Yavapai Point Trail - Lake Pleasant • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 19 2025
		kingsnake • Triplogs 894

Hiking	5.95 Miles	724 AEG

Hiking	5.95 Miles	2 Hrs 5 Mns	2.86 mph
	724 ft AEG

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FCDMC rain gauge "15300 Lake Pleasant North" had 0.39" prior to 2/21, 0.52" all day on 3/7, 0.15" the afternoon of 3/13, and 0.20" overnight 3/14 into morning 3/15, for a seasonal total of 1.26". Or 87% of Phoenix's normal 1.45″ winter monsoon. North Mountain, by comparison, has only had 1.06”.

When I started hiking Cottonwood Trail from North Gate at 9:45 a.m., it was 57℉, but windy & chilly. It stayed windy, particularly up on Yavapai Point.

I was hoping the increased moisture broke my flower slump. Unfortunately, the only color I found was the red fruit of some Christmas cholla along Cottonwood Trail. The friendly burro reminded me of last summer's wild horses: [ photoset ] .

I saw no people on Cottonwood, but heading up the hill there were plenty. As I commented to one passing couple: "It's like hiking Camelback!" (Okay, maybe not quite that bad.)

I arrived at the top of Yavapai Point after 1h 20m of actual movement, not counting photo stops. Coincidenally, the benchmark was just ten feet past the bench.

I spent 20 unlucky minutes searching for reference marks, and another 10 enjoying the views.

All the folks that left the summit before me, I passed them on the way down. I bet I jogged a third of the way back to North Gate. I made it back in only 45 minutes.

Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v6r15dk-hiking-yavap ... asant.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/1068404483

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Christmas Cholla Saguaro

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Wild Burro

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Indian Mesa Lake Pleasant Wild Burro Mesa

Wildflowers Observation None
Worst flower season since I moved back to Arizona in 2004.

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

Jul 15 2023

mt98dew

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,387

55 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jul 15 2023
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387

Hiking	5.24 Miles	408 AEG

Hiking	5.24 Miles	2 Hrs 2 Mns	2.58 mph
	408 ft AEG

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Family wanted to spend some time at the lake, so of course I used this as an opportunity to revisit one of the nicer trails…Yavapai Point trail. Started the hike from the staging area, so I had a few extra steps just to get to the TH. (Avoided the road by following some burro paths both there and back). It’s been a few years since doing this trail and I’d forgotten how nice this trail is. Trail was in good shape and easy to follow. Decent views of the lake at the beginning and end of the trail. There was quite a bit of noise coming from the lake below, but lost most of it as I lost sight of the lake and gained elevation. Pretty rough out there. Brown everywhere and several more “islands” than I remember. That being said, burros looked healthy. Saw four while out there, along with a rabbit and multiple lizards.

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Jan 14 2023

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 670
Photos 12,111
Triplogs 857

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 14 2023
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 857

Hiking	10.57 Miles	1,434 AEG

Hiking	10.57 Miles	4 Hrs 39 Mns	2.28 mph
	1,434 ft AEG	1 Min Break

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Wild Burro Trail - Lake Pleasant

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I hiked almost all of these trails about 5 years ago except for the Cottonwood Trail, so it seemed like the right time to go back and hike that and not be bored by hiking the other trails for a 2nd time.

The Cottonwood Trail has a trailhead on the north end, but I opted to hike from the south end since it has restrooms and a bench to use while I changed shoes afterwards. The first 20+ minutes I hiked in the dark with a headlamp, despite the hour plus drive from my house. Just short of the north trailhead is an unmarked trail that crosses the Cottonwood Trail that is marked by "AREA CLOSED" signs. So I ignored those and hiked the north segment to Castle Springs Road and then the south segment to a wash that intersected another wash that led back to the Cottonwood again. Nice little side excursion to mix it up a bit.

I was surprised to see how low Lake Pleasant is despite all the recent rain. The views from Yavapai Point made this obvious. I hiked up to there and then down the Pipeline Canyon Trail and a bit down the Wild Burro Trail before turning around. The bridge crossing on Pipeline Canyon looks beyond repair, but no longer relevant.

