Soapberry Wash Trail - MSPN • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 06 2023
		ScaredyCat • Triplogs 205

Hiking	10.75 Miles	841 AEG

Hiking	10.75 Miles	4 Hrs 17 Mns	2.69 mph
	841 ft AEG	17 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Granite Mountain Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

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

Joined a meetup which showed 7 going. Where did the extra 20 come from? The opposite of the expected. Less than an hour to get there but knew I would have to extend this one out.

Coyote canyon was a unique setting. A lil over 4 miles into a proposed 7 miler, I bolted from the group. Didn't wish to repeat a couple of recent trails. This allowed me to explore a rarely used area.

I then took cowpoke trail back and formed a double loop. Some pretty scenery + a crested saguaro fairly early during this outing. Till next time...

May 19 2019

mt98dew

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

55 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Run/Jog		May 19 2019
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387

Run/Jog	6.80 Miles	101 AEG

Run/Jog	6.80 Miles	1 Hour 24 Mns	4.86 mph
	101 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Belated post. Late morning (for me) run out in the McDowells. In my honest opinion, one of the best places for running and biking in the desert. Randomly chose a trail that I hadn't taken credit for and put together a loop incorporating Soapberry Wash. Started from the Granite Mountain TH around 10am. The parking is now lined and paved, but the facilities are still under construction. Did a CCW loop involving the 136th Express, Old Paint, Soapberry, Desperado, Coyote, Granite Mountain Loop (east side) and back on Bootlegger. Most of the trails were in great shape: ideal for running. Old Paint and a good amount of Soapberry were dry, loose sandy washes not: so ideal for running. Old Paint is a broad wash. Hard to say if there is an official track within it. There were a coup,e of threads for the part that I used. I hugged the south bank for the time that I was in there. It was a good thing that I did because I was literally on the Soapberry before I knew it. (The first trail sign I saw showed the trail going both ways, which meant, there should have been an earlier sign indicating the start of the Soapberry Trail. Never saw it). Soapberry was an ok track, alternating between a sandy wash and a firm single track. There was an unexpected "Bypass option" that aloud users to avoid a short section of the wash peppered with large boulders. Didn't think the bouldery wash was that challenging. It doesn't offer a challenge for hikers or I would think for most bikers. Anyway, I did the wash first, and then did an in and out on the Bypass section. On this Bypass section there was also a very short connector trail to (I believe) the Renegade Trail which I also did. Only saw about 4 bikers and 15 hikers and most of them on the Granite and Bootlegger trails. Beautiful out there!! Palo Verdes created a sea of yellow. Just amazing!

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May 12 2019

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 12 2019
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	4.04 Miles	311 AEG

Hiking	4.04 Miles	1 Hour 49 Mns		2.40 mph
	311 ft AEG	8 Mns Break	52 LBS Pack

no photosets

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Baby4AZ

LilGuy4AZ

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

Mother’s Day hike with the kids! Had just rained. Saw double crested saguaro and Michelin Man cactus. Best gift I could get is a hike together !! I carried George for a little bit - has strep throat.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Thistle, buckhorn cholla , datura with purple blooms

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Mar 25 2017

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,762

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

McDowell Sonoran Preserve-North Loop, AZ

Hiking		Mar 25 2017
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,762

Hiking	15.43 Miles	919 AEG

Hiking	15.43 Miles	4 Hrs 58 Mns		3.13 mph
	919 ft AEG	2 Mns Break	13 LBS Pack

Linked

13 linked trail guides

The Divide Trail - MSPN

High Desert Trail - MSPN

South Diablo Trail - MSPN

Stagecoach Trail - MSPN

North Diablo Trail - MSPN

Broken Spoke Trail - MSPN

Old Camp Trail - MSPN

Powerline Road #1 - MSPN

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none

no partners

Short walk in the park.
Beautifully cool weather.
The park is busting with blooming flora.
Banana Yucca, Poppys, Brittlebush, Dichelostemma capitatum, Fiddleneck, Scorpionweed,Desert Chicory, Globemallow, Luppine, Woolly Daisy, Wiry Lotus, Chuparosa and even Microseris

, to name a few.

This is the best time of year to enjoy this park

With afternoon plans, the goal was to hit a few trails out there I had not been on.

There were no @Mazatzal or @Crzy4AZ sightings

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Banana Yucca

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Dec 23 2016

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 670
Photos 12,111
Triplogs 857

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Cholla Mountain Loop - MSPN

Cholla Mountain Loop - MSPN

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 23 2016
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 857

Hiking	11.00 Miles	731 AEG

Hiking	11.00 Miles	4 Hrs 34 Mns	2.41 mph
	731 ft AEG

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Balanced Rock Trail - MSPN

Partners

partners

JimmyLyding

In my quest to get 300 miles in before the end of the year, I decided to go back up to the northern MSP and get a few more segments of trails that I hadn't done yet. The night before my hike, Jim Lyding sent me a message asking if I was hiking the next day since he saw that I "posted" my hike via the Wishlist. We arranged to meet off the 101 and hike together. We started at about 7am, just barely enough daylight to not need a headlamp. I decided to start at the Granite Mt. Trailhead only because it's the only TH that doesn't have the timed sliding gates that won't let you park until after sunrise.

