username
X
password
register
for free!
help
ArticlesGuidesRoutes
 
Photosets
 
 Comments
triplogs   photosets   labels comments more
Lower Sonoran Trail - FHP - 11 members in 86 triplogs have rated this an average 3.3 ( 1 to 5 best )
1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
86 triplogs
login for filter options
Jul 16 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 16 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking5.72 Miles 1,109 AEG
Hiking5.72 Miles   2 Hrs   25 Mns   2.60 mph
1,109 ft AEG      13 Mns Break
 
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I decided to do what has become my go-to hike in the summertime. I did the loop clockwise.

It was overcast throughout the entire hike, along with a decent breeze most of the way.

I saw a gila monster -- it was the first one that I have seen this year.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Gila Monster
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Apr 17 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 17 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.31 Miles 1,350 AEG
Hiking6.31 Miles   2 Hrs   55 Mns   2.59 mph
1,350 ft AEG      29 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I stayed close to home again this morning.

The temps were very nice this morning and it looks like that will be the case for a couple of more days.

I saw a deer and a few hummingbirds this morning.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Ocotillo
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Ocotillo continues to look nice, but there are no other flowers than that out there
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Apr 13 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 13 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.18 Miles 1,373 AEG
Hiking6.18 Miles   2 Hrs   45 Mns   2.65 mph
1,373 ft AEG      25 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I decided to stay close to home today and do a modified version of the loop, which I did CW.

There was cloud cover for most of the hike, which was welcome.

The trail was quiet most of the way, but there were a fair number of hikers out over the last mile or so.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Humor  Mascot
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Four Peaks
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunrise
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
There were a fair number of blooming ocotillos, along with a few tiny fiddlenecks and poppies.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  5 archives
Apr 06 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 06 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.12 Miles 1,515 AEG
Hiking6.12 Miles   2 Hrs   46 Mns   2.62 mph
1,515 ft AEG      26 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I decided to take advantage of a cool morning and hike close to home today. I did this loop clockwise, which is the way that I have been doing it.

I saw a gopher snake, which is