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Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RP - 3 members in 14 triplogs have rated this an average 1.3 ( 1 to 5 best )
14 triplogs
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May 20 2025
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 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,191
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
E M R P, AZ 
E M R P, AZ
 
Hiking avatar May 20 2025
pseudalpineTriplogs 1,290
Hiking
Hiking
no photosets
Some feelings of oppression on the back nine. The heat and insufficient water does that, but the sandy section of Gadsden is such a buzz kill. Really the only enjoyable parts were the passes along the Rainbow Valley and Toothaker Trails. The rest was just MEH. Probably would be more fun on a mountain bike.
  9 archives
Nov 15 2023
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 15 2023
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking0.90 Miles 44 AEG
Hiking0.90 Miles      35 Mns   1.54 mph
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Short, mid morning hike with mom and wife. Went in on the Gila and then took a connector trail to touch the Baseline and then a connector trail over to the Horseshoe. We then took the Horseshoe back to the TH. We did this same hike a couple of years ago. We’re still trekking :)
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Jun 09 2021
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 09 2021
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking 44 AEG
Hiking      35 Mns   0.00 mph
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Short hike with mom :) . She doesn’t get out and around as easily as she use to…she did Piestewa about 5 years ago, but this was a nice outing for us. Did a short loop. Went in on the Gila, then used a connector trail that took us from the Baseline to the Horseshoe trail. Then back to the TH on the Horseshoe. Got out there around 8am so temps were still good. No wildlife…met 2 other hikers. Vegetation already looks brown…can’t imagine what it will look like after summer. Can’t go wrong when hiking with family!
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Jul 09 2020
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Jul 09 2020
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Run/Jog2.28 Miles 44 AEG
Run/Jog2.28 Miles      27 Mns   5.07 mph
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After work jog. Wanted to get some time on the Gila trail. Not much of a trail....more of a crushed gravel walking path with info signs. Started on the Horseshoe trail, which is right next to it, to get some extra miles. Took the Horseshoe to the Toothacher. On the Toothacher (briefly), then the Baseline (briefly) to get to the Gila. Basically got on the Gila from the backside. So to do the whole loop I ended up doing a loop and a half. Rather boring trail, but it is an easy one to do with the heat. No wildlife and I think I had the whole park to myself....didn't see a person or car while I was there.

Ironically hiked at Spur Cross yesterday and witnessed the fire damage in the Cave Creek community. Today, on the drive home from Estrellas I witnessed the fire that had devastated the area just south of the Gila River, near the Phoenix Raceway stadium (formerly PIR). I don't think any homes were damaged in this fire, but it was still extensive.
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Aug 31 2019
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 Guides 27
 Routes 669
 Photos 12,096
 Triplogs 856

56 male
 Joined Jul 05 2006
 Mesa, AZ
Horseshoe Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 31 2019
DarthStillerTriplogs 856
Hiking8.90 Miles 961 AEG
Hiking8.90 Miles   3 Hrs   50 Mns   2.32 mph
961 ft AEG
 
1st trip
I wanted to make another trip out to the Estrella park to finish recording the trails there. I hadn't ever hike the newly built Gila and Horseshoe Trails, and there was a section of the Dysart Trail I hadn't hiked recently. Got all those done and recorded on my GPS. Nothing interesting to note. Saw more hikers than bikers overall, which was unusual. After 9am, didn't see anyone. The southern spur on the Gila Trail loop is noted as part of the Gila Trail according to the signage in the park. Finished about 10:30am. Weather was more humid than hot, but it was still hot. Breezes helped a lot, but they were few and far between. Surprised that I almost got 1000' AEG.
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Feb 03 2019
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 03 2019
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking0.47 Miles 44 AEG
Hiking0.47 Miles
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Not what I was planning, but a comedy of errors (not that I was laughing) led to this hike. Wanted to do short family walk with the dogs. Got the dogs loaded into the car only to discover that one of them pooped in the car ](*,) . While cleaning it up I managed to throw my back out ](*,) ](*,) . So what was suppose to be a nice start to a fun, family filled day led to the Gila Trail (still with the dogs) and a horizontal prone day thereafter. Gila Trail is not much to get excited about, but the weather made it a delightful walk, even with the bad back.
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Mar 15 2016
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 15 2016
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking0.90 Miles 44 AEG
Hiking0.90 Miles
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Short hike with wife. Did the Gila loop twice. Nice to be out with the wife, but my foot is still bothering me so I wasn't looking to do much. The parking lot was surprisingly full for a weekday afternoon hike on a very generic trail. Saw about 8 cars at the lot, but only one couple on the trail. Meaning everyone else was using this spot as an access point to other trails.
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Jan 15 2016
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 Guides 13
 Routes 38
 Photos 1,651
 Triplogs 577

