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Bursera Trail - South Mountain - 39 members in 526 triplogs have rated this an average 3.2 ( 1 to 5 best )
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 27  Next
526 triplogs
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Feb 19 2026
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 Guides 112
 Routes 2,442
 Photos 9,563
 Triplogs 2,793

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Bursera - Gila loop, AZ 
Bursera - Gila loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 19 2026
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,793
Hiking5.90 Miles 1,231 AEG
Hiking5.90 Miles   2 Hrs   14 Mns   2.72 mph
1,231 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Loop of Bursera & Gila trails. Cool morning. Too much sun. Lots of coyotes. Not many hikers.
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
229489
Feb 16 2026
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Gila Gila, AZ 
Gila Gila, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 16 2026
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking11.58 Miles 2,420 AEG
Hiking11.58 Miles   3 Hrs   45 Mns   3.25 mph
2,420 ft AEG      11 Mns Break
 
got going around 0800 from pyramid
bursera, west end of gila, national, pyramid/gila
quite a few people out
windy up high with some cloud cover
good hike, needed one like that
_____________________
hazhole
 
229448
Feb 11 2026
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 Guides 112
 Routes 2,442
 Photos 9,563
 Triplogs 2,793

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Bursera Trail - South MountainPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 11 2026
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,793
Hiking4.07 Miles 1,019 AEG
Hiking4.07 Miles   2 Hrs   2 Mns   2.07 mph
1,019 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
Tortoise_Hiker
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Denny finally decided to hike with me again after I pushed him down in Pima Wash a couple of months ago. Met at Bursera around 0730. Nice clouds and breeze on our way up Bursera. We turned around at the junction with Bursera Canyon, which also happens to be the two mile point. Retraced our steps back out. The parking lot was about full when we finished, but we didn’t see many other hikers. Good workout, and always great to catch up with Denny!
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
229322
Feb 11 2026
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 Guides 1
 Routes 149
 Photos 10,148
 Triplogs 3,787

64 male
 Joined Apr 02 2005
 Mesa, AZ
Bursera Trail - South MountainPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 11 2026
Tortoise_HikerTriplogs 3,787
Hiking4.07 Miles 1,019 AEG
Hiking4.07 Miles   2 Hrs   2 Mns   2.07 mph
1,019 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
LindaAnn
Met Linda for a leg stretcher at South Mountain. She ordered some clouds and nice temps for us. Did a few miles on the smoother part of Bursera as an out and back. Enjoyable morning and great to catch up with Linda! Like HAZ, she rocks!
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
_____________________
Tortoise Hiking. Stop and smell the Petrichor.
 
229323
Feb 04 2026
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 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,313
 Triplogs 2,484

56 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Bursera Trail - South MountainPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 04 2026
mt98dewTriplogs 2,484
Hiking6.71 Miles 1,870 AEG
Hiking6.71 Miles   2 Hrs   41 Mns   2.50 mph
1,870 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Early morning hike at SoMo. Got started from the Bursera TH around 6:30. Still dark out, but you could see that daylight wasn’t far off. It’s been awhile since I’ve done all of Bursera. Pretty nice tread all the way up to the Bursera Canyon junction. Also, there are quite a few nice little “pullouts” where you can catch your breath and capture some pictures of the pending sunrise. After the Bursera Canyon juncture the trail gets a lot more rocky. The trail has a decent incline until it nears the bottom when it starts to flatten out and parallel the wash. Crossing the wash, I got my first look at the Gila Trail extension. It’s been there for a bit, but I have yet to check it out. Today, I headed on up to the National where the Bursera officially ends. Then took National over to Lost Ranch. Love the National for the most part, but there is a climb early on in this stretch that I really don’t care for. :sweat: Not bad this time of year, but it can really take it out of you in the summer. Took Lost Ranch down to Bursera. On the way down checked out a mine shaft that had been on my “to do list” for awhile. The shaft is just above the trail and the slope is very steep. Little tricky to reach it. Not huge, about 4 ft deep. Nothing like the cave near the base Lost Mine Ranch. Returned to the TH via the Bursera.

