January 14th, 2022 Long Hike - Fat Man's Pass from Dobbin Lookout, out and back (8.1 miles). Medium Hike - Fat Man's Pass from Overlook, out and back (4.5 miles). Short Hike - Casa Grande Mountain (3-4 miles).

Remember: All hikers meet at the central mailboxes at about 7:30 a.m. to sign up, pay their membership fee ($10.00 for the season), sign their waiver, receive their sticker and have their vaccination cards validated for carpooling. We leave at 8:a.m. sharp and return somewhere between 2-4 p.m. All hikers caravan from Palm Creek to the trailhead with the leader heading the caravan.  A caravan sweep vehicle will be determined at the mailboxes. 

Medium Hike: Fat Man's Pass  Approximately 4.5 miles

Hike the National Trail from the Buena Vista Lookout and the Hidden Valley Trail to Fat Man's Pass. For the most part, this is an easy hike with great views of the Phoenix area. The return trip is more uphill and steeper in parts but they are not too steep or very long. There are some interesting rock formations along the trail in addition to the tunnels and passes you navigate. 

Long Hike: Fat Man's Pass  8.1 miles

Hike from Dobbin's Lookout to Fat Man's Pass hiking the Holbert Trail, the National Trail and then the Hidden Valley Trail to Fat Man,s Pass.

Both the medium and long hikes offer fantastic views of the Phoenix area from South Mountain. Both offer Fat Man's Pass, a very narrow gap between rock faces that hikers must squeeze through (There is a way around if necessary), another narrow gap where you slide under a rock face on a smooth rock, and a tunnel about 100 feet long. Washrooms are available for both groups at the gatehouse and Dobbin's Lookout.

Directions to Medium and Long Hikes

Take I-10 north to exit 155, Baseline Rd. Go left on Baseline and proceed to Central Ave. Turn left on Central Ave. and follow it to the gate at the entrance to the park. Proceed on the paved road to Summit Road and at the top turn left for Dobbin's Lookout. The roads are well marked but narrow and twisting. A good GPS is Dobbin's Lookout 

Short Hike: Casa Grande Mountain 3-4 miles

A short hike around the trails on Casa Grande Mt. led by Denis and Reno. Their hike averages 3-4 miles and they are usually back to Palm Creek by noon. This hike leaves from the central mailboxes at 8:00 a.m. on Fridays and hikers must have a Palm Creek Hiking Club Waiver. Try to be sure to be at the mailboxes by 7:45 a.m. to secure waivers.

January Hikes 

January 21th, Dynamite Trail at San Tan. This is only a medium hike.

January 28th, King's Canyon. Both a medium and long hike.

Remember: If for some reason a hike must be cancelled, you will receive an email by 6 a.m., Friday morning so you can go back to bed!

Jerry's Cell 307-630-0252

John's Cell 207-446-0650

January 31, 2020 Hidden Valley (Fat Man's Pass) - South Mountain

 Jerry's group for Medium Hike - Buena Vista parking lot

Dobbin's Lookout

The Medium Hike starts at Summit Road for a 7.5 mile hike Hidden Valley, commonly known as Fat

Man’s Pass. This hike is fun, hiking over and under great boulders. 

The Long Hike also goes to Hidden Valley, but it takes hiking trails up a ridge that overlooks the
Airport and the City of Phoenix. The rock formations are unique to the area. 

Directions: 

Summit Road - Medium Hike - Take 1-10 north to exit 155 (33 miles). In 0.9 miles turn left on
Baseline Road. Follow Baseline for 4.7 miles then turn left onto S. 7th St. In one mile turn right
onto East Dobbins Road for 0.4 miles Then turn left onto S. Central Ave. and drive for 1 mile. 
There is a Ranger Station and Washroom facilities here. Proceed on S. Central Ave for another
1.6 miles and wind up the road, turn left onto Summit Road and wind further for 3.7 miles to Dobbins
Lookout to the parking area. There are also washroom facilities at the Dobbin's Lookout.
51 miles driving distance. 

