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| Hiking | 17.70 Miles |
850 AEG |
| | Hiking | 17.70 Miles | 5 Hrs 35 Mns | | 3.48 mph |
| 850 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Margie's Cove was on my to do list since it is in the "100 Classic Hikes in Arizona" book. The hike listed goes to the Brittlebush Trail junction and then turns back. It is a relatively flat hike down an old jeep track and then through a wash. The surrounding area has tons of Peaks that would make for a fun day of Peak Baggin!
I thought it would be cool to do a shuttle set up and hike both Margie's Cove and the Brittlebush trail. The hike would start out at the Margie's Cove West, hike to the Brittlebush junction and then head south on Brittlebush. The only snag is that you still can't access the Brittlebush side with a motorized vehicle. That would mean the hike would need to go all the way to Maricopa road instead of stopping at the actual Brittlebush Trailhead.
Bob came along for some/or all of the hike. We dropped my car off on the Maricopa Road side and headed back to Margie's Cove West trailhead. This road is listed as "may require high clearance vehicle". Today it was dry and passable by Bob's Caddy just fine.
After about 4.5 miles of hiking and looking at all the surrounding peaks we saw a cool rock up on top of a hill. I was thinking it would make a great photo if we could actually get up on top of it. Anyway, up we went to the top of the rock. After this Bob decided to go play with more ridges, and rocks and I continued on my long flat journey. It was fairly easy to find the turn spot since I had done the Brittlebush trail once before.
From here it was a 12 mile hike back to my car. When I hit the sign-in box at the actual Brittlebush trailhead I was surprised to see my name still on the top sheet. This was from my previous trip in April. There were only 2 other people that signed the register since then. If you are looking for solitude or a place to bury a body this is probably a good choice. 
Actually this area has a bunch of history. On the way out you see evidence of that in the various signage. There is a sign for the U.S. Mormon Battalion Trail, a sign for the journey of Juan Bautista de Anza in 1775, as well as a couple others.
Before long as I headed south down the dirt road I could hear the train ahead. The tracks run next to Maricopa Road so it was a welcome sound. Next thing I knew I was at my car and heading out.
This hike isn't for everybody given its flat nature. But if you like desert scenery and a little alone time then this is a great place to get a fix. I enjoyed it a bunch! |
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