Nice morning for a hike. Temps in the upper 50’s. Very windy today. No wildlife. Encountered 4 hikers.
_____________________
  1 archive
229183
Feb 01 2026
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Pyramid Ruins, AZ 
Pyramid Ruins, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 01 2026
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking8.25 Miles 1,776 AEG
Hiking8.25 Miles   2 Hrs   39 Mns   3.15 mph
1,776 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
met up with john at 0700
pyramid, national, goat hill, ruins
good hike, thanks john
pastries after at https://www.wonderiftcoffee.com/
good banana bread
_____________________
hazhole
 
229109
Feb 01 2026
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 Guides 1
 Routes 15
 Photos 7,285
 Triplogs 5,261

68 male
 Joined Mar 16 2008
 chandler,az
Pyramid Ruins, AZ 
Pyramid Ruins, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 01 2026
johnlpTriplogs 5,261
Hiking8.25 Miles 1,776 AEG
Hiking8.25 Miles   2 Hrs   39 Mns   3.21 mph
1,776 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 no routes
Nice workout hike with the gecko. Wildflowers are getting some diversity. All are early.
Good hike. Thanks Kelly. :)
_____________________
“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson
 
229298
Jan 11 2026
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Pyramid Trail - South MountainPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
 Hiking avatar Jan 11 2026
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
 Hiking6.27 Miles 1,350 AEG
 Hiking6.27 Miles   1 Hour   55 Mns   3.27 mph
1,350 ft AEG
 
Partners none no partners
up and back on pyramid
late morning start time
breezy, nice temps
crossed paths with jj on his way down
don't feel like i'm in very good shape lately, so was happy to hit the post under an hour
only one way to fix that
_____________________
hazhole
  1 archive
228648
Jan 10 2026
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,149
 Triplogs 4,265

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
South Mountain, AZ 
South Mountain, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 10 2026
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,265
Hiking16.25 Miles 4,154 AEG
Hiking16.25 Miles   4 Hrs   53 Mns   3.53 mph
4,154 ft AEG      17 Mns Break6 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Big Loop at south mountain. the wind for the first half was horrendous then it calmed down. great route and fun day out there seeing a bunch of new stuff
_____________________
hi
 
228698
Jan 08 2026
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 Guides 112
 Routes 2,442
 Photos 9,563
 Triplogs 2,793

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Gila - Bursera Canyon loop, AZ 
Gila - Bursera Canyon loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 08 2026
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,793
Hiking3.80 Miles 805 AEG
Hiking3.80 Miles   1 Hour   23 Mns   2.81 mph
805 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Parked at Bursera trailhead and headed west on Gila. Tons of poppies on the east side of the saddle. Just before the saddle, Wyatt called to tell me he was sick and needing to leave school. Ugh, my planned 8 miles just got a lot shorter. At the saddle, I took the connector up to Bursera, west on Bursera, then down Bursera Canyon to complete a short loop. Nice temps and clouds, but too sunny by the finish.
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
228600
Dec 30 2025
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 Guides 1
 Routes 235
 Photos 1,321
 Triplogs 222

male
 Joined Mar 14 2015
 Phoenix, AZ
Goat Hill Loop via Pyramid / BurseraPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 30 2025
astrobrewerTriplogs 222
Hiking10.78 Miles 3,114 AEG
Hiking10.78 Miles   3 Hrs   56 Mns   2.76 mph
3,114 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Started seeing poppies on the way up Bursera. All the North-facing slopes were covered with yellow poppies. Very beautiful. Magical. All the way down to the bottom of the hill.

I saw one patch of poppies from National Trail near Goat Hill, but otherwise none. There likely were poppies on the steeper slopes not visible from the trail. Saw more poppies along the Pyramid Trail.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Coulter's Lupine
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
Poppies on north-facing slopes.
_____________________
 
228441
Dec 28 2025
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 Guides 1
 Routes 235
 Photos 1,321
 Triplogs 222

male
 Joined Mar 14 2015
 Phoenix, AZ
Bursera CanyonPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 28 2025
astrobrewerTriplogs 222
Hiking7.11 Miles 1,518 AEG
Hiking7.11 Miles   2 Hrs   59 Mns   2.48 mph
1,518 ft AEG      7 Mns Break
 
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
First hike since before Thanksgiving due to holiday busyness and houseguests. Got a late start because I was feeling a little under the weather, but was determined to hike. Started on Bursera Canyon Trail because it's been ages since I last hiked that trail. There were lots of purple scorpion weed flowers and rock daisies blooming. At the junction with Bursera Trail I headed downhill towards the west.

On the north-facing slopes there were yellow poppies in bloom. Lots of them. Entire hillsides were covered with bright yellow flowers. Absolutely beautiful and unexpected. The north-facing slopes were very lush and green and the bright yellow flowers really popped.

