Gooseneck Trail - MSPC • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Rocky Knob Trail

Black Hill Trail - MSPN

Turpentine Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

Back out to do it again, with better camera angles. (Last week: [ photoset ] ) Totally different weather: 10° warmer, supposedly, but totally overcast, plus breezy. It was so chilly, that my post-ride refreshment was a cup of coffee from Taco Bell! Anyway, made fewer mistakes, stopped less often, and finished seven minutes faster.

Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v4cl2dt-maricopa-tra ... in-th.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/911840735

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] East End Four Peaks Tom Thumb

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Fire Burn Area & Recovery

Wildflowers Observation None
Trails got water, but too chilly for blooms.

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http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored.

Jan 31 2024

kingsnake

Guides 117
Routes 337
Photos 11,399
Triplogs 894

63 male

Joined Dec 20 2010
Sunnyslope, PHX

Tom's Thumb TH to Granite Mountain TH, AZ

Mtn Biking		Jan 31 2024
		kingsnake • Triplogs 894

Mtn Biking	9.77 Miles	403 AEG

Mtn Biking	9.77 Miles	1 Hour 28 Mns	6.66 mph
	403 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Rocky Knob Trail

[ checklist ] Altocumulus Floccus Fire Burn Area & Recovery

Black Hill Trail - MSPN

Turpentine Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

I don't see a description for this section, so using a generic. Not a lot to it. Officially, Pemberton Trail to Jackass Junction, 1/4 mile over to Gooseneck Trail, then head north.

Two days before, recon'd the route 1½ miles on foot.

Me, I biked from Tom's Thumb TH. Fast downhill, through big cholla, on Marcus Landslide Trail and Rock Knob Trail. Watch out for peds. Saw skidmark where MTB almost hit cholla.

Left on Gooseneck Trail at Diamond Fire sign. Gooseneck mostly smooth hard pack, with covering of pea gravel. Occasional granite chunks or rocks. Off camber near housing. Twisty, quick flow -- esp. northbound. Washes narrow & easily crossed as sand mostly pushed aside by previous bikes. I'm a weak MTBer and I had no problems. Few MTBs (mostly southbound), not many peds.

Had chest-mounted GoPro, but angle too low. Mostly knees and handlebars. Gotta go back and do it again next week ...

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Saguaro

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cag Shot Informational/Interpretive Sign

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation None
I swear I saw some creosote and brittlebush somewhere in the past week, but nothing today. Diamond Fire scar still scorched. Hopefully friday's rain pops the blooms ...

_____________________

http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored.

1 archive

Jan 19 2024

trekkin_gecko

Guides 10
Routes 673
Photos 7,281
Triplogs 4,660

67 female

Joined Nov 17 2008
phoenix, az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 19 2024
		trekkin_gecko • Triplogs 4,660

Hiking	10.44 Miles	817 AEG

Hiking	10.44 Miles	3 Hrs 13 Mns	3.35 mph
	817 ft AEG	6 Mns Break

Linked

Mesquite Canyon Trail - MSP

Feldspar Trail - MSP

Boulder Trail - MMRP

Partners

partners

johnlp

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

started from tom's thumb trailhead around 0800
the idea was marcus landslide over to pemberton and back on gooseneck
went through quite a bit of diamond fire burn on the northern part of the hike
cool temps to start with some high clouds
a lot of new territory for me, and i haven't hiked from tom's thumb in years
i like all the granite
good footing the entire hike with some small rolling hills
good suggestion john, thanks
breakfast at butters afterwards = yum

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hazhole

1 archive

Jan 19 2024

johnlp

Guides 1
Routes 14
Photos 7,202
Triplogs 5,208

68 male

Joined Mar 16 2008
chandler,az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 19 2024
		johnlp • Triplogs 5,208

Hiking	10.44 Miles	817 AEG

Hiking	10.44 Miles	3 Hrs 13 Mns	3.35 mph
	817 ft AEG	6 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

Mesquite Canyon Trail - MSP

Feldspar Trail - MSP

Boulder Trail - MMRP

Partners

partners

trekkin_gecko

Kelly and I got out to hike on some trails we hadn't been on in years. Trails are smooth and in great shape. Nice weather. Only saw a dozen or so others out hiking and a handful of mountain bikers.
Coffee and breakfast after. Thanks Kelly.

_____________________

“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson

Sep 02 2023

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 669
Photos 12,096
Triplogs 856

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Sep 02 2023
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 856

Hiking	10.06 Miles	427 AEG

Hiking	10.06 Miles	3 Hrs 45 Mns	2.68 mph
	427 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Redbird Trail - MSPC

Partners

none

no partners

Started from the Fraesfield Trailhead and headed south on the Gooseneck Trail, doing a lasso-Figure8 with the Redbird and Saguaro Nest Trails, heading back on Gooseneck. Clouds to the east provided some early shade, but that went away fairly quickly. It got a bit toasty and humid at times, but the breeezes picked up here and there to cool things off. Saw several bikers along the way but no hikers all morning.