Once I was no longer on the Wild Burro Trail and on the Pipeline Canyon Trail, I saw a group of wild burros. Lots of hikers later in the day. Cloudy skies made for not great lighting for pictures, but kept the temperature comfortable.

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Feb 06 2022

johnlp

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

68 male

Joined Mar 16 2008
chandler,az

Apache Pipeline Yavapai, AZ

Hiking		Feb 06 2022
		johnlp • Triplogs 5,208

Hiking	12.55 Miles	2,656 AEG

Hiking	12.55 Miles	4 Hrs 57 Mns	2.63 mph
	2,656 ft AEG	11 Mns Break

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Apache Peak - Cave Creek

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trekkin_gecko

Unlikely hiking combo turned out great. We started with Apache Peak via the Maricopa trail on a breezy chilly morning. We warmed up quickly making our way up through some beautiful desert full of picturesque saguaros. Apache Peak has wonderful views of the surrounding area.
Next we drove west to Lake Pleasant and the Pipeline trail. The bridge is out, so our hike from the south was a short one. We drove over to the north side and completed the trail. Along the way back we hiked up to the Yavapai Point Lookout which has really nice views of the lake and mountains.
Fun day. Thanks Kelly.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] African Daisy

_____________________

“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson

Feb 06 2022

trekkin_gecko

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

67 female

Joined Nov 17 2008
phoenix, az

Apache Pipeline Yavapai, AZ

Hiking		Feb 06 2022
		trekkin_gecko • Triplogs 4,660

Hiking	12.55 Miles	2,656 AEG

Hiking	12.55 Miles	4 Hrs 57 Mns	2.63 mph
	2,656 ft AEG	11 Mns Break

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Apache Peak - Cave Creek

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johnlp

john suggested apache peak for today
we had planned to do the extended hike that @bifrost and @slowandsteady did recently
set out around 0745 in 40 degree temps
the first two miles follow the maricopa trail, then we took the father's day use trail up to the peak
steeper toward the top with a little scramble up high
had some paranoia regarding the active beehive older triplogs mentioned, so when there were a few bees at the summit i wanted to head back down right away
(sorry about that, john) it's a nice summit
father's day is a good trail, but i was glad i had a hiking pole on this part
smooth sailing back to spear s trailhead
a nice peak that had been on my b list for awhile
lots of large, multi armed saguaros along the way
didn't see anyone until almost finished
we decided to head over to lake pleasant to hike pipeline canyon, which had been on john's list
parked at the south trailhead and did the shorter section first
discussed options that included wild burro, then drove to the north trailhead and did the rest of pipeline
on the return, cut over to yavapai point trail and went up to the lookout, staying on that trail on the way back
this was a nice little combo - posted our track for it
lots more to do out that way, too
fun day with a solid peak and some new trails
thanks, lp! as always, good times

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Old Glory

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hazhole

1 archive

Dec 25 2020

Hippy

Guides 8
Routes 12
Photos 1,918
Triplogs 662

39 female

Joined Dec 02 2009
Grand Canyon

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 25 2020
		Hippy • Triplogs 662

Hiking	7.60 Miles	567 AEG

Hiking	7.60 Miles	3 Hrs	2.53 mph
	567 ft AEG

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Threw together three little trails to get some miles for the 100 miles in 100 days Maricopa county puts on.
Lake Pleasant has got to be my favorite regional Park and it has nothing to do with the fact that it's the closest...I swear.

Saw plenty of burros. Also plenty of idiots petting and feeding the burros

Don't feed the wildlife you morons, it's posted everywhere!!

Anyway, Yavapai trail looked like the burros or some javelina had thrown a party, or maybe it was the wind, Cholla everywhere, strewn all about the trail! Ouch.

Happy chollamas!

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Canyon Freak Adventures!

3 archives

Dec 08 2020

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 840
Photos 22,055
Triplogs 1,993

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 08 2020
		chumley • Triplogs 1,993

Hiking	0.30 Miles	50 AEG

Hiking	0.30 Miles	2 Hrs	0.15 mph
	50 ft AEG

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Covid has resulted in Lake Pleasant closing a lot of the park access points this summer or limiting hours in developed areas, but I was able to get out and enjoy a few hours on a nice midweek evening for a bit. It's a nice part of the world.