At the bottom of the hill I took the Gila Trail to the National Trail to the Bursera Trail, and then to the Gila Trail heading eastward. More poppies on bloom on the north-facing slopes below Bursera Trail on the downhill section of Gila.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
Poppies on bloom on north-facing slopes. Purple scorpion weed and rock daisies also blooming.
_____________________
 
228436
Dec 14 2025
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Pyramid Ruins, AZ 
Pyramid Ruins, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 14 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking8.25 Miles 1,776 AEG
Hiking8.25 Miles   2 Hrs   37 Mns   3.21 mph
1,776 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
met john at pyramid at 0645
did the ruins pyramid loop clockwise this time
it's been a minute since we hiked together :lol:
temps were nice
a few people on pyramid
good hike, good refreshments, thanks john
_____________________
hazhole
 
228036
Dec 14 2025
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 Guides 1
 Routes 15
 Photos 7,285
 Triplogs 5,261

68 male
 Joined Mar 16 2008
 chandler,az
Pyramid Ruins, AZ 
Pyramid Ruins, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 14 2025
johnlpTriplogs 5,261
Hiking8.25 Miles 1,776 AEG
Hiking8.25 Miles   2 Hrs   37 Mns   3.21 mph
1,776 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 no routes
Senior Circuit back in action. Thanks Kelly! :)
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
_____________________
“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson
 
228353
Dec 08 2025
avatar

 Guides 112
 Routes 2,442
 Photos 9,563
 Triplogs 2,793

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Gila - Bursera Canyon loop, AZ 
Gila - Bursera Canyon loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 08 2025
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,793
Hiking7.12 Miles 1,436 AEG
Hiking7.12 Miles   2 Hrs   38 Mns   2.74 mph
1,436 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
Partners partners
danielac
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Met up with Daniela at the Bursera trailhead and got started around 0750. West on Gila to its end, east on National, east on Bursera, finished on Bursera Canyon.

Comfortable temps in the shade, warm in the sun. Not many other hikers out. Good workout.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
Lots of poppies along Gila, just west of Lost Ranch. Some also along Bursera. Random scorpionweed. Brittlebush.
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
227908
Nov 03 2025
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 Guides 112
 Routes 2,442
 Photos 9,563
 Triplogs 2,793

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Bees Knees LoopPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 03 2025
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,793
Hiking6.54 Miles 1,689 AEG
Hiking6.54 Miles   3 Hrs   1 Min   2.23 mph
1,689 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Decent enough workout loop. Bursera has some new erosion, of course. Not terrible for hiking, but probably sucks on a bike. National was mostly okay. Ruins has some new loose rock, but was actually not as bad as I thought it would be. It’s in better shape than the other Lost trails.

More flies than mosquitoes. Plenty of grasshoppers. A few caterpillars. Parking lot was full, but didn’t see many hikers. High clouds were nice.
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
227161
Oct 19 2025
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 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Pyramid Ruins, AZ 
Pyramid Ruins, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking8.25 Miles 1,776 AEG
Hiking8.25 Miles   2 Hrs   39 Mns   3.15 mph
1,776 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
met john at pyramid at 0600
pyramid to goat hill, west on national, down ruins
all of the trails had some erosion, but the condition of ruins put it back on my avoid list
temps were great, still a good hike
thanks, john
jj sighting when we finished
_____________________
hazhole
 
226729
Oct 19 2025
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 Guides 1
 Routes 15
 Photos 7,285
 Triplogs 5,261

68 male
 Joined Mar 16 2008
 chandler,az
Pyramid Ruins, AZ 
Pyramid Ruins, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2025
johnlpTriplogs 5,261
Hiking8.25 Miles 1,776 AEG
Hiking8.25 Miles   2 Hrs   39 Mns   3.15 mph
1,776 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 no routes
Beautiful morning for a hike. Trail erosion throughout from the last storm. Haven't seen the likes in a decade. Ran into JJ again in the parking lot as we finished. :)
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson
 
226804
Sep 02 2025
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 Guides 112
 Routes 2,442
 Photos 9,563
 Triplogs 2,793

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Gila - Bursera Canyon loop, AZ 
Gila - Bursera Canyon loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Sep 02 2025
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,793
Hiking7.02 Miles 1,364 AEG
Hiking7.02 Miles   2 Hrs   57 Mns   2.42 mph
1,364 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Unfortunately, I’m back in AZ for a couple of weeks. I don’t like warm temps. I don’t like the high overhead angle of the sun. I don’t like cactus or thorns. I don’t like brown or dusty dirt. I don’t like arid climates. So I decided to go do a hike in all of those things.

Started around 0515 and headed west on Gila. Back east on National and Bursera. Finished up on Bursera Canyon. Only saw one other person. Heard some owls.
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunrise
_____________________
Stop crying and just go do the hike.
  1 archive
225680
Aug 20 2025
avatar

 Guides 10
 Routes 700
 Photos 7,591
 Triplogs 4,843

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Goat Hill Loop via Pyramid / BurseraPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 20 2025
trekkin_geckoTriplogs 4,843
Hiking10.60 Miles 2,300 AEG
Hiking10.60 Miles   3 Hrs   16 Mns   3.26 mph
2,300 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
0530 start up pyramid
national with a stop at goat hill, bursera
had to chug our na beers after :lol:
good hike, thanks john
_____________________
hazhole
  1 archive
225427
average hiking speed 2.48 mph
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 27  Next

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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