Horseshoe Trail - Estrella Mtn RP • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP RainToothGadFly Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Oct 04 2025
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	13.40 Miles	1,361 AEG

Biking - Mtn	13.40 Miles	1 Hour 54 Mns		7.24 mph
	1,361 ft AEG	3 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

no photosets

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Decided I was in the mood for some climbing this morning and headed over to Estrella Mountain Regional Park. No attendant at the main entrance station when I entered before 8am. Campground is still under construction, so I parked at Navy and started on Horseshoe to Rainbow Valley, up and over the hill to Toothaker, headed south to Gadsden, East to Flycatcher over the hill and back on Gadsden to Butterfield north to Coldwater. Took Coldwater north to the end to check out the campground construction. Back around to Horseshoe and parking lot. Only saw one other biker, on Horseshoe, less than a mile from the lot. Plenty of hikers out and about, most notably the fellow all the way out on Flycatcher. Rainbow Valley and Toothaker hills have a lot of sedimentary gravel which makes climbing a challenge.

_____________________

Aug 07 2025

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,390

56 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Aug 07 2025
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,390

Hiking	4.03 Miles	569 AEG

Hiking	4.03 Miles	1 Hour 17 Mns	3.14 mph
	569 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Early morning hike in the Estrellas. Looking for an easy hike close to home and Horseshoe was an obvious choice. Was on the trail shortly after 5am. Did a loop involving a bunch of small trails. In on the Horseshoe-Toothacher-Rainbow Valley-Quail-Saddle-Baseline-Gila. Both Toothacher and Rainbow are longer trails, but I was on them for less than a mile. Temps were supposedly 95 at the start of the hike, but I don’t think that was the temp on the outskirts of Phoenix. It actually felt pretty nice out. I was in the shadows for most of the hike and there was an intermittent breeze. No wildlife and I had the trails to myself.

_____________________

Jul 19 2025

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Dysart Fly Catcher Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Jul 19 2025
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	12.40 Miles	1,068 AEG

Biking - Mtn	12.40 Miles	1 Hour 44 Mns		7.37 mph
	1,068 ft AEG	3 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Been busy and haven't ridden since last Sunday. Did a great loop at EMRP this morning. Surprised to find no one at the entry station at 6:40am on a Saturday morning. Lots of vehicles parked at the Horseshoe (NAVY) trailhead parking area. Started on Horseshoe over to Rainbow Valley, Dysart, Butterfield up and over to Gadsden, Fly Catcher, Gadsden, Butterfield, Cold Water down to check out the new RV park, back around to Horseshoe to the parking lot. Saw 11 hikers and 2 bikers.

_____________________

Mar 26 2025

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Pedersen Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Mar 26 2025
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	18.20 Miles	1,297 AEG

Biking - Mtn	18.20 Miles	2 Hrs 14 Mns		8.60 mph
	1,297 ft AEG	7 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

Pedersen Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Partners

none

no partners

Took the fat bike over to EMRP this morning to go deep into the park and hit some of that sweet Pedersen sand. Started from the Navy south parking area under a nice canopy of clouds and hit Horseshoe, Toothaker, Butterfield, Gadsden, Pedersen (clockwise), Toothaker (south), Gadsden (east), Coldwater, Toothaker, and back on Horseshoe. First time going all the way down the Pedersen sand shoot. I was able to keep up great speed, but the washboard nearly ripped my arms off on the full rigid fat bike. Stopped to chat a bit with two pairs of mountain bikers. Had to get around 2 hikers who couldn't hear me calling to them over their ear buds, gosh.

_____________________

Mar 16 2025

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Mar 16 2025
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	15.00 Miles	1,172 AEG

Biking - Mtn	15.00 Miles	1 Hour 51 Mns		8.18 mph
	1,172 ft AEG	1 Min Break	8 LBS Pack

no photosets

Linked

linked

Pedersen Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Partners

none

no partners

I've ridden parts of Gadsden trail so many times, but never the whole trail, end to end, in one go. Took the fat bike over to EMRP to do just that today. To my surprise, actually found a line of cars waiting to get past the entrance station. The rodeo grounds are closed for the next 2 years so I parked at my next favorite spot, Navy South. Crossed Casey Abbott road and took Horseshoe trail over to Toothaker for a few feet, the clockwise on Buttterfield to Gadsden, Pedersen, Toothaker, and back on Horseshoe to the parking lot. It was a bit windy on Butterfield and Gadsden. I thought going downhill at the sandy south end of Gadsden would be better than my normal up direction, but the hoofed out sand really beat me up. The south end of Toothaker is starting to look back again, it's good from Rainbow Valley north. Saw 2 horseback riders on Butterfield. There's a section of the parking area right at Horseshoe trailhead that's roped off for horse trailer parking. Lots of hikers out on the trails, mostly close to Horseshoe. Saw 2 or 3 bikers.