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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Dec 30 2019

nikorock28

Routes 18
Photos 580
Triplogs 1,081

42 male

Joined Nov 16 2010
Kingman, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 30 2019
		nikorock28 • Triplogs 1,081

Hiking	3.40 Miles	575 AEG

Hiking	3.40 Miles
	575 ft AEG

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This was my first visit to Lake Pleasant. I had just enough time to hike to the point and back in the last hour before sunset. It was windy and a little cold. The view from the point was very nice. Nice little trail.

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Dec 01 2019

mt98dew

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,387

55 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 01 2019
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387

Hiking	5.30 Miles	399 AEG

Hiking	5.30 Miles	1 Hour 50 Mns	2.89 mph
	399 ft AEG

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Early morning hike. Headed out from the Walkin Jim TH a little after 6:30. Took about .25 miles to connect to the Cottonwood Trail and from there it was a short stint on the Pipeline to get to the Yavapai Point Trail. Nice trail. Very gradual climb to overlook. Beautiful views of Lake Pleasant. Bench at top was a nice surprise, though a little chilly for staying in one place. I didn't realize that there are two access points from the Pipeline to the Yavapai. Either connection gives about the same distance. Saw one hiker while I was out. Wildlife...one hawk and of course the obligatory burros....7 in total, 3 of them young. Heard quite a few coyotes talking "late" (for them) in the morning (8am). On the drive out I saw what I think was a dead burro on the side of the road being worked over by a couple of coyotes.

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Nov 08 2019

Hippy

Guides 8
Routes 12
Photos 1,918
Triplogs 662

39 female

Joined Dec 02 2009
Grand Canyon

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 08 2019
		Hippy • Triplogs 662

Hiking	3.48 Miles	790 AEG

Hiking	3.48 Miles	1 Hour 55 Mns	2.15 mph
	790 ft AEG	18 Mns Break

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

Short sunset hike with Lake Pleasant Rangers
I get to volunteer at Lake Pleasant for the winter and one of my Ranger friends can't wait to get me doing some Programs out there. Sweet!

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Canyon Freak Adventures!

Nov 02 2019

Hippy

Guides 8
Routes 12
Photos 1,918
Triplogs 662

39 female

Joined Dec 02 2009
Grand Canyon

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 02 2019
		Hippy • Triplogs 662

Hiking	3.35 Miles	624 AEG

Hiking	3.35 Miles	1 Hour 32 Mns	2.61 mph
	624 ft AEG	15 Mns Break

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

Chase dog, Sister, her friend Joe, my two friends Celia and Tom and of course myself and Jamie went out for an easy stroll this morning.
Our first of many family friendly hikes this winter.
We are getting the kiddos (ages 11, 10, 7 and 4) interested in the Maricopa County Parks 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge but we're also doing some adult only hikes that begin with mimosas and end with mimosas!

Yavapai Overlook trail is super beautiful and familiar surroundings for yours truly. Though I'd forgotten how small Pleasant is compared to yucky ole Powell!

Very dog friendly trail is dog is smart enough to keep his face out of the cholla. Chase dog learned quickly.
Lots of wild burros out this morning too. Eeeaw!

Also, tried out RouteScout app for the first time, cool! It sang bird songs at every mile and the dog went crazy haha nice addition to HAZ!

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Canyon Freak Adventures!

1 archive

May 20 2017

caragruey

Guides 4
Routes 52
Photos 1,303
Triplogs 75

female

Joined Feb 04 2017
Sun City

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 20 2017
		caragruey • Triplogs 75

Hiking	1.40 Miles	399 AEG

Hiking	1.40 Miles
	399 ft AEG

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Interesting light morning hike, started in on the pipeline trailhead which connects to yavapai point trail. Gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding mountains, and I always enjoy a bonus bench at the top. Well traveled with runners and other hikers.

