Route Editor
Route Scout
Ain't no scorpions... just wild horses by CannondaleKid  Overview This is another mountain bike trail added to the Hawes Trail System in December 2018. This trail links the Wild Horse Trail to the fence-opening at the horse crossing on Bush Highway near Milepost 226. (Near the Salt River Tubing lot) It begins at a point along Wild Horse Trail just over 3 miles from Bush Highway from the west, or about a mile from Usery Pass Road passing through the gravel pit. Warning This trail is designed for and primarily to be used by mountain bikers, but you may encounter hikers, equestrians and yes, even wild horses, so be aware. (I passed through three separate groups of wild horse on the hike) History The Scorpion Trail was in fact authorized by the Forest Service and an environmental assessment was completed in 2008... it just took ten years before it moved forward. And move forward it did, with the trail being constructed over the first weekend in December 2018. NOTE Neither of the nearby High Horse and Horse Tale trails were authorized by the Forest Service, and needless to say, they are not happy about it. The reason I mention it here is the Forest Service urges the general public to help by reporting any out-of-the-ordinary or perceived illegal activity. For example: If you observe new trail construction without any Forest Service employees present, contact the Mesa Forest Service office at 480-610-3300 Mountain Bike Easy single-track trail with a nice flowing rhythm on a hard-packed gravel surface (some grass at the moment) featuring short straights, turns with curved berms and a few jumps along with a very minor but steady loss of elevation. It will be a while yet before I'm able to bike it, but from the looks of it there will be some high-speed sections where one could easily reach 25-30 mph... especially for the younger riders who have yet to break enough bones to slow them down. Hike Very easy... no sandy washes, no thorny stuff, just a nice hard-packed surface. Due to the area being so flat, pretty much the only scenery will be the Palo Verde & Ironwood trees along with vegetation including jojoba, cholla, ocotillo, etc. Water Sources None - Bring your own. Oh yeah, please don't leave empty bottles along the trail or where you park. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
