DESTINATION Butterfield Stage: Enid to Xmas Camp 1 Photoset
2025-12-02 | | -
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| Biking - Mtn | 14.34 Miles |
234 AEG |
| | Biking - Mtn | 14.34 Miles | 2 Hrs 43 Mns | | 5.28 mph |
| 234 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | After completing the Crook, C&O, Black Canyon, and Maricopa Trails, I needed a new project. Biking the Butterfield Trail, at least the part that still exists, is it. I divided it into four roughly equal segments from the border of the Gila River rez to Gila Bend. Rather than make one full guide, I will make three new guides. (Not including [ Mormon Battalion Trail - Christmas Camp ] , which is the second segment, east-to-west.)
Most of the washes in southwest Maricopa County run south to north, from Mobile Valley, into Rainbow Valley, and eventually the Gila River at Buckeye, via Waterman Wash. If you see a wash going east-west for more than 100 yds., as Butterfield Stage Trail does, it is likely old trail bed.
With the wear & tear of thousands of coaches, rain, and the passage of time, much of what was the trail has turned into narrow, shallow, and densely-brushed washes. Where that was the case, I biked cross-country, closely paralleling the wash. This guide's official route is the dashed topo map route (amended to satellite view ground wear patterns). My actual biked route is attached to this triplog. I followed as closely as possible, but the trail comes and goes. 
It was 48℉, with a light breeze, when I started at 10:30 a.m. I wore mountain biking shorts, and layered a t-shirt under the hiking shirt I wear on my rides. (For the extra storage.) I never felt uncomfortable, not even though it had warmed to upper-60s when I finished at 2:00 p.m. I had two bottles of water, plus a small Camelbak; I drank maybe half my three liters of water.
Other than washes, cross-country -- about half my distance -- is hardpack desert. I could feel a little bit of sink, but the drag was minimal.
I couldn't find a gap in the landfill fence, so heaved my bike over, and low-crawled under.
When I stopped for lunch, near Espanto Mountain, I had 2-3 bar reception.
Afterwards, to avoid rush hour I-10, drove Beltline Rd. across the Rez, and 51st Ave. home. Still took over an hour. 
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v72q6su-butterfield- ... -camp.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/1144318282 |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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