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Feb 23 2020

thirstylizard

Guides 1
Routes 2
Photos 472
Triplogs 38

female

Joined Apr 27 2015
cave creek, az

[ checklist ] Dichelostemma capitatum California barrel cactus Desert Lavender Desert Wishbone Bush Fiddleneck Filaree Mexican Gold Poppy Mormon Tea - E. fasciculata Narrow-Leaved Popcorn Flower Silverstem Lupine Wild Cucumber Wrights Deervetch

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 23 2020
		thirstylizard • Triplogs 38

Hiking	7.20 Miles	392 AEG

Hiking	7.20 Miles
	392 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Took a gander at the Gooseneck Trail at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead north to Fraesfield Trailhead. I had previously hiked parts of it from Fraesfield but wanted to complete the entire connector.

This stretch of trail will soon take in views and sounds of home construction and I thought it best to enjoy it prior to further development.

Flowers starting to show, but not in a forceful way. There are some changes in landscape as you make your way through - which will be at a faster pace as there are no real inclines nor declines, but they put enough bends in the trail to keep views changing and conversation not breathy. Cattle tanks along the route had a good cache of water which may continue if rains keep up for the next few weeks. The trail skirts two of them, “Gooseneck” and one unnamed tank close to 128th Street.

I hiked as a car drop which is a nice option if you can arrange it. Easy to add mileage to this one if desired. They are flattening out the dips on 128th street in advance of the housing development. I will miss the “whee” factor when that is gone too. It isn’t paved yet, but that will come at some point.

A nice connection with this connector on a cloudy day.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Desert Varnish / Patina

Wildflowers Observation Light

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Feb 15 2020

toddak

Guides 13
Routes 38
Photos 1,651
Triplogs 577

60 male

Joined Nov 15 2005
Jackson, CA

Phoenix, AZ

Hike & Climb		Feb 15 2020
		toddak • Triplogs 577

Hike & Climb	7.00 Miles	1,000 AEG

Hike & Climb	7.00 Miles
	1,000 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

More toproping on Rock Knob then a loop hike

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Dec 11 2019

Yoder

Guides 8
Routes 70
Photos 3,208
Triplogs 273

59 male

Joined Oct 07 2017
Chandler, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 11 2019
		Yoder • Triplogs 273

Hiking	6.50 Miles	392 AEG

Hiking	6.50 Miles	2 Hrs 50 Mns		2.67 mph
	392 ft AEG	24 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Caballo Trail - MSP

[ checklist ] American Crow Black-Throated Sparrow Canyon Towhee Coyote Harris Hawk House Finch Northern Mockingbird Phainopepla

Partners

none

no partners

We combined parts of the following trails to make a 7.2 mile loop. Looks like RoudyandMe pretty much covered the same loop with the exception that he didn't hid the Caballo section of the hike, but tool the Marcus trail segment, a pretty minor deviation on the loop.
Caballo Trail
Rock Knob Trail
Gooseneck Trail
County Park Connector
Pemberton Trail
Rock Knob Trail
Caballo Trail

We started break of dawn and were rewarded with the reddest sunrise I have ever seen. Over all the hike was OK. Classic flat desert scenery. Pretty good area for birds. Trails were well marked, and extremely easy to follow. You can tell the Pemberton trail is a very popular bike trail. We only ran into one pair of bikers, but that was because it was a Wednesday, and quite early. No other encounters with people on this hike, which kind of surprised me for this area, I think everyone focuses on the mountains at this trailhead, so if you want to avoid the crowds, the flatter hikes to the East and North may be a better option, although the views are not as nice.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Saguaro - Crested

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

_____________________

J. Yoder

6 archives

Dec 10 2019

Sun_Ray

Routes 144
Photos 1,145
Triplogs 1,238

77 male

Joined Sep 09 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 10 2019
		Sun_Ray • Triplogs 1,238

Hiking	3.40 Miles	185 AEG

Hiking	3.40 Miles
	185 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Joined a McDowell Sonoran Conservancy guided hike Fire in the Desert this morning. Started out at the Tom’s Thumb TH and wondered through the Gooseneck area. Guide explained that lighting from a microburst started this 23,000 acre fire in July 1995. Showed us how to look for areas of burned saguaros and areas with limited growth of other plants. 19 people attended this free guided hike.

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Brian
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday......there is no SOMEDAY!

Mar 03 2019

cw50must

Guides 11
Routes 2
Photos 3,776
Triplogs 334

48 male

Joined Jun 09 2009
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Mtn Biking		Mar 03 2019
		cw50must • Triplogs 334

Mtn Biking	13.00 Miles	586 AEG

Mtn Biking	13.00 Miles
	586 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

Started up at Rio Verde rd. took Gooseneck down to Rock Knob, then left at Pemberton, connector back to Gooseneck, back to trailhead. I really enjoyed gooseneck, this trail had good flow in both directions, in fact this entire loop had good flow. The desert scenery is great right now!

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Jan 18 2019

Guides 3
Routes 25
Photos 2,216
Triplogs 237

63 male

Joined Apr 22 2012
Fountain Hills,

McDowell Meander, AZ

Hiking		Jan 18 2019
		KBKB • Triplogs 237

Hiking	12.03 Miles	823 AEG

Hiking	12.03 Miles	4 Hrs 36 Mns		3.21 mph
	823 ft AEG	51 Mns Break	24 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Wagner - Granite - Bluff Loop - MMRP

Delsie Trail - MMRP

Partners

none

no partners

Mike, Ben, Marilyn, Kay, Diane, and Marilyn joined me for a twelve mile hike in McDowell Mountain Regional Park and nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

We hiked: Wagner, Granite, Delsie, Gooseneck, Rock Knob, Pemberton, Bluff Tr Wash, Granite, Bluff, Granite, and back on Wagner.

We saw a lot of mountain bikes out in the morning - more than usual for a Friday. There was a group at Jackass Junction (near Granite Tank) that was working on fixing a flat. There's now a bike repair station there, complete with tubes in a mailbox. It works on the honor system - you take what you need and bring back supplies when you next ride by.

Anyway... all of these trails were in great shape. The desert was incredibly green w/ lots of flowering plants too.

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Nov 16 2018

Guides 3
Routes 25
Photos 2,216
Triplogs 237

63 male

Joined Apr 22 2012
Fountain Hills,

Wagner-Delsie-Gooseneck-Rock Knob-Bluff - MMRP, AZ

Hiking		Nov 16 2018
		KBKB • Triplogs 237

Hiking	11.80 Miles	827 AEG

Hiking	11.80 Miles	4 Hrs 19 Mns		3.20 mph
	827 ft AEG	38 Mns Break	24 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

Delsie Trail - MMRP

Partners

none

no partners

Sara, Marilyn, Marilyn, Ben, Mike, and Nick joined me for the Friday morning hike in McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

Starting from the Wagner Trailhead, we hiked: Wagner, Granite, Delsie, Gooseneck, Rock Knob, Pemberton, Bluff Wash, Bluff, Granite, and Wagner.

We saw other hikers and some mountain bikers too.

We saw a red tail hawk while we were on the Gooseneck Trail. Near the end, we saw a bunch of ravens circling - we think that there may have been something dead or dying below them.

The wash below the Bluff Trail seemed more densely vegetated than I remember it being in the past. We also encountered a deeply eroded trench - perhaps three feet deep - that I don't remember seeing before. That was in one of the washes though. As noted in other triplogs, trails in the park are in good condition.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Chain Fruit Cholla Chuparosa Goldeneye

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Aug 10 2018

Guides 3
Routes 25
Photos 2,216
Triplogs 237

63 male

Joined Apr 22 2012
Fountain Hills,

Wagner-Bluff-Gooseneck-Pemberton - MMRP, AZ

Hiking		Aug 10 2018
		KBKB • Triplogs 237

Hiking	13.42 Miles	784 AEG

Hiking	13.42 Miles	4 Hrs 37 Mns		2.96 mph
	784 ft AEG	5 Mns Break	23 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Lariat Trail - MMRP

Partners

none

no partners

Another solo Friday hike for me...

Starting from the Wagner Trailhead at McDowell Mountain Regional Park (MMRP), I hiked Wagner, left on Granite, right on Bluff, left on Pemberton, right on Rock Knob, right on Gooseneck. When I came to the county park connectors which led back into the park, I took the connector that brought me over to the Saguaro Nest Trail. I hiked a short ways on Saguaro Nest and then (finally) took the connector which brought me back into MMRP. At that point, I got back onto the Pemberton and headed east, turning right on Lariat, then left on Granite. That led me back to Wagner which led me back to my truck.

The trails were in remarkably good shape after the storm that hit the area on Wednesday evening. I didn't see much evidence of serious erosion, though it was obvious that the washes had flowed heavily for a time. I saw a significant amount of water in Granite Tank - probably the most I've ever seen in that tank.

I saw several mountain bikers early on and then one more out on Gooseneck. After that, I saw no one until I got back to the parking area. There, I saw Susan Davis, who used to hike with our group a number of years ago. She still comes to the park, but restricts herself to hiking the roads.

As I was driving out of the park, I saw a dump truck leaving after having dumped a load of sand (presumably from road cleanup) along the side of the park road near the entrance. Just outside the park, I saw other machines working on clearing the section of road where Shallmo Wash crosses the road. On Wednesday evening, I stopped to look at Shallmo Wash from the driveway connecting the Four Peaks / Horse Staging area with the main park road. It looked like a small but turbulent river.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Barrel Cactus Desert Senna Whitethorn Acacia

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Senna, Barrel Cactus

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Jan 12 2018

Guides 3
Routes 25
Photos 2,216
Triplogs 237

63 male

Joined Apr 22 2012
Fountain Hills,

Wagner-Bluff Wash-Gooseneck-Delsie Loop - MMRP, AZ

Hiking		Jan 12 2018
		KBKB • Triplogs 237

Hiking	11.77 Miles	745 AEG

Hiking	11.77 Miles	4 Hrs 8 Mns		3.07 mph
	745 ft AEG	18 Mns Break	24 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

Delsie Trail - MMRP

Partners

none

no partners

I led a group of 11 - counting me - on a lollilop-loop hike in McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Starting from the Wagner Trailhead, we hiked Wagner and then Granite, crossing Stoneman Wash. Then, just as the Granite Trail starts to head south, we instead headed WSW in the wash which parallels the Bluff Trail. Although not very far from the Bluff Trail, the views within the wash are totally different due to being more enclosed. We then followed Pemberton south and then southwest to the Rock Knob Trail. Rock Knob took us to Gooseneck where we hiked to the county park connector trail that brought us back into MMRP. From there we hiked back via the Delsie, Granite, and Wagner Trails.

Trail conditions were good all around. The wash required two or three scrambling moves along the way in addition to pushing through a few bushes, but is otherwise pretty easy too.

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Oct 08 2017

Thoreau

Routes 10
Photos 466
Triplogs 680

male

Joined Mar 10 2008
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Mtn Biking		Oct 08 2017
		Thoreau • Triplogs 680

Mtn Biking	24.97 Miles	392 AEG

Mtn Biking	24.97 Miles	2 Hrs 54 Mns	8.61 mph
	392 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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Oct 07 2017

Thoreau

Routes 10
Photos 466
Triplogs 680

male

Joined Mar 10 2008
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Mtn Biking		Oct 07 2017
		Thoreau • Triplogs 680

Mtn Biking	24.36 Miles	392 AEG

Mtn Biking	24.36 Miles	2 Hrs 47 Mns	8.75 mph
	392 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

Mesquite Canyon Trail - MSP

Partners

none

no partners

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Apr 29 2017

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

McDowell Preserve Central Area, AZ

Hiking		Apr 29 2017
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	10.30 Miles	1,100 AEG

Hiking	10.30 Miles	4 Hrs 40 Mns	2.42 mph
	1,100 ft AEG	25 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Feldspar Trail - MSP

Tom's Thumb Trail - MSP

Service Road #1 - MSPC

Partners

none

no partners

Nice cooler temps today and limited for time so stayed close.
TT :next:

Mesquite Cyn :next:

Feldspar

Marcus Landslide :next:

Rock Knob

Pemberton

Saguaro Nest :next:

Service Rd #1 :next:

Gooseneck

TH

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Christmas Cholla Dodder White Ratany

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

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1 archive

Feb 25 2017

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

MSPC lasso loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 25 2017
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	6.50 Miles	600 AEG

Hiking	6.50 Miles	2 Hrs 25 Mns	2.69 mph
	600 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

Service Road #2 - MSPC

Redbird Trail - MSPC

Partners

none

no partners

Short on time today so I did a quick loop in MSP Central.
Gooseneck - Service Rd #2 - Redbird and back on Gooseneck.

Wildflowers Observation Light

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1 archive

Sep 16 2016

New2hyk

Photos 5,768
Triplogs 259

59 female

Joined Jan 04 2012
scottsdale, AZ

[ checklist ] Abert's Towhee Brewers Sparrow California Patch Butterfly Common checkered skipper Curve-billed Thrasher Empress Leilia Butterfly Gambel's Quail Gilded Flicker Harris Hawk House Finch Mule Deer Northern Mockingbird Osprey Pallid Winged Grasshopper Say's Phoebe Vesper Sparrow

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Sep 16 2016
		New2hyk • Triplogs 259

Hiking	0.50 Miles	50 AEG

Hiking	0.50 Miles
	50 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Went to the water tank this morning as per suggestion by another steward who saw kingfisher yesterday. It was first documented in conservancy. I went but unfortunately didn't see it. Instead, I scared the jeepers out of a bobcat which ran so fast that I couldn't take a photo. Herd of deer came by and I also managed to scare them off too. Saw the usual players and finally saw an osprey and captured it. It was first in the conservancy to document it :y:

. Awesome. I also saw a vesper sparrow (being confirmed) which is a first for me

Overall, excellent outing.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

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Sep 14 2016

New2hyk

Photos 5,768
Triplogs 259

59 female

Joined Jan 04 2012
scottsdale, AZ