From the Granite Mt. TH, we took the Bootlegger Trail to the Granite Mt. Loop Trail, then the Balanced Rock Trail over to the section of the Cholla Mt. Loop Trail that I had not yet done. Once I got that done, we headed up for small segment on the Divide Trail until we got to the one unmapped trail. We took that north, and then took a new segment of an unmapped trail to the south and east until it connected to the Coyote Canyon Trail. From there we took the Desperado Trail over to Soapberry Wash so I could finish yet another small segment I didn't hike. After that, we hiked the remainder of the Soapberry Wash Trail to Dove Valley and the 136th St. Express back to the TH. Just barely got 11 miles total. The clouds hung low throughout the day through the mountains, making for some not very typical scenery in the Sonoran desert. Also nice to hike while the ground was still wet as opposed to the ubiquitous dust normally around everywhere. Soapberry Wash even had a tiny trickle of water in some sections of it. We almost saw no one the entire time until we were within eyeshot of the trailhead, then 3 bikers whizzed by, 2 groups of hikers arrived at the TH at the same time we did, and as we left a group of equestrians were finishing their morning jaunt.

Afterwards we had a very good lunch at the Scottsdale Beer Co., kicking off the weekend of holiday food and drink. Nice to hike with Jim again, it's been about 4 to 5 years since our last Superstitions deathmarch with Joe and Wally.

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Nov 15 2016

Sun_Ray

Routes 144
Photos 1,145
Triplogs 1,238

77 male

Joined Sep 09 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 15 2016
		Sun_Ray • Triplogs 1,238

Hiking	11.54 Miles	527 AEG

Hiking	11.54 Miles	5 Hrs 23 Mns	2.70 mph
	527 ft AEG	1 Hour 7 Mns Break

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Granite Mountain Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

Joined an organized hike from McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. 15 of us started from Granite Mountain TH and used various trails to get to Hawknest trail and back. On the way back we had one individual who had foot issues that slowed the whole group down. Meet up was called for 7:45 AM and we left at 8:10. Wish we could have started at 7 as it was warm the last hour or so.

AVE HR:114
HIGH HR:145

_____________________

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

1 archive

Nov 13 2016

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 670
Photos 12,111
Triplogs 857

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 13 2016
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 857

Hiking	10.60 Miles	622 AEG

Hiking	10.60 Miles	3 Hrs 55 Mns	2.71 mph
	622 ft AEG

Linked

8 linked trail guides

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Got out for a quick morning hike with a later kickoff for the Steelers, doing a few more trails I haven't hiked yet. Right at dawn I saw another saguaro with about 5 hawks sitting on the tops of all the arms.

I took the 136th St. Express Trail and finished of the last section of that I hadn't done, then did a figure 8 of the Dove Valley, Cowpoke and Old Paint Wash Trails, the took the Old Paint Wash Trail up to the Soapberry Wash Trail, Desperado Trail, then went east on the Coyote Canyon Trail, back to the Dove Valley Trail, and did a section of the Renegade Trail. I circled back taking the Renegade-Soapberry Wash connector to Soapberry, then got back on the Renegade eastward again to 136th St and back to the TH.

I was hoping to finish up a section of the Cholla Mtn Trail, but if I did that, it would have been over 15 miles, which is more than I wanted to do today. I also forgot to take my snacks, so I was ready to get home for lunch.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Michelin Man Saguaro

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Aug 21 2016

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Aug 21 2016
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	6.50 Miles	376 AEG

Hiking	6.50 Miles	3 Hrs 34 Mns	2.47 mph
	376 ft AEG	56 Mns Break

no routes

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linked

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Last night had a hike rained out - was determined to get in a good hike this morning. Set alarm for 4:30am. Got close to Tonto on 136th St by 5:45am. Was spit raining - huge wall of rain over Brown's Mtn. MyWeather radar app showed it moving away from my planned area. I basically didn't care - was getting this hike in.

Plan was to do entirety of Renegade now that signs are up. Last times on Renegade I did the "Heaven Hill" portion but didn't know how it connected to other trails on either side. Knew generalities but not names or details. So I used TrailForks map to see where I was going when I wasn't near a sign since the new City map won't be out for another week or so.

