Imagine looking for the Hassayampa River only to find that it has disappeared under the sand. Here is a river where the water is only visible for a small portion of its entire one hundred mile length. When it does finally rise to the surface there is a forest of cottonwood and willow trees which occur naturally along the river’s edge and many palm trees which were introduced by the owners over the years. With all the vegetation and water there are as many as 280 different species of birds that have been spotted out here and several species of animals.
The drive out to Widkenburg is easily less than an hour and it certainly is well worth your time. There is plenty for the family to enjoy at the preserve.
The old center core of the structure that is currently the visitor’s center served as a stage coach station back in the 1870’s and the owner raised cattle and fruit at the location. He also began the first carp farm in Arizona and later the property was operated as a spa because of the lush vegetation and its location next to the river.
There are approximately three miles of marked trails along the river and several overlooks are provided for your use along the rivers edge and beside Palm Lake. There is a nice picnic area with plenty of shade. If you would like more information about activities that may be available at the preserve call 928-648-2772 or email them at bmccollum@tnc.org.
On Saturday morning you can take your family for an easy hike along the Hassayampa River near Wickenburg AZ.
This will be a guided hike led by a docent from the river preserve and will last about an hour and a half. You’ll have a chance to see several different bird species, javelinas and perhaps a few foxes along the way. You’ll see just how much damage the floods along the river can do to the trees and underbrush and the shore line. The whole family will enjoy the walk along the river and you’ll have lots of great picture taking opportunities on the hike.
Wickenburg is only a half an hour northwest of Phoenix on highway 60 but you need to be there before 8:30 on Saturday morning so you can join the group. Watch for the sign for The Hassayampa River Preserve on the west side of the road.
Take along a picnic lunch and enjoy the outing close by the Hassayampa River this Saturday.
Fossil creek is a great hiking destination for the entire family. Barely a two hour ride out of Phoenix
you start out on the Beeline Highway going North East to Payson and then on to Strawberry where you watch for the Fossil Creek Road. The road will soon turn to a slightly rough dirt road that takes you down to the bottom of the canyon. There are several switch backs along the road and you”ll have to be careful driving down but the scenery is great and there is plenty to do at the bottom.
There is a parking area by the trailhead and a good map that shows some of the local trails. There is a water fall and swimming hole back up the creek about 30 minutes and the trail is not very strenuous. You’ll find good places for a family picnic but don’t expect to find any improved facilities in the area. Whatever trash you geneate needs to be packed out when you leave.
Take the time to read about the history of the area before you go up to Fossil Creek so you can decide which part of the river you want to explore. Thre is a lot to see up there. Along the way out of Strawberry towards Fossil Creek your family might enjoy a stop at the goat farm. They will see goats and llamas there and they can learn how to milk goats. They have fudge and candies made of goats milk and tons of photo ops.
If you decide to stay over night you’ll find Bed and Breakfasts near Strawberry and a good seletion of motels in both Strawberry and Payson. There are a lot of places to eat and you might enjoy a stop at the Rimside Bar and Grill. They have a couple of cabins and frequently sponsor hikes and bike runs in the area.
< The White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Waddell, Arizona, is one of the most popular and heavily used parks in the Regional Park System. You’ll be amazed by opportunities for hiking and biking, the nature trails, camping, horse back riding, mountains, hieroglyphics, birds, dry waterfall canyon, children’s playgrounds, picnic ramadas, handicap trails, trees, washes, Indian artifacts, and interesting rock formations found throughout the area. The park at over 29,000 acres is the largest of the Maricopa County parks. White Tank Mountain Regional Park offers approximately 22 miles of excellent shared-use trails. The hiking trails range from easy to difficult. There are handicapped accessible trails available in the park which makes the park all the more user friendly.
Mountains
The range, often referred to as simply the White Tanks, is a moderate sized mountain range whose peaks rise to an elevation of around 4,000 feet (1,219 m). The Park has both mountain and desert environments and includes most of the White Tank Mountain range. Two handicapped accessible trails at White Tank Mountain Regional Park allow visitors in wheelchairs to take in the splendors of the area as well as visit Petroglyph Plaza. During seasonal heavy rainfall, accumulated water tends to rush rapidly through the steep canyons, over time scouring out a number of depressions or “tanks” in the white granite near the base of the mountains. These white “tanks” are the source of the mountains’ name.
Trails
The Waterfall Trail is in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park and is a popular place for family hiking. The trail will take you past Petroglyph Plaza, where you will find some 1,000-year-old petriglyphs on giant boulders, symbols left behind by the Hohokam Indians who inhabited the mountains until about 1100.
The range, deeply serrated with ridges and canyons, rises sharply from its base to peak at over 4,000 feet and provides wonderful opportunities for hiking on established trails and includes facilities for picnicking throughout the park. There are about 22 miles of hiking and biking trails at all levels of difficulty. The White Tank Mountains Park does not have a trail to the top, and they discourage people from ‘visiting the towers’ with mild threats that it is patrolled by law enforcement. Horseback and mountain bike riders are welcomed, although caution is stressed as some of the trails may be extremely difficult.
