January 3, 2020 Pass Mountain Trail - Wind Cave Trailhead - Usery Mountain Regional Park

A beautiful day for a hike in Usery Park. The landscape was green due to the rainy weather we have experienced over the holidays. The trail was very well-groomed on the first of the hike. As we rounded the other side of the mountain the trail became more rugged and we walked on loose rock and flat rock. It was an enjoyable day. This hike would be experienced very differently if we went counterclockwise. 

The medium group was lead by John and Montey - 7.9 miles. 

😓There was no long hike today because of a lack of vehicles for this hike. The time difference between the two hikes would have made it inconvenient for medium hikers to wait. On the bright side - Pass Mountain hike was long enough that the long hikers were happy. 😎

Casa Grande Mountain Hike - There were 6 hikers for this hike - about 4 miles. 

Looking up 

7.9 Miles 

7.9 miles

Medium Hike - Pass Mountain Hike is a 7.5 mile, C+ hike with expansive views of the Goldfield and Superstition Mountain Ranges including Four Peaks and the Salt River Canyon.

Long Hike - Pass Mountain Loop (7 miles) and Wind Cave Trail (3 Miles) which is a trail just off Pass Mountain that winds through large rocks up to a great view of the area - 10+ miles.

Click on Links below:

Link to All Trails description of the Pass Mountain Hike

Link to All Trails description of Wind Cave Trail

Link to Barry's notes and pictures from this hike - Dec 1, 2017

Directions to Usery Park

From Palm Creek turn left onto Henness Road to Florence Blvd. Turn on I-10 to go north. Exit right onto Loop 202 (Exit 161) Continue on 202 as it turns north. Keep to the left to go past Hwy 60 exits, then take Exit 28, Broadway eastbound (right). Stay on Broadway for about 1/4 mile in the left lane. Turn left onto Ellsworth Road at the first set of lights. Drive on Ellsworth Road for about 6 miles to Usery Park Road. Turn right into Usery Mountain Recreation Area. A $7.00 Park Fee is required at the gate. Drive on Usery Park Road until Wind Cave Drive, then turn left and drive past the restroom area and park in a parking lot to the south. 33°28'26.3"N 111°36'26.2"W

Link to Google Map Directions to Wind Cave Trailhead at Usery Mountain Regional Park.

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Leaves the parking Lot at 8:00 and returns before lunch. This hike is about 3-4 miles. See the description on the main pages of the blog.

We need drivers for all the hikes.

December 27, 2019 - Hike Cancelled due to rain

Due to cool temperatures and rain, the hike this week is cancelled.

December 20, 2019 Black Mesa Loop and Garden Valley/Hackberry Spring Loop- First Water Trailhead

The Long hike was Black Mesa Trail. Starting at First Water Trail then turning right to Dutchman #104 and returning on Black Mesa Trail and back on First Water to the trailhead- 9.2 miles. Mike was the leader. 

The Medium Hike was Hackberry Spring Loop, starting at First Water and turning left at the Black Mesa, First Water Junction to the Hackberry Spring Trail and continuing into the Valley and following a creek bed which comes out at the corrals and meets back to the First Water trail then back to trailhead - 6 miles. Nancy was the leader. 

The Short hike was a trail or trails on Casa Grande Mountain - 4.4 miles. Skip was the leader. 

Black Mesa Track

9 Miles

Black Mesa Graph - Elevation

Garden Valley and Hackberry Springs Loop Track

Hackberry Spring - Elevation Graph

6 miles - Hackberry Springs

Black Mesa Loop - 9 miles. Fantastic views of canyons, mesas, valleys and bluffs. 

Hackberry Springs Loop & Garden Valley - 6 miles. Beautiful scenic trail of canyons,
bluffs and a hike along a spring. Must have good tread and shoe support to maneuver
the rocks along this trail. 

All Trails to Black Mesa Loop

All Trails to Hackberry Springs Loop

Driving Directions:  From Palm Creek go right out of the park gate to Cottonwood,
turn right. Drive 3 miles then turn left on Overfield Road and drive 4 miles to Woodruff
Road and turn right. Drive 2 miles then turn left onto N Signal Peak Road. Drive 3.6
miles to Highway 87 which turns into 287 for another 2.9 miles. Turn left at the lights to
Attaway Road and drive for 3 miles, then turn right onto W Hunt Highway. Drive 5.6 miles
to Highway 79. Turn right on Highway 79 and drive to the junction of Highway 60. Turn
left and merge onto Highway 60.  On Highway 60 drive 13 miles (three miles past
King’s Ranch). Just past Mountain View road bear right on E Old West Hwy (exit 199).
On E Old West Highway turn right at the stop sign, then bear left continuing on Old West
Highway to the traffic light on Tomahawk Rd. Turn right going northward for 2 miles until
you come to the junction of Hwy88. Turn right. Proceed past the entrance to Lost
Dutchman State Park, a short distance to a signed road “First Water Trailhead”.
Turn right on this dirt road and proceed cautiously for 2 1/2 miles, past a staging and
parking area for horses and trailers, to the end of the road where there is a good parking
area. Pit toilets available. Driving distance is 63 miles each way.

Google Maps to First Water Trailhead

Casa Grande Mountain Hike

Casa Grande Mountain Hike leaves the Palm Creek Parking Lot at 8:00 and arrives back
to the Park before lunch. Bring Lots of water as it may be a hot day.

Next Hikes: 

Dec 27 - Pass Mountain Loop - Windcave Trailhead

Jan 3 - Dove Mountain Trailhead -  Long Hike to be determined - Medium Hike Alamo Springs 

Jan 10 - 50 Year Trail - Catalina State Park - E. Golder Ranch Rd near Oracle.

Car Pools - We need volunteer drivers. The directions to the trailhead and type of
road surface are provided on the mail out. One of the leaders will drop off the Sheet
for the SPOT at the front gate. This car should be first in the Caravan.  The cars are
to travel as a caravan toward the trailhead, if possible. When you arrive at the trailhead,
if possible, try to park close the other hikers. This helps the leaders make sure that all
cars have arrived and hikers accounted for. When there are two groups one group
often returns to the trailhead earlier than the other. Consider choosing a vehicle with
hikers who are going on the same hike as you are. 

Before leaving the trailhead at the end of the hike, the drivers should confirm that all
passengers are accounted for.