_____________________

Mar 15 2025

pseudalpine

Guides 64
Routes 1,125
Photos 1,329
Triplogs 1,448

male

Joined Jan 01 2023
Arizona

E M R P, AZ

Hiking		Mar 15 2025
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,448

Hiking

Hiking

no photosets

Linked

Quail Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Maricopa Trail - Estrellas to PIR

Partners

none

no partners

2 archives

Feb 03 2025

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Horseshoe Rainbow Gadsden Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Feb 03 2025
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	13.00 Miles	1,195 AEG

Biking - Mtn	13.00 Miles	2 Hrs 7 Mns		7.96 mph
	1,195 ft AEG	29 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Out with the Bagel riders (Ken and Johnny) at EMRP this morning. Parked at Horseshoe and followed that trail to Toothaker, Baseline, Rainbow Valley, Dysart, Butterfield, Gadsden, Toothaker, and back on Horseshoe. Broke a spoke that got wrapped up in my rear brake disk. Felt good today. Saw a bunch of hikers, three mountain bikers, and a terrifyingly angry barking dog with a muzzle.

_____________________

Dec 07 2024

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Nature Center Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Dec 07 2024
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	11.00 Miles	961 AEG

Biking - Mtn	11.00 Miles	1 Hour 58 Mns		8.15 mph
	961 ft AEG	37 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Quail Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Partners

none

no partners

Met up with the Bagel Bunch (Doug, Ken, Johnny) for a ride at Estrella Mountain Regional Park Competitive Track. Unfortunately, there was an event going on at the Comp Loop and it was closed. Plan B, meet at the Nature Center and ride from there. Rode down the street to Horseshoe and took that over to the rodeo grounds. Then Toothaker to Dysart, Butterfield, Gadsden, Flycatcher, Gadsden, Butterfield back to the rodeo grounds. Short stint on Rainbow Valley and Quail trail back to the Nature Center. Lots of event markers on the trails, but we didn't come across a single event participant. Saw a handful of hikers and a couple of mountain bikers out on the trails this morning.

_____________________

May 01 2024

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,390

56 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 01 2024
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,390

Hiking	4.63 Miles	100 AEG

Hiking	4.63 Miles	1 Hour 4 Mns	4.34 mph
	100 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Early morning hike in the ERMP. Two-fold purpose. I wanted to hike the Horseshoe Trail, plus I wanted to get gps routes for both the Horseshoe and Saddle trails. This created a rather convoluted hike. In on the Horseshoe, then CCW on the Baseline trail. When I reached the Saddle Trail, I did an in and out on that trail, and then continued the circuit on the Baseline Trail. I then returned to the TH on the Horseshoe Trail. Decent route, though no serious elevation change. Met three hikers midway through and saw a coyote for the third day in a row.

_____________________

Feb 21 2024

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Rainbow Toothaker Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Feb 21 2024
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	7.10 Miles	620 AEG

Biking - Mtn	7.10 Miles	54 Mns		8.04 mph
	620 ft AEG	1 Min Break	10 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

Busy morning. Managed to get out for a ride. Went to Estrella Mountain Regional Park to use my new Maricopa County Parks Pass with a super long number. I suppose that it is only just one digit longer than last year, but like the ranger said at the entrance station, now it's like a phone number. Parked in the Navy lot and took Horseshoe to Rainbow Valley counter clockwise, Dysart, Toothaker, and back on Horseshoe to complete the lollipop, delicious.

_____________________

Jul 20 2023

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Jul 20 2023
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	8.60 Miles	807 AEG

Biking - Mtn	8.60 Miles	1 Hour 19 Mns		6.70 mph
	807 ft AEG	2 Mns Break	11 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

Looking to sneak in a shorter but challenging ride before it got too hot. This great loop fit the bill perfectly. Saw 2 trail runners and 2 mountain bikers on Toothaker, nobody on Rainbow Valley or Horseshoe. No clouds, no shade, all sun = HOT!

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

May 05 2023

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Biking - Mtn		May 05 2023
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	7.00 Miles	605 AEG

Biking - Mtn	7.00 Miles	56 Mns		7.78 mph
	605 ft AEG	2 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

Took advantage of the beautiful morning and got out for a pre-work ride. Saw a wedding party getting pictures taken near the rodeo grounds. Other than that, just one couple out with their doggies.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

1 archive

Jul 10 2022

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Rainbow Toothaker Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Jul 10 2022
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	7.00 Miles	595 AEG

Biking - Mtn	7.00 Miles	1 Hour 6 Mns		7.00 mph
	595 ft AEG	6 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

2 snake Sunday ride with my neighbor Craig in EMRP. Did Horseshoe, Rainbow, Dysart, Toothaker, and back on Horseshoe. Crazy hot! Went to TJ's afterwards for a delicious breakfast! Saw 2 Rosy Boa? snakes on the trail not far from each other. Very unusual for me to see snakes at 6am on the trail. I understand these to be nocturnal which makes more sense, they were finishing up a long night out.

_____________________

Oct 31 2020

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Oct 31 2020
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	12.00 Miles	1,215 AEG

Biking - Mtn	12.00 Miles	1 Hour 48 Mns		7.06 mph
	1,215 ft AEG	6 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

no routes

no photosets

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Lots of hikers and bikers on the trail enjoying the cool overcast morning. Third ride on the Fuel EX 8 rental bike. One more day to go before I have to take it back.

