| |
| Reynolds - Center Mountain Loop, AZ | | -
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
| 2 labels |  |
|
|
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
4 |
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
|
| | Reynolds - Center Mountain Loop, AZ | | | |
|
|
Reynolds - Center Mountain Loop, AZ
| | |
|
| Hiking | 16.00 Miles |
3,764 AEG |
| | Hiking | 16.00 Miles | 8 Hrs 15 Mns | | 2.31 mph |
| 3,764 ft AEG | 1 Hour 19 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | Vitals
On the drive in, prime Autumn foliage looked a week away. Neon lime Canyon Grape, red Virginia Creeper and scarlet Smooth Sumac dabbled a few pockets and ravines. Personally I think they are great accents. Also a tell tale sign weather has a good chance of being delightful. In my online experiences, inspiration comes from being liked and waterfalls should dwarf Havasu... we had a group cry.
Bruce's - Sierra Figure 8 Loop
We've enjoyed this classic Ancha tiptoe a few times. Typically in search of cooler temps when the Sonoran skillet is blazing.
Pants
Come prepared, do not wear shorts. It's not a bushwhack. It's not catclaw or locust. It's raspberry, blackberry and below the waist scratchies that torture shorts enthusiasts. Easy peasy if prepared.
Cienega Spring
You can hike this loop from multiple starting points. Believe Cienega Spring was in the middle of one of our forays. One year a deluge ripped a huge crater sized ravine blocking FR145 between spring proper and the trough. Our starting point for today.
FR410
We utilize the road to Reynolds TH and sneak over to Cienega Spring on FR235 because it has comfy parking. Now that Bruce has a ride with delicate tires our road sensors are on high alert. FR410 & FR235 are doable in factory featherweight side wall tires. That's if luck is on your side and you don't gash a tire on a rock. Karl joined and escorted so we moched the wannabe rocks in glee blasting Pantera... I might be mixing that part up with a Stiller hike.
Boogie
The hike begins backtracking FR235 then up FR410. If you're not a I-refuse-to-hike-roads snob it's a pretty forest hike along Reynolds Creek ( Thunder Trickle ).
Reynolds Creek Trail #150
Looked like a new sign on an old post for Reynolds #150. The first half mile of #150 is etched in my mind as semi torture in shorts. Wearing pants for the first time wouldn't you know it, looks like it was semi cleared a year ago. We did not see cuts but the raspberry definitely was not over the trail. Perhaps cows? Fear not, there was plenty of other foliage on the loop that made us grateful to be wearing pants. Nothing to fret nor dissuade this statistics sensible to terrain loop.
3.5 miles in, now past the waterfall Karl darted off into the woods. Bruce and I looked for a resting spot and encountered a memorable 5 minutes with an elk. It quickly became obvious this gal either had an injured family member nearby or injured herself as she would not leave.
Substantial foliage color in the half mile pocket leading up to Knoles Hole Spring. #150 has been on my Autumn todo list for twenty plus years. It's one of the best maple displays in Arizona I know about. I was ecstatic to experience the half mile of color bliss. I'd guestimate the widespread color scream is about 5 days away. It may never crest as the factors of time, cold nights and moisture might not dance.
Knoles Hole Spring
We looked around. Still haven't found the source. Notably due to lack of effort. Dirty water in the creek that I wouldn't bother filtering unless it was the only option.
Balance
The final ten miles are great if you enjoy a good hike. |
|
Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
Substantial for a half mile. Majority of hike was light or isolated. This is serious maple tree country. Blood red leaf thrill seekers should be rewarded in 5-7 days IMHO. |
|
|
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Hands down the most wildflowers I recall in October.
Large swaths of yellow daisies
Isolated Western Orange Wallflower |
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
