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| Hiking | 1.46 Miles |
552 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.46 Miles | 1 Hour 37 Mns | | 1.44 mph |
| 552 ft AEG | 36 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | | A short hike to a magnificent view of the Valley in all directions. Started at the TH to Scarlett Canyon Tr in late afternoon. A little worrisome because I did not want to get caught in darkness on a new trail that is sketchy in places. Reached the summit at 1800 and stayed for 20 minutes or more enjoying the vista. I would say this is the best mountain view in the Phoenix area that almost no one knows about. The one bad thing about the summit is the small beacon tower enclosed by a Cyclone fence. You have to walk around it to see everything unobstructed. But there is plenty of room on top to do that and flat rocks to sit on and contemplate the navel. Unusual views of Camelback, Piestewa, North Mountain, Shaw Butte and much lower Buffalo Ridge to the S. To the E, the McDowells rise dramatically, and to the SE, sunlit but barely visible, the Superstitions. The CAP runs along Deer Valley Rd here, then nips the corner of the intersection with Cave Creek Rd. To the N, you can see all the way to Elephant Mountain and beyond, and up close the Union Hills and not so pretty Deer Valley Airport. Glaring sun in the W prevented a good view. It's an easy hike with a trail filled with solid rock for sure footing. Fairly busy too. Saw two young guys coming down together, a man with a baby in a carrier and a dog, "Ty", at his side, and a man on the summit coming up from the N and going down on the S. Passed a woman as she ascended in low light. Wish I could've seen the sunset from up there. Will likely do this trail again in a different season, different conditions. Got back to TH at sunset. Everything the dreary perimeter trail, Scarlett Canyon, isn't, the 2075 summit makes up for. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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