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| Hiking | 5.42 Miles |
746 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.42 Miles | 3 Hrs 7 Mns | | 2.46 mph |
| 746 ft AEG | 55 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | My first visit to the north end of the preserve and Desert Hills TH off Carefree Highway. Surprised to see such an upscale TH with toilets, seats and tables in an attractive structure. You have a choice at the TH of going east on the Sidewinder Tr or, traveling west as I did on the Ocotillo which follows above noisy Carefree HW for the first 7/10 of a mile. If you're looking for anything other than exercise or meditation, another locale might be the ticket. Pretty typical desert with little eye appeal unless you're looking into the distance. The south end of the preserve is much more interesting. The trails up here are among the best I've walked. Clean with little loose rock, meandering and contouring around hills. Ran into lots of bikers and a few hikers.
Intended to hike farther but my curiosity led me into an unwanted diversion. Seeing a steep rocky road going up to a saddle with the glimpse of a building and a sign on the Ocotillo Tr saying "Access to Central Avenue," I didn't resist the urge to go off-trail. I ended up in a subdivision of mostly beautiful homes, Carefree Highlands, with expansive views of high peaks to the north. The area is sealed in by a strong barbwire fence, but I managed to find a gate on the SW cor that led back into the preserve, steeply uphill to 7th Ave. I may try the area in wildflower season next month. Maybe I'll like it better then. |
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Wildflowers Observation None
Brittle bush, ocotillo and creosote starting to put out green new growth. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
