[ck_1]

I don't know if anyone else read about this, but out at Usery a few months ago there were ballots asking for names for a "new" trail...this trail will loop around the valley and connect each of the county parks...apparently the commission settled upon a trail name "Maricopa County Trail"...clever, aren't they ...anyway...this bad boy looks to be around over 100 miles in total length...there is some sketchy info here:
http://www.maricopa.gov/trail/trail_guidtext.doc along with a map...

anybody know anything? thoughts?

[Mike]

Pretty interesting, the northeastern part of it passes just a mile and a half or so from me! There's a link to the map and other information at http://www.maricopa.gov/trail/.

[joe bartels]

Wow, I didn't know that Western Canal was north of South Mountain.

That makes for an excellent Mtn Bike loop with the National Trail. Though I don't believe I'd wanna be there after dark. I'd rather be on South Mtn with the mtn bike loonies like, umm, myself!

[ck_1]

They are looking for names for this trail...kind of a cool idea. I see the trail as being a cool idea, but it seems as though it would be rather, well, dull. Canal hiking isn't something I do often. Might be a cool mtn bike ride though...

[joe bartels]

Yeah, it might be a dull ride too. Though I'd probably do portions in January if I lived close to it.

Back in the 80's I often rode the canal from Indian School/68th up to 19Ave/Dunlap. It's really a great ride. Especially through the Biltmore and the huge Euko(don't have a clue how to spell it)liptos trees near Northern

[olesma]

...this bad boy looks to be around over 100 miles in total length...

Well, that is a good afternoon hike if there ever was one. I agree though - sounds like long stretches of it could be boring as an accountants convention...