January 27, 2017 - Catalina State Park - 50 Year Trail and Other Trails

  

The hikers of the Short Hike took various trails at Catalina State Park. This hike crossed the stream three times. The rain last week filled the stream beds and it was a challenge to get across some areas. The large saguaro cactus, mountain ranges, lush vegetation, stream beds and washes make this hike fun and varied. 








  






  

  


The data from the hike showed that the trail the Long Hikers took was 8.7 miles. This hike is very pleasant and scenic. The view of the mountains in the background, large saguaro cactus and the washes provide diversity and a variety of experiences. Horses from Pusch Ridge Stables are seen frequently on this trail. The horses needed to ford the streams, just like the hikers. After the rain last week the streams were high and it was sometimes difficult to know the best place to cross.

 

 

  

   

 

Directions:

Catalina State Park 

From I-10 and Florence Blvd. go south on I-10. At Exit 240 go east on Tangerine Rd. to Oracle Rd, (Hwy 77). Turn right (south) less than a mile turn left at the light into Catalina State Park.  $6 entrance fee required. Proceed easterly to the trail head.   32°25’30.60”N  110°54’29.82”W

January 20, 2017 - Romero Pools - Long Hike or Sutherland Trail - Short Hike in Catalina State Park

This hike is postponed for a week due to the forecast of rain. Then it was too wet to go the next week. 

Catalina State Park

Romero Pools or Sutherland Trail

From I-10 and Florence Blvd. go south on I-10. At Exit 240 go east on Tangerine Rd. to Oracle Rd, (Hwy 77). Turn right (south) less than a mile turn left at the light into Catalina State Park.  $6 entrance fee required. Proceed easterly to the trail head.   32°25’30.60”N  110°54’29.82”W

About 60 mi.    

Longer hike - Romero Pools. The hike starts by crossing the wash east of the parking area, and is easy for the first half mile, then becomes a steep, rocky trail to the ridge. The ridge has beautiful rock formations and great views. Gentler climbing until dropping down to the stream crossing at Romero Pools.  5.6 miles.  1046’ elev. gain   B+,  5  hrs.

Shorter hike - Sutherland Trail.  The hike begins at the north side of the parking area and goes 2.6 mi. to the Trail Link junction. There are some very scenic spots along the trail with the mountains towering above and some rather lush vegetation and interesting rock formations to add to the interest. Lunch at a large flat rock with a creek running by it.  642’ elev. gain  C,  5.4 mi.

January 13, 2017 - Go John/Overton Trail Hike - Cave Creek Regional Park

As we drove to the Cave Creek Park we noticed a horse corral so we were not surprised to see that this trail was also used for trail rides. The signs indicated at it was also open to bicycles and dogs.

Our hike started on the east side of the visitor's center where the whole group walked toward the upper parking area on the Overton trail.

The longer hike broke off from the group by crossing the parking lot to the Go John Trail to the east. The trail is flat at the beginning and starts to climb, then the trail enters a low area or draw which is the Apache Wash. The trail then ventures upward to a saddle. We followed the trail as it climbs up to areas of jutting rock formations and then lead us to another saddle toward views of other mountains and residential areas. The trail then winds down into a draw where paloverde trees are plentiful. We went right onto Overton Trail which climbs to a saddle. The scenery changes it opens up and we saw our trail as it zig-zags back and forth across the landscape. We hiked along a ridge where there are views of tabletop vistas in the distance. This trail leads down into a stream bed where the area remains moist. We climb again and walk along a mountain ridge. As we wind our way back to the parking lot at the visitor’s center where the slopes are covered with brittlebush.

The shorter hike went left and onto the Go John Trail going clockwise. See the map.

  

  
  
 

  

   

 

  

The long trail hikers

  

 

 

Directions:

Take I-10 north. In 33 mi. take exit 161, 202 loop east, then 4.1 mi. to exit 50A 101 north. Continue north for  27.3 mi. to exit 34, Scottsdale Rd. Continue north on Scottsdale Rd. 9.8 mi, then go left onto Carefree Highway.  Follow this Hwy 4.9 mi. to 32nd street and turn right. Proceed on this road to the Cave Creek Regional Park entrance and pay the $6.00 per vehicle entrance fee. Proceed to the visitor’s center and park in the SW corner of the lot. We start the hike from the back of the visitor’s center.

     

Longer hike:  Go John & Overton trails loop,  C+,  6.1 mi.

Short hike:  Shortcut Go John & Overton trails lollypop loop,   C-,  5 mi.

82 mi.      Suggest reimburse driver $10.00 each.

              

Facilities at trailhead: Visitor’s Center, restrooms, water, ample parking

January 5, 2017 - Baby Jesus Trail - North of Catalina State Park

This is a loop hike at the base of the Catalina Mountains that is very scenic and passes some very interesting rock formations and vegetation. It climbs and loops around through 180 degrees, crossing two major washes and several minor ones before meeting up with the main Baby Jesus trail. That trail leads back to the trailhead, in a fairly direct line, closing the loop. It has a climb of 1024 feet (Peter's notes).

Directions

Take I-10 east to exit 240, Tangerine Road, and turn left. Follow this to the end and turn left onto Oracle Road. Go 3.9 miles to Golder Ranch Road and turn right. Follow this road through a stop sign and over a bridge to where the pavement stops. Just past this point there is a cattle guard. Go over that and immediately turn left onto North Equestrian Road. There is a parking area here  that is used for a staging area for mountain bikers. Follow north on North Equestrian Road for .5 miles to a corral on your right. Turn right here and go around the north end of the corral. (Cars can park here and hitch a ride in the back of a pickup.)  Continue on a rough jeep road suitable only for high clearance vehicles to a parking area.  69 mi.  Home about 3:30

Coordinates: 32ۤ°28’54.34”N  110°53’12.05”W  69 Miles from Casa Grande

December 30, 2016 - Butcher Jones Trail

A Scenic Lakeside Hike

GPS Map of the Hiking Trail

Who was this trail named after? The answer is on this website below.
Asked & Answered: Who was Butcher Jones?

Directions:

Saguaro Lake, Butcher Jones Trail.

From I-10 and Florence Blvd. Continue Northwest on I-10. Exit right onto the Loop 202. Continue on 202 as it turns north. Stay in center lanes to go past the Hwy 60 exits, then right to take Exit 28, Broadway eastbound (right). Move to the left lane on Broadway and turn left on Ellsworth Rd. Ellsworth will become Usery Pass Rd. Continue for about 8 ½ miles to Bush Hwy. Turn right on Bush Hwy for about 6 mi., past the road to the marina, up the hill, then turn right at Butcher Jones Recreation area. Go 2 mi. to the picnic area and trailhead. There are pit toilets here. Fee required. See Skip for a pass.   C,   5 mi.