60 male
 Joined Nov 15 2005
 Jackson, CA
Rainbow Valley Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 15 2016
toddakTriplogs 577
Hiking21.00 Miles 1,000 AEG
Hiking21.00 Miles   7 Hrs   30 Mns   2.80 mph
1,000 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Mellow desert hiking
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Nov 07 2015
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 Triplogs 428

72 male
 Joined Mar 05 2013
 Payson, AZ
Butterfield Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 07 2015
mtabbertTriplogs 428
Hiking5.50 Miles 500 AEG
Hiking5.50 Miles   2 Hrs   15 Mns   2.44 mph
500 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   linked  
Partners none no partners
Part of the 100/100 Challenge.
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  1 archive
Mar 25 2015
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 25 2015
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking1.01 Miles 55 AEG
Hiking1.01 Miles
55 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Shorted family hike. Wanted to get at least a mile with this hike. Went in on the Gila. At the back end of the Gila there is a connector trail that takes you to the Baseline Trail. I took that connector trail and another connector trail (never really got on the Baseline) over to the Horseshoe Trail. Actually walked a little ways south on the Horseshoe to insure that we would get a mile in. Then turned around and took the trail back to the car. This loop would have been about .9 miles if I hadn't gone south a ways on the Horseshoe. Weather was great. Just me and my family on the trail.
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Apr 11 2014
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 11 2014
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking0.45 Miles 44 AEG
Hiking0.45 Miles      9 Mns   3.00 mph
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Why bother? Because.......
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Jul 14 2013
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 Guides 9
 Routes 33
 Photos 780
 Triplogs 4,634

44 male
 Joined Nov 25 2008
 Scottsdale, AZ
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Jul 14 2013
BoonemanTriplogs 4,634
Run/Jog13.20 Miles 97 AEG
Run/Jog13.20 Miles   1 Hour   40 Mns   7.92 mph
97 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I followed Arrick's lead this morning through Estrella Mtn RP, through washes, over fences and past dogs and bees to create a big loop around Goodyear on our morning run.
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Jun 15 2013
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 Guides 2
 Routes 10
 Photos 42
 Triplogs 893

58 male
 Joined Jul 12 2012
 Oro Valley, AZ
Baseline Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Jun 15 2013
SpiderLegsTriplogs 893
Run/Jog5.50 Miles 460 AEG
Run/Jog5.50 Miles      55 Mns   6.00 mph
460 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
I've been talked into doing a trail running race in October. So have dusted off my trail running shoes and been running the past two weeks. This morning was a moderate paced run in Estrella Mtn RP.

Parked at the trailhead at Ramada #6 and immediately hit a decent sized hill to warm up on. Worked my way over to the Baseline trail and kept going until I hit the Rainbow Valley trail. Hit 30 minutes and reversed course but this time took the Quail trail back to my car.

Need to explore this area a little more. Think with a little creativity I can put together a nice loop with a fair amount of AEG. Estrella Mtn RP is not too exciting of a place to hike, but for running it's great.
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See my pics on Instagram @tucsonexplorer
 
Sep 16 2012
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 16 2012
mt98dewTriplogs 2,387
Hiking0.40 Miles 44 AEG
Hiking0.40 Miles      6 Mns   4.00 mph
44 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
First Fall "hike" with my wife. Had to take a 5 minute breather at the half way point :D
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average hiking speed 2.42 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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