Crossover Trail - Estrella Mtn RP, AZ

Overview
Estrella Mountain Regional Park is located about 20 miles west and south of Phoenix in the foothills of the Estrella Mountains. It was established in 1954 with the purchase of 800 acres. Today, the Estrella Park stretches for almost 20,000 acres. It has a wide range of amenities, including horseback riding, a rodeo arena, golfing, fishing, baseball diamonds, a 65-acre grass picnic area, and trails for hiking and biking. The park has 14 trails that extend for 36 miles into the Park. This is one of the newest trails in the preserve, created a little over a year ago.


Hike
This is another one of those trails that you need to hike into the park to access. I would speculate that it was created more as a convenience for residents of the Estrella Mountain Ranch Community than for any other reason. The reason I say this is that there are two ways of reaching this trail. If you are hiking within the park, you have to hike 5 miles to reach this trail (via the Toothaker and Pedersen), and then, if you follow this trail, it runs for approximately 0.9 miles before terminating at the Preserve's boundary. The other way of reaching this trail to start from the Estrella Mountain Ranch Community (west of the Preserve) and utilize their trail system (yes, Estrella Mountain Ranch Community has an independent trail system adjacent to the Estrella Mountain Regional Preserve) to connect to the Crossover Trail. As far as I know, the Crossover Trail is the only trail that ties these two systems together.The Crossover Trail heads in a westwardly direction undulating slightly as it progresses. As you proceed on clear, cold days, you'll see"clouds" emanating from the ground (Palo Verde Nuclear Plant), and closer in the foreground, you'll start to distinguish a brown, block-like building (Estrella Foothills High School). To the north, you'll have foothills of the Estrella's and to the south, is a large sandy wash. The wash is hard to see for most of the trail, but the green trees and shrubs that line it will identify its location. The trail itself does not change in elevation much, in fact, it only drops about 20 feet in the 0.9 miles. The trail is a dual-track that I (seriously) believe was constructed by driving a quad with a steel screen behind it. The trail is distinct but is still pretty rocky - racked rocks. The trail people did do an excellent job on the wash crossings. Five minor washes are transversed, and all of them have easy entry and exit points. At 0.9 miles, the Crossover Trail ends at a "fenced open gate". There is a pay station here for those who might be accessing the preserve from the Estrella Community. The Crossover Trail is currently not signed from this end. But as I said earlier, I believe it is the only trail that connects the two systems.

If you turn around at this point and return the way you came, you are looking at close to a 12-mile hike. If you continue into the Estrella Mountain Ranch trail system (via the PA trail), realize that it is 2 miles before reaching a TH, so you'll want to have a car waiting for you. Otherwise, it would be a 16 mile in and out. As of this writing, there is no loop attached to the Crossover Trail. Plus, please realize that the trails west of the preserve MAY be private property. The sign at the boundary stated "Estrella Mountain Ranch Private Property" and that "designated trails should only be used for hiking and biking". Not sure if trails are open to all or residents only. More to come, hopefully.

Water Sources
There are no water sources along this trail. But there is a drinking fountain at the Toothaker TH, which you would most likely use if you were starting from within the regional park. Realize this is 5 miles away from the Crossover Trail. There is also a drinking fountain at the Estrella Mountain Ranch Community TH. This TH is located just north of the Estrella Foothills High School, next to a bike track and a park. Realize this is 2 miles away from the Crossover Trail.

2016-12-28 mt98dew