into Mule Deer (MD). Go left on MD to R4, cross the road and take a left onto Black Rock (long) to the Waterfall. Returning on Mesquite, proceed east to the Wildlife trail and returning back on Mule.
TRAILHEAD NAME: Mule Deer Trailhead at Library TRAILS: Mule Deer, Old Stable Rd, Bajada, Black Rock, Waterfall, Mesquite, Wildlife
FEES AND FACILITIES: Restrooms at the library and Ramadas 3 and 4. Park fee is $7.00 per car for all trailheads (except from the library which is $2.00 per hiker).
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to White Tank Mountains Regional Park Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North (right). Exit at Northern (next to zoo) and turn left (West). Turn right on Cotton. Turn left on Olive and follow it towards the park gate. Just before the park entrance kiosk, turn right into the parking lot for the Nature Center and Library. From the parking lot, take the sidewalk on the left of the building. Trail goes off the end of of the sidewalk on the left of the building. DRIVING DISTANCE: 24 miles
URL PHOTOS: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/WhiteTankMountainRegionalPark/Mule-Deer-Waterfall
URL MAP: https://pchikingclub.smugmug.com/Trail-Maps/White-Tank-Mountain-Regional-Park/
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4am3tcfRvVF7rLlGFx
PCHC TRAIL ID: 638
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 2022
HIKE: C Hike - Maricopa Trails - Trilby East Long Route.
REGULAR START TIME: 7:00 AM
HIKE LEADER: Dennis Zigmunt
DESCRIPTION: This hike is a 7 mile in and out hike with an elevation gain of 200 feet. This hike proceeds northeast paralleling the Loop 303 freeway and the McMicken Dam flood control structure on a good hiking trail. You will pass a derelict large home (available for purchase) and two water treatment plants. If you would like a tour of one just drop in at the first and ask—very interesting, if a little stinky
TRAILHEAD NAME: No Named Trailhead. Refer to Driving Directions. TRAILS: Trilby East
FEES AND FACILITIES: No restroom at the trail head
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: to Trilby East Head north on PebbleCreek Parkway to Indian School Road, turn west (left) and take Loop 303 North to Grand Avenue, turn left (west), then turn right on 163nd Avenue, turn right just past the RR tracks then right again to a parking area along the canal DRIVING DISTANCE: 27 miles
URL GPX: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AgywFpJqBF4amlY4goPJV77qLXbB
PCHC TRAIL ID: 748
SUGGESTED DRIVER DONATION: $2