_____________________

Oct 24 2020

Routes 189
Photos 7,276
Triplogs 1,763

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

EMRP Loop, AZ

Biking - Mtn		Oct 24 2020
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,763

Biking - Mtn	12.10 Miles	1,204 AEG

Biking - Mtn	12.10 Miles	1 Hour 54 Mns		7.05 mph
	1,204 ft AEG	11 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

no routes

no photosets

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

Nice cool temps and lots of cloud cover made for a remarkable ride at EMRP this morning. Was planning to ride the new Long Loop Pass at the Comp Track, but it was closed due to some event at the race track this weekend. Parked at the Horseshoe trail parking area and worked my way up to Rainbow Valley. Up over the hill and down to Toothaker. Headed south on Toothaker to Gadsen for a short jaunt over to Coldwater. Up Coldwater and down the other side to turn west on to Dysart. Dysart back to Toothaker and worked back to where I started. Saw a couple of mountain bikers and some hikers. One hiker had some big old headphones which must have been at full blast because when I asked him if I could pass, he either didn't hear me or ignored me. I increased my tone until I finally dismounted and gave a tug on his backpack. He acted surprised and I continued past him, on my merry way.

_____________________

Mar 24 2020

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,390

56 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Run/Jog		Mar 24 2020
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,390

Run/Jog	2.05 Miles	100 AEG

Run/Jog	2.05 Miles	24 Mns	5.13 mph
	100 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Short jog in Estrellas. In on the Horseshoe, then looped around on the Toothacher and Baseline trails. Used the Baseline connector trail to get back to the Horseshoe which I took back to the TH. Saw a family of 5. Not the crowds that I've been seeing at other parks. No wildlife...temps were great.

_____________________

Nov 16 2019

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,390

56 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Run/Jog		Nov 16 2019
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,390

Run/Jog	6.55 Miles	100 AEG

Run/Jog	6.55 Miles	1 Hour 13 Mns	5.38 mph
	100 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Early morning run in Estrella. I wanted to get a loop involving the Horseshoe Trail and still get some distance. Started from the Horseshoe/Gila TH. Got on the trail just after 6am. Still dark out, but there was enough light from the moon that I didn't need a light. Did a loop involving Horseshoe-Toothacher-Dysart-Rainbow-Baseline- and Gila. Turned out to be a very nice loop. Trails are well signed. Trails are well maintained - pretty much rock free - with some minor elevation gain on the Rainbow. In my opinion this is one of the more barren parks (comparatively speaking, minimal wildlife and vegetation). That being said I really enjoyed the watching the sunrise and see the desert awaken and change around me. No wildlife, but did encounter 2 bikers and 4 hikers. Weather was great. In the upper 50's. There were a ton of cars parking at the Coldwater TH. So when I got done I drove over and discovered that the was a 6k run going on (Desert Marigold Classic....or something like that). Love to see events like that, but I'm glad I chose Horseshoe as my starting point. It would have been a congested trail otherwise.

_____________________

Aug 31 2019

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 682
Photos 12,258
Triplogs 866

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Aug 31 2019
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 866

Hiking	8.90 Miles	961 AEG

Hiking	8.90 Miles	3 Hrs 50 Mns	2.32 mph
	961 ft AEG

Linked

Gila Loop Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Quail Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Saddle Trail - Estrella Mtn RP

Partners

none

no partners

I wanted to make another trip out to the Estrella park to finish recording the trails there. I hadn't ever hike the newly built Gila and Horseshoe Trails, and there was a section of the Dysart Trail I hadn't hiked recently. Got all those done and recorded on my GPS. Nothing interesting to note. Saw more hikers than bikers overall, which was unusual. After 9am, didn't see anyone. The southern spur on the Gila Trail loop is noted as part of the Gila Trail according to the signage in the park. Finished about 10:30am. Weather was more humid than hot, but it was still hot. Breezes helped a lot, but they were few and far between. Surprised that I almost got 1000' AEG.

_____________________

Jun 13 2018

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,390

56 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Run/Jog		Jun 13 2018
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,390

Run/Jog	6.61 Miles	100 AEG

Run/Jog	6.61 Miles	1 Hour 19 Mns	5.02 mph
	100 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

After work....after nap, run. Got to the TH around 3:30, napped for 30 minutes and was on the trail just after 4pm. The knees have been "talking" quite of bit of late, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do. Ended up doing a loop, starting on the Horseshoe trail and then going CW on the Toothacher - Dysart - Rainbow - Baseline - And back to the TH via the Gila Trail. Nice loop. All trails are well marked and easy to follow. Great for jogging. Minimal elevation change. Dysart trail is a little annoying because there are multiple washes that get my knees "talking" even more. This is my 3rd visit to the Estrellas in the last 6 weeks and I have yet to see anyone out there. No wildlife either.

Temps were supposedly 109, but there were some slow moving clouds that kept me in the shade for a good portion of the run.

_____________________

Oct 07 2017

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,390

56 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az