UP-DATE

Day Hikes & Trail Rides

In and Around Phoenix

by Roger & Ethel Freeman

Second Edition, 2000. Gem Guides Publishing Co., Baldwin Park, CA 91706

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January 2003 Up-date

Errors

Appendix B: Resources: Lost Dutchman phone area code is 480, not 520.

The new address of Maricopa County Parks, Recreation & Library Dept is: 411 N Central, Phoenix 85004. The phone number remains 602-506-2930.

Map numbers: on p. 204, it should read 23, not 22; on p. 220, it should read 25-26, and on p. 234, 26.

On p. 69: At 2.07 mi, the Perl Charles Trail [PC] goes left (not right); the Nature and Circumference Trails go right.

Up-Dates

South Mountain. Note that Las Lomitas (correct in the book) reads incorrectly "Los Lomitas" on some signs on the trail. The short trails near the Interpretive Center leading toward Las Lomitas Loop and Hideout Loop are still quite confusing; many trails of use have no signposts.

Cave Creek Recreation Area. The short section of the Overton Trail that left and then re-entered the park area has been re-routed to stay within it. There have been other changes. The old mine trail (black on the map) from its junction with the Clay Mine Trail [C] has been deleted. [See new map available at the park.]

Estrella. On p. 157, there is a number missing on the left; it should read 1.46. The Rainbow Valley Trail [A], Segment 5 (pp. 157-158), has been changed since the original description (It is now the Pedersen Trail]. Its route from 5.58 mi is circuitous and at times unclear; it is easy to become lost. The total distance of Segment 5 should now be 8.15 miles, not 8.97. (It is slated for revision.) The northeast segment of the Gadsden Trail [C] has been revised and sign-posted; the end of [B] has been deleted. The Pack Saddle Trail name has vanished. [A-2] and the loop of [A] near the park entrance have been disconnected from the loop to the south and renamed the Gila Trail. [D-1] is now the Dysart Trail. [See the new park map for these complex changes.]

Lost Dutchman. A new Lost Gold Mine Trail leads from near the south end of Jacob’s Crosscut 0.63 mi north of its end at Broadway Ave. (now paved), leading east to intersect the road south of Peralta Trailhead in the Superstitions. Most of it is just outside the Tonto National Forest. Length is 11.5 miles; it was not signposted in December 2002. [see photo gallery]

McDowell. Several new trails have been added (Stoneman Wash, Bluff, Tonto Tank) and names have been changed: [See the new park map, available there.] There is a new trail at the southwest corner of the park, the Dixie Mine Trail, opened in late 2002. A brief description follows:

Take Golden Eagle Drive uphill 0.8 mi from Shea Blvd on Palisades in Fountain Hills. At 5.4 mi paving ends just before a fenced parking area. Trail starts (0.0) as a wide gravel road. Where the road branches at 0.18 mi, go right, over a hill and down to an open area at 0.36 mi where new homes may be built. Straight ahead the Park boundary and gate can be seen at 0.42 mi. The trail follows sections of old vehicle-ways up and down over scenic hills and finally reaches the Thompson Peak gravel road at 1.95 mi where the official trail ends. Go steeply down the road for 250’ and turn left into the unusual riparian area. A rough trail goes along the bottom for 0.25 mi, passing parts of the Dixie Mine and several shafts, to where there is a junction of washes. 500’ further is a box canyon. Note: the road approach section outside the Park may change due to further development. [see photo gallery]

Scottsdale. A new Pinnacle Peak Trail was opened in April, 2002. Take Pinnacle Peak Parkway left (west) off of Alma School Road, north of Happy Valley Road. The park entrance is about ¼ mile on the left, where the Parkway bends right and becomes 102nd Way. Graded trail ascends steadily to Grandview Lookout (0.6 mi), tops a rise near the summit and passes good views (0.8 mi), then descends to a pass (1.1 mi). It then side-hills along the next peak for 0.2 mi and descends to end at a fence line (1.9 mi); it can be followed west to Pima Road (no parking there). [see photo gallery] Trail changes: on p. 141, at 0.09 mi (bottom of descent) there is a junction with a new trail to the right that leads to the CAP Canal and a golf course. At 2.35 mi, be sure at the road junction to keep straight on toward the pass (not left, whatever the sign may say). (The road ascending left shortly ends.)

Tonto National Forest. On p. 232: the Bronco Trail now has an official number, #245. There is a new trailhead at its start, shortly after you turn in (to the southwest) from FR 24.

Usery. The Merkle Memorial Trail [D] (p. 182) has been re-aligned as a barrier-free, hardened-surface, 7’-wide trail with a gentle gradient and some benches.

White Tank. White Tank trails are in fine shape; trail designators have changed. [See the new park map, available there and on the County Web site, see link.] The old "cat scratch" (Mesquite Canyon Trail [E]), p. 196, now has been renamed Willow Canyon Trail] was a very rough, rocky trail; it has now been rebuilt and is a pleasure to use [see photo gallery]. On Map 22, trail [A] now follows the black dashed trail route west of peak 2601 to Mesquite Canyon, to join what was trail [E]; the route to the south has been deleted. There is no gate at the end of Ramada Way. There is a new start to the Ford Canyon Trail [F] from the Horse Staging Area, paralleling Waterfall Canyon Rd to the east for 0.9 mi, and joining the Waddell Trail [H].

Last edited: July 09, 2004