With so many amenities, this is a park that receives many visitors in the cooler times of the year. You’ll find people of all ages on the hiking trails and many of them will have their family pets along for the day. As with any hiking in the desert Southwest regions of the U.S. you must be careful to drink plenty of water. The air is so dry that you don’t even notice that your body is loosing moisture at a rate that is much faster than usual. Be sure to bring drinking water in containers that you can carry along with you as you explore this beautiful mountainous park.
Jere Moline has recently retired and now resides in Sun City Arizona. He loves traveling and has taken up hiking some of the trails located in the Desert Southwest. For great videos and information on hiking in the Phoenix area go to http://www.coppertrailstowncarservice.biz.
Now the weather is cooling off a bit you should start thinking about a hike in South Mountain Park. You can go it alone and there are many trails to choose from or you can take a guided hike with the Pueblo Grande Museum. The PGM which is located in Phoenix near 48th Street and Washington Avenue sponsors interpretive hikes in the mountains that are within easy driving distance of the city. These hikes usually take place on a Saturday morning and are made up of people of all ages. The price is normally around $8.00 per person and they provide a guide who is well versed in the history of the area and can give you a background on the petroglyphs that are found throughout the area.
The next scheduled hike with the Pueblo Grande Museum will be on Saturday the 19th of November, 2011. You can make plans now to take a guided hike on the Kiwanas/Ramadas trail in South Mountain Park in Phoenix. The hike will be easy to moderate and will give you lots of great photo ops. This will be a 3 hour interpretive hike and will be from 8am to 11am. Be sure to bring along plenty of water and your favorite camera. You should register in advance at the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation site and the fee will be $8.00 per person. Learn about the petroglyphs in South Mountain and the native Americans who left the oldest drawings on the rocks.
On Sunday morning you can join Sandy Kehs for a guided hike in Estrella Mountain Park in Goodyear Arizona. The Sonoran Snorin Hike will take place at 14805 w Vineyard Dr. just off Baseline in Goodyear. The hike is an easy 2 1/2 miles and will run from 6:30am to 8:00am. There are some wonderful views along the trail as well as some historical mines and you’ll be able to see a special Green Bioregion. You should meet at The Baseline Trailhead South of the picnic area at about 6:15am, bring the whole family because the price is only $6.00 per carload.
Join us on the 12th of February for a Petroglyph Discovery hike on the Javelina Trail in Beverly Canyon. This interpretive hike will be led by an experienced guide from the Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix. The Javelina Trail is described as moderate and the hike will be about three miles long and will last close to three hours.
The hike will be in Phoenix in the South Mountain Park which is the largest urban park in the US.
It consists of approximately 17,000 acres and has many interesting trails and lots of petroglyphs. There will be a lot of great photo ops along the way and you may even see some wildlife along the trail. Directions for the place to join the hikers in Beverly Canyon can be found by calling the Pueblo Grande Museum or by signing up with the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department at their web site: http://phoenix.gov/recreation/arts/museums/pueblo/calendar/index.html
The fee for joining the hike on February 12 will be $8.00 and please remember there is no water in Beverly Canyon so be sure to bring water and sun screen. Space is limited so register now and don’t miss out on this Petroglyph Discovery Hike led by an experienced guide.
Its only a ninety mile drive from Phoenix but the hiking trail up to the top of Doe Mountain might as well be a thousand miles away. The terrain is like nothing in Phoenix and the trail zigzags back and forth up the side of Doe Mountain for an elevation gain of 400 feet. When you reach the flat top of the mesa it can be a little windy but the views are worth a little blowing sand. We recently took some family members and friends to the top for an afternoon picnic and we had a wonderful time. It took less than an hour to gain the top of the mesa as the moderate trail is only about three quarters of a mile long. On top of the mesa there is a marked trail to help make sure you don’t have any trouble finding your way back to the hiking trail on the side of the mountain. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, take plenty of drinking water and a camera is an essential piece of your gear. http://bit.ly/cP4kMl
Wind Cave Trail is located to the east of Mesa about half an hour from central Phoenix. Usery Mountain Park has many facilities available and you’ll even find a first class archery range there. There is plenty of parking at the trailhead. The trail has an elevation gain of about 800 feet and is 3.5 miles roundtrip. Click the link below to see the video I made a few days ago
Are you looking for a great urban hike to take the family on in Phoenix? How would you like to take a guided petroglyph discovery hike into the South Mountains? The Pueblo Grande Museum sponsors hikes into the areas surrounding Phoenix and one month may find you hiking in the South Mountain Park and the next month may find you in the White Tank Mountains over on the West Side of the valley. I have gone on several of these hikes and they are always informative and very enjoyable.
On Saturday the 9th of October there will be a guided hike into Box Canyon in South Mountain. If you are interested in this hiking opportunity contact the Pueblo Grande Museum at 602-495-0901 or go to the web site at www.pueblogrande.com. The cost is only $8.00 and you should register in advance so they will know how many people to expect. You’ll need to bring along a supply of water, sun screen, comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget your camera. The trail will cover approximately 3 miles in a three hour time span. Your guide will have information about the plants and animals in the area and will introduce you to the ancient petroglyphs that were left on the surface of the rocks along the trails where you will be hiking.
Hope to see you there.
General | The Hiker April 22, 2012 | 
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