Dobbins Lookout - Summit Road - South Mountain - Medium hike

Pima Canyon Trailhead - Long Hike - Take 1-10 North for 31 miles to exit 157 to Elliott Road.
Turn Left on Elliott Road for 1.1 miles then turn right onto S. 48th St. keep following S. 48 St.
as it turns left at a left-hand turn lane. 

(If you do not turn left and follow what looks like 48th street to the right you will end up on
St. Point Parkway E.- don’t go here. If you miss this turn and are on St. Point Parkway -
keep following it until you see 48th st. where you can turn left and loop back on 48th and
to the Pima Canyon Trailhead.)  Then turn an immediate left to Pima Canyon Road.
Follow this road to the trailhead. There are pit toilets and a large parking area. 42 miles
driving distance. B- hike. 7 - 8 miles. 

Pima Canyon Trailhead  - Long Hike - Google Maps

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. 

Proposed next hikes- Schedule may change

February 7 - Hutch’s Pool - Sabino Canyon - Out and back - There is a tram ride and fee. 

February 14 - Medium Hike - Miner’s Needle out and back

                      Long Hike - Coffee Flat - Out and Back

February 21 - Picketpost Mountain - South Trail - Medium Group. 

              Picketpost Mountain - Long hike - Picketpost Mountain Loop - Counterclockwise 

Nancy’s cell: 403-896-9899   

Note: These hikes are designed to be an outing, not a race. Hikers are encouraged to hike
together, socialize, and enjoy the fresh air and exercise, stopping as necessary to rest. To
assure all hikers are accounted for, drivers will make sure that all the same hikers they take
return with them.

Please read our Blogspot: www.palmcreekhikers3.blogspot.com

March 8, 2019 Fat Man's Pass - South Mountain

Long Hike to Ridgeline Trail and Hidden Valley (Fat Man's Pass) From East Trailhead

Phacelia distans - Wildheliotrope, Scorpion Weed, Blue Phacelia
Southwestern Arizona Wildflowers on Firefly forest website

Lupine

Showing our shirts from the Baby Jesus Hike

Our mileage was 7 miles. From the trailhead we walked along Pima Canyon Road then turned right onto Beverly Canyon Trail, then left onto Ridgeline. Ridgeline meets Javalina where we turn left. This trail joins Mormon. Then we turned into Hidden Valley and had lunch. After Hidden Valley, we turned right onto National Trail again and onto Pima Canyon Road where we stopped to see the Stonehouses and continued on Pima Canyon Road to the Trailhead. 

Short Hike

National Trail coming from the west side to Hidden Valley around the loop and back via National Trail.

Short Hike
Directions to the West trailhead to Fat Man's Pass (Hidden Valley)

Take I-10 north to exit 155 and go left on Baseline Road. Go to Central Avenue and turn left and follow to the gate at the entrance to the park. There are restrooms just past the gate on the right about 300 yards. Proceed on the paved road to Summit Road which turns into the North Buena Vista Road. Drive to the end of the road. Park in the lot at the end, or beside the road back. This is a trailhead to the National Trail that goes to Hidden Valley Loop. 51 miles from the Park.

Long Hike Directions to the East Trailhead to Ridgeline Trail and Fat Man's Pass (Hidden Valley).         

Take I-10 north to exit 157 and turn left on Elliot Road. Drive to 48th Street, turn right. Follow 48th street as it bears right and becomes Guadalupe Road. Immediately, in the turn, turn left on S. 48th St, then left again on E Pima Canyon Rd. The entrance and guardhouse is just past this point on the left. Follow the road to the Pima Wash Trailhead. Toilets at the trailhead. It is about 42 miles from the Park. B-,  7 or 8 mi.

Google Map Directions to East Pima Canyon Trailhead  Long Hike

Google Maps to Summit Road  Short Hike

All Trails snip for Summit Road to National Trail - Short Hike

  

Skip’s cell:   503-580-3828             Barry’s cell: 207-205-4298