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Mar 12 2017

Sun_Ray

Routes 144
Photos 1,145
Triplogs 1,238

77 male

Joined Sep 09 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 12 2017
		Sun_Ray • Triplogs 1,238

Hiking	5.12 Miles	602 AEG

Hiking	5.12 Miles	2 Hrs 25 Mns	2.60 mph
	602 ft AEG	27 Mns Break

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Judy and I out looking for wildflowers and a burro would be a bonus. Main gate told us that the bridge on Pipeline Canyon Trial was not operational and suggested we start at the North end of the trail for a longer out and back hike. As we hiked Pipeline we came across Yavapai Point Trail so followed Pipeline to the bridge that is not operational because the ends are about 10 yards from the shore because the water line is up. On the return we hiked Yavapai and took it back to the parking lot. Moderate poppy's and brittle bush is just starting to open up. Next few weeks should be spectacular!

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Mexican poppy, brittle bush

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

Feb 12 2017

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 670
Photos 12,111
Triplogs 857

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 12 2017
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 857

Hiking	10.40 Miles	1,319 AEG

Hiking	10.40 Miles	4 Hrs 30 Mns	2.31 mph
	1,319 ft AEG

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Wild Burro Trail - Lake Pleasant

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JimmyLyding

Jim was back in town for a wedding and wanted to do a hike. I also had friends from Pgh in town for the Pens game Sat nite, but I was determined to get all the socializing in for one weekend. After getting home later and an early wake up, we started on the trail at 7am.

We took the Pipeline Canyon Trail straight to the Yavapai Pt. Trail and took that out and back and then took the shortcut connecting trail back to the Pipeline Canyon Trail and then to the Wild Burro Trail, down to where I left off last month from the Beardsley Trail. When we started, there was a warning sign that the Pipeline Canyon Trail was closed as the one cove where the water was higher and the bridge was out. Once we got to that point, we started to follow the contours of the land around the cove and encountered a faint trail that seemed to be made from others with same intent as us, to get around the water anyway. At one point in the corner of a ravine we even saw a cairn. The crossing of the big cove was a bit tricky, but nothing worse than anything we've encountered in the Sierra Anchas or elsewhere in the TontoNF.

the bushwhack slowed us down a bit so that when we didn't have enough time to finish the Cottonwood Trail, which I had wanted to do. 2 miles less than planned, but finishing at 11:30am seemed like a good idea since Jim had to catch a plane back to Silicon Valleyland, and I had several chores to finish at home.

weather was cool and cloudy, warmed up later with some sun breaking through. the views up north were nice, lots of infrastructure near the lake mixed with closer views.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Wild Burro

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Jul 23 2016

afrankie

Routes 39
Photos 353
Triplogs 128

37 male

Joined Sep 30 2015
Carrboro, NC

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jul 23 2016
		afrankie • Triplogs 128

Hiking	3.30 Miles	399 AEG

Hiking	3.30 Miles
	399 ft AEG

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Post-sunrise hike with cloud cover at Lake Pleasant was the perfect way to kick the day off. Saw a couple burros, quail, vulture, and larger lizard on the trail, and a few others who awoke for the early am stride. Stopped for a few at the top to take in the view of the much lower lake levels - about 20' difference from my last visit to the lake at this section in the spring. Noticed the 1924 USGS Survey Marker at the top and joked that our kids would joke that at one point you had to write to DC in order to get information....

Followed the hike up with a relaxing shoreline tailgate and swim at the lake...good start to the day.

_____________________

Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
Evan Hardin

Footloose adventures are documented instagram @afrankie8.

Mar 29 2016

Frostshocknoob

Routes 228
Triplogs 215

36 male

Joined Sep 05 2014
Phoenix, AZ

Pipeline Canyon and Yavapai Point Trails, AZ

Hiking		Mar 29 2016
		Frostshocknoob • Triplogs 215

Hiking	4.92 Miles	846 AEG

Hiking	4.92 Miles	2 Hrs 42 Mns	2.32 mph
	846 ft AEG	35 Mns Break

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Mar 17 2016

afrankie

Routes 39
Photos 353
Triplogs 128

37 male

Joined Sep 30 2015
Carrboro, NC

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 17 2016
		afrankie • Triplogs 128

Hiking	3.32 Miles	546 AEG

Hiking	3.32 Miles	1 Hour 23 Mns	2.77 mph
	546 ft AEG	11 Mns Break

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My rents flew in and its their first time visiting - wanted to get them started out with something moderate, great views, and a splash afterwards. Fun hike, even as it heated up mid-day. No better way to finish than kicking back lakeside.

