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View the valley by PaleoRob Overview The Casa Grande Mountain Ridgeline trail follows the ridgeline of the Casa Grand Mountains from the radio towers south. It can be accessed in a variety of ways. Warning This hike is shadeless and hot in the summer, with no water. There are plenty of cacti, and rattlesnakes inhabit the mountain. Take appropriate care. Hike This trail can be considered to start at the radio tower summit. This is the end of the Hanna Road and the destination of the popular Radio Tower Summit hike. Continuing past the radio towers, the trail narrows and rises as it follows the ridgeline. Just below the base of Casa Grande 2, the Bolt Trail comes in from the right (west). Either the Bolt Trail or hiking up Hanna Road will get you onto the northernmost portion of the Ridgeline Trail. Just past the Bolt Trail, the trail splits. You can go right and ascend Casa Grande 2, the second-highest point in the Casa Grand Mountains, or continue heading south. Many people summit Casa Grande 2 before continuing along the trail, and others do not. Your choice. The ridgeline is easy to follow and relatively level. There are two larger saddles between Casa Grande 2 and the flagpole that provide open views to the east and the west, while the higher points often have a few low palo verde trees clinging to them. There are several decent sized cholla fields along the route, so use care. Near Peak 2350, locally known as The Flagpole, there is a rectangular pit in the ground. This is an old copper mine, and copper traces can still be seen on the walls and in the spoils pile. Just above is the summit, where most hikers generally turn back. There is a flag on the flagpole usually - the one up there currently was flown over Afghanistan in 2010, according to the literature in the summit register. The ridgeline continues, but the established trail does not. While possible to complete an end-to-end ridgeline hike of the Casa Grande Mountains, the city has only built/maintained the trail between the radio towers and the flagpole. If you continue, tread lightly. Occasionally, especially on weekends, you may hear gunshots. This is because the City of Casa Grande operates a gun range on the mountain's SW flank. Do not be alarmed. They shouldn't be shooting at you. Water Sources None, bring your own. Check out the Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