136th St Express down to start of Renegade :next:

to the end of Renegade and backtracked to Desperado :next:

down to Soapberry Wash (and intersection with Michelin Man cactus) :next:

Soapberry to Renegade connector :next:

Dove Valley :next:

Barb's

136th.

Temp was 73 at start and low 80's when I finished. I took 56 minutes of break. Mostly laying around on top of Heaven Hill watching sun break though cloud layers and thinking how much I loved the quiet and solitude but simultaneously wished I wasn't alone. I haven't had a drink in 42 days and feel so much better - skin/hair/clothes fitting so much better. Nothing horrible made me stop. Just felt like need for alcohol was escalating and was using it to get dissociative from daily life. Not healthy. And not drinking on Fri/Sat nights makes it much easier to get up crack of dawn for hikes.

Because of the rain and storms - I was the only human out on trails for at least two hours. You get panoramic views from the three bumps/hills on Renegade - - cloud cover was just wonderful. Bugs were intensely awful and I had to keep a rag on my nose/mouth for most of the hike to keep from vacuuming them up as I walked. Still worth it to get out on these trails before word gets out how great they are. Rain+alarm clock+bugs == no one else out there LOL.

I am posting a crap ton of photos because it was just so beautiful. Side note: I am far behind posting triplogs from spring. I know how to make it not show up on main page. Will slowly get those filled in. And somehow I need to get motivation to write up these hike descriptions.

Route Scout app rocks. I love uploading to HAZ. And TrailForks has one mislabeled section of Renegade and is missing two short connectors.

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Xenolith

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Michelin Man Saguaro

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
white ratany, desert senna, barrel cactus blooms

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Apr 02 2016

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Apr 02 2016
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	3.50 Miles	101 AEG

Hiking	3.50 Miles	1 Hour 34 Mns	2.36 mph
	101 ft AEG	5 Mns Break

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Whiskey Bottle Loop - MSPN

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no partners

God I love this loop. Arrived off 136th St random pull out just before sunrise. This loop at sunrise is phenomenal. Watching sun come into Coyote Canyon and light up Michelin Man cactus....amazing. Scattered flowers see report below. Whole day today after hike dedicated to packing up kids and me for Masters week in Augusta. Flying out tomorrow (Sunday).

Barb's :next:

Dove Valley :next:

Soapberry Wash through the granite area (not the bike bypass) :next:

future Desperado trail (has Michelin Man cactus on it) :next:

Coyote Canyon :next:

Dove Valley :next:

Barb's in a lasso loop.

Wildflowers Observation Light
purple thistle, white ratany, owl clover, banana yucca blooms, brittle bush (rare), those dandelion looking things.

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Mar 27 2016

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

McDowell Preserve North, AZ

Hiking		Mar 27 2016
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	14.70 Miles	1,170 AEG

Hiking	14.70 Miles	5 Hrs 30 Mns	2.99 mph
	1,170 ft AEG	35 Mns Break

Linked

19 linked trail guides

Turpentine Trail - MSPN

Whiskey Bottle Trail - MSPN

Latigo Trail - MSPN

118th St Trail - MSPN

Watershed Trail - MSPN

Maverick Trail - MSPN

Cholla Mountain Loop - MSPN

Stagecoach Trail - MSPN

High Desert Trail - MSPN

The Divide Trail - MSPN

Branding Iron Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

Another loop in MSPN :roll:

Turpentine-WhiskeyBottle-Latigo-118St-Watershed-Maverick-ChollaLoop-Stagecoach-HighDesert-TheDivide-BrandingIron-GraniteLoop-CoyoteCanyon-SoapberryWash-DoveValley-CowPoke-GraniteLoop-Bootlegger

Great weather not too hot and some nice breeze from time to time. Saw a gila monster but I only got a rubbish photo of its tail before it disappeared under a rock :tt:

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

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2 archives

Feb 24 2016

Sun_Ray

Routes 144
Photos 1,145
Triplogs 1,238

77 male

Joined Sep 09 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 24 2016
		Sun_Ray • Triplogs 1,238

Hiking	5.24 Miles	335 AEG

Hiking	5.24 Miles	2 Hrs 24 Mns	2.18 mph
	335 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

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no partners

I did it! Completed all the trails added to the Northern Section Map in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve dated August 2015. These are the trails that are North of Brown's, Cholla and Granite Mountains. They total about 30 miles, but that's not the point as you need to hike many miles just to get to them. Pretty sure Crzy4AZ has completed them also but is behind on her triplogs. That means HAZ'ers are 2 of the 4 hikers to complete ALL the trails in the preserve. I also think we are the only ones that hiked them all versus others who used their mountain bike on many of the trails.

_____________________

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

1 archive

Feb 07 2016

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 07 2016
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	7.00 Miles	250 AEG

Hiking	7.00 Miles	3 Hrs 35 Mns	2.47 mph
	250 ft AEG	45 Mns Break

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Hawknest Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

Wanted to get back to Renegade trail (did not know name at the time - and won't be on maps until fall 2016).

