Talon Trail, AZ

Prologue
A new trail has been added to the Usery Park trail system. As of November 2022, the online maps at Maricopa County's website still do not have this trail listed, so here on HAZ is the only place you can get the deets.


Overview
This trail has 3 segments, north and south portions that are newly built, and a middle segment that's just the Pass Mountain Trail, but it appears that the Talon and Pass Mountain Loop Trail #282 coincide at this part.

Hike
Starting from the trailhead along Usery Pass Road, take the trail uphill heading southeast. There is also another unofficial trail at this trailhead that heads northeast and will take you to the MT Spur and over to the Hawes Trail System. The Talon Trail is clearly marked with official park signs. Take this uphill and in about a mile you will hit the junction with Pass Mountain Trail. The signage seems to imply that this is now also the Talon Trail, or that by continuing south on the Pass Mountain Trail you will again hit the Talon Trail.


After 0.8 miles, you will see the junction with the south segment of the Talon Trail. The trail now heads southwest towards the playground and campground areas, where it meets up with the Chain Fruit Trail. It seems to parallel a small wash at first, making one crossing before it crosses the main road inside the park and past the campgrounds. This junction is just a few feet west of the junction of a small spur trail to the Cholla Forest Campground.

From this point, you can head back to the trailhead on Usery Pass Road, or explore further into the park. Access can also be made from one of the many parking areas inside the park, but a little extra hiking will be necessary to get to where you'll start on this trail.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.

2022-11-25 DarthStiller