_____________________

Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
Evan Hardin

Footloose adventures are documented instagram @afrankie8.

Jan 24 2016

Nightstalker

Routes 189
Photos 7,236
Triplogs 1,740

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 24 2016
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,740

Hiking	6.57 Miles	891 AEG

Hiking	6.57 Miles	2 Hrs 46 Mns		2.88 mph
	891 ft AEG	29 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

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Impromptu hike decision late last night led me up to Lake Pleasant this morning. Started on the south end of Pipeline Canyon trail coming in from Scorpion Bay. I was the first car in the parking lot at 8:00 this morning. Ran into more people on the trail than I was expecting. Did the side trip up Yavapai Point and it was the highlight of the hike. The floating bridge was a close second. Saw two big fish near the shoreline from the bridge.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Brittlebush

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Oct 24 2015

FLYING_FLIVER

Guides 1
Routes 259
Photos 10,458
Triplogs 293

male

Joined Jan 28 2010
Fountain Hills,

Frustum #19 and CHOLLA BM, AZ

Hiking		Oct 24 2015
		FLYING_FLIVER • Triplogs 293

Hiking	4.84 Miles	968 AEG

Hiking	4.84 Miles	4 Hrs 42 Mns	2.48 mph
	968 ft AEG	2 Hrs 45 Mns Break

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There are two trails in the narrow Pipeline Canyon, located just west of Pleasant Lake.
I started on the Pipeline Canyon Trail, then transitioned to ‘off-trail’ to search for Frustum #19. I then went up atop Pk 2178 to locate CHOLLA BM.

Both the frustum (actually a boundary marker in the shape of a frustum) and the benchmark were set in place in 1924, a few years before the first Pleasant Lake Dam was completed. Neither one is in jeopardy of ‘going underwater’, as they are far above the high waterline.

I played alot of ‘dodge-ball’ with healthy cholla on my way up a ridge to the frustum area.
Once atop the little sloping ridge, I finally located Maricopa/Yavapai Boundary Marker #19, hiding in the low morning sun. For being so close to humanity, I was impressed with its good condition. One can see where attempts were made to dislodge the three plaques from the frustum. The plaques ‘held strong’ and are in excellent shape. The concrete around the plaques display the brunt of the ill-fated attempts to dislodge those plaques.

Next was, ‘go find the benchmark’, that was set in association with this frustum. I had the Lat/Long for the BM, so that was no problem. CHOLLA Triangulation Station (1924), is located atop Pk 2178, just 1/3rd mile up the ridge to the northwest from Frustum #19. The surveyors must have been impressed with all the cholla plants, ergo the BM’s name. No reference or azimuth marks were set.

CHOLLA BM is literally located at the end of, and in the middle of, another trail - Yavapai Point Trail. CHOLLA BM is in very good shape, considering its location.
I left Pk 2178 off-trail, transitioned back to the Yavapai Point Tr, then to the Pipeline Canyon Tr.

This was a fun, easy hike with great views of the second largest reservoir in Arizona.
Plus I located the things I set out to locate. All good things.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Teddy-bear Cholla

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Boat / Ship Bridge Cadastral Survey Marker

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Lake Pleasant Pipeline Canyon Wild Burro Mesa

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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN

Oct 19 2015

hippiepunkpirate

Guides 25
Routes 36
Photos 2,890
Triplogs 658

39 male

Joined May 30 2008
Peoria, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Oct 19 2015
		hippiepunkpirate • Triplogs 658

Hiking	5.20 Miles	720 AEG

Hiking	5.20 Miles	2 Hrs 45 Mns		2.97 mph
	720 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	10 LBS Pack

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