Barb's :next:

Dove Valley :next:

Renegade

Soapberry Wash (Michelin man cactus) :next:

Coyote Canyon :next:

Dove Valley :next:

High Desert :next:

Hawknest

136th St Express back to Barb's intersection.

Cold. Sunrise. Light incredible up on hill of Renegade.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cupule Hohokam Mano and Metate

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Jan 18 2016

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 18 2016
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	5.90 Miles	239 AEG

Hiking	5.90 Miles	1 Hour 48 Mns	3.28 mph
	239 ft AEG

no photosets

Linked

linked

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none

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This is my favorite new loop in the MSP-supernorth. Park at very top of 136th Street in Tonto National Forest parking lot. It is very bumpy road and deep ruts last 0.1 mile. Take street or social trail from Tonto to where 136th St Express trail officially starts at Montello Rd. Stay on 136th St Express and then take Barb's west past the big loop-de-loop circular area (where jeeps used to make circles) - then Dove Valley trail briefly to the southeast until you hit Soapberry Wash trail. Then go right/west on Soapberry wash through beautiful granite formations (was frozen water this day) - where trail takes sharp turn (will be renamed Desperado trail in Fall 2016) - follow trail up the little hill and look for the Michelin Man cactus. At junction with Coyote Canyon trail (CC1 - and the Double Crested Saguaro) - take CC down into the little canyon and loop back at junction with Dove Valley. You can hit up the ceremonial cupules off Dove Valley if you know where they are. Perfect distance for little day hike. Hits major scenery. Have done the loop many times - never disappoints. Rare to see people but occasionally a biker will zoom by.

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Jan 14 2016

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 14 2016
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	5.90 Miles	230 AEG

Hiking	5.90 Miles	2 Hrs	3.37 mph
	230 ft AEG	15 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Branding Iron Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

Parked Tonto. 136th :next:

Barbs

Soapberry

CC and back.
Saw 5 deer. Hunters still have permits for a little longer. I see them parking at intersection of 136th St and Hawknest on the east side of the road.
I took a zillion pics of the Michelin Man cactus today to help people see where he is off Soapberry Wash.
Thursday hike - kids in school. Perfect distance for me to squeeze in beautiful hike during school hours.

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Dec 13 2015

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

McDowell Preserve Phase 2C Loop, AZ

Hiking		Dec 13 2015
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	9.90 Miles	840 AEG

Hiking	9.90 Miles	4 Hrs 30 Mns	2.38 mph
	840 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

Linked

10 linked trail guides

Hawknest Trail - MSPN

The Divide Trail - MSPN

[ checklist ] Informational/Interpretive Sign Old Rusty Stuff

Partners

none

no partners

We parked near the NE corner of the McDowell Preserve just over the boundary into the Tonto NF. We took a couple of old trails west for a mile+ and then turned south and intersected Hawknest trail from there we made a loop in the preserve.

TNF trail :next:

Hawknest

The Divide :next:

Branding Iron :next:

Granite Mtn loop :next:

Coyote Canyon :next:

Soapberry Wash :next:

Dove Valley :next:

Barb’s

136th St Express :next:

TNF.

The views of the mountains to the east were very nice

Saw quite a few mtn bikers especially as we got further south, 3 equestrians, 1 hiker and 1 steward (Bob).
Didn’t see anyone in the first 2 miles or the last 3 miles..

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

3 archives

May 23 2015

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

McDowell Preserve Far North Area, AZ

Hiking		May 23 2015
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	8.50 Miles	550 AEG

Hiking	8.50 Miles	3 Hrs 30 Mns	2.55 mph
	550 ft AEG	10 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

11 linked trail guides

Hawknest Trail - MSPN

High Desert Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

We went to check out some of the new trails in the McDowell Preserve far north area (thanks to Crzy4AZ for posting the link to the updated map)

Hawksnest :next:

Old Paint Wash :next:

Soapberry

Coyote Canyon :next:

Granite Mtn loop :next:

Cow poke

Dove Valley :next:

Barb’s

136th St Express

Hazy views to the east, cleared a little but the mirror was still cloudy. We saw another water catchment 'tank', still had a little water.

The trails were pretty quiet - we saw a few bikers and 2 equestrians.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Regal Horned Lizard

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

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3 archives

Dec 20 2014

Guides 31
Routes 135
Photos 2,699
Triplogs 615

52 female

Joined Apr 02 2007
Scottsdale, AZ

Dove Valley Trail loop - MSP, AZ

Hiking		Dec 20 2014
		Crzy4AZ • Triplogs 615

Hiking	4.20 Miles	320 AEG

Hiking	4.20 Miles
	320 ft AEG

Linked

linked