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| Hiking | 7.06 Miles |
400 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.06 Miles | 5 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.28 mph |
| 400 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | Joshua Forest January 2014 Trek
FitBit totals
10.76 miles total (3.70 @ HRP, 7.06 @ Joshua Forest)
520 AEG total (52 floors, 12 @ HRP, 40 @ JF)
423 images on 6D
089 images on 7D
059 images on rebel XT
013 images on iPhone 4S
584 TOTAL IMAGES
HAZ Joshua Forest Scenic Parkway hike description  [ Joshua Forest Scenic Parkway ]
Start at MM 27.0 for Roadside Picnic Table "launching point" [ photo ]
Planned start at the State Trust Land access road met with locked gate https://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces?l ... 0&t=h&z=18
Rendezvous at the Wickenburg McDonalds and headed off to Joshua Forest to disprove a conventional wisdom that the only place you can see a Joshua tree is in the California Mohave Desert, in particular, Joshua Tree National Park https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm and [ Joshua Tree National Park Trails ]
With our planned State Trust Land thwarted, went to plan "B" accessing Joshua Forest west of the roadside picnic area. Interesting off-trail hiking with only two negatives - hydro lines bisecting the forest about a mile west of Hwy 93 and hidden cactus spines that always seemed to find their way into a butt cheek!
We were treated to an Arizona sunset that certainly made up for any collateral damage.
Tres Alamos 4293 - Black Mtn hike has to be explored on a return visit [ Sawyer Peak 4293 - Black Mtns - Tres Alamos ]
Some additional references for a return visit;
https://www.ghosttownaz.info/nothing.php
https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/87?offset=5
[ Joshua Forest Scenic Parkway ]
https://www.arizonascenicroads.com/nort ... cle_1.html
https://www.arizonahighways.com/extras/ ... _drive.asp
https://www.davewilsonimages.com/joshua_trees_az.html
HAZ Hassayampa River Preserve hike description [ Hassayampa River Preserve ]
HRP Trail Map [ Hassayampa River Preserve ]
Sampled all the trails; Palm Lake Loop, Willow Walkway, Mesquite Meander, Lion Trail, and River Ramble.
I was surprised to learn that HRP is part of the Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/r ... eserve.xml just like one of my favorite places in Arizona, Hart Prairie https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/r ... eserve.xml
The Nature Conservancy acquired the site in 1986 and began rehabilitation from what originally was established as an 1880's ranch, then as an upscale resort circa 1930 that morphed into an RV site complete with full service concrete slabs. Let's just say the site volunteers are a fount of information!
I've heard from some of my birder friends that HRP is a primo bird watching spot. I can't comment too much since this was a mid-day visit - water birds were negligible save for a lone mallard in Palm Lake. HRP was definitely "hummingbird city" though.
I think I got my $5 worth visiting this little gem...
Photos to follow when I get the chance.
Sent from my iPad |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Brittlebush blooming in some of the Hwy93 roadside ditches |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
Not the super loop today, but overall a nice, peaceful area lacking aircraft noise mostly. Occasionally vehicles could be heard below, but still not overly annoying. Thirty bucks for a campsite seems reasonable when compared to other similar areas, e.g. Idyllwild.
