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| Hiking | 4.00 Miles |
382 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.00 Miles | 30 Hrs | | 0.14 mph |
| 382 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I wanted to get up on the rim to find cooler temperatures than my East Valley home and also find a place to meet up with my daughter who was coming from Flagstaff. We decided, with another friend, to give this trail a try. I knew there would be a lot of people there as it is Labor Day weekend but I was completely surprised at how many more. I also didn't know there was a store right at the lake. We didn't go in, but I would have chosen another hike just thinking that a store stock full of beer would bring the crowds.
I spoke briefly to the woman stopping each car coming into the parking. This was late morning and she said she had already turned away literally 1000's of people looking for parking. We did ended up deciding to stay for the walk around the lake because our primary aim this day was to meet up with each other and be outside. We also thought that perhaps we would walk away from the larger crowds as we went around the lake. We found parking about 1/2 mile from the trail and followed a paved path through the trees to get to the lake. This is reflected in our mileage.
The crowds did change as we went around. The largest crowd near the store and parking lot seemed to be the partying and or fishing groups. As we went a little further towards the spillway it seemed to thin to large group holiday hikers and campers. A little further on and it seems like we mostly saw and/or stopped to talk with people that I am more used to seeing out on the trails. I would say we passed or were passed by quite a lot of people on this "back" side of the lake but not nearly as many people as towards the beginning.
It was warmer than I had anticipated on the hike. We reasoned that may have been due to the sunny areas we hiked through. We did notice a lot of shade and even a few places with deeper shade.
We saw 4 Elk in two different places, some squirrels and lots of butterflies of at least 3 varieties.
There were a few nice wild flowers that I have included in the pictures.
I probably won't do this trail again unless it where the group I am going with chooses. I did like the trail variety and beauty but I think it is probably always more populated than my taste. Would have loved it when my kids were younger and it would be a great place to hike with people who like a little off trail experience near a store. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
We did see a handful of trees starting to turn yellow! |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Saw a few flowers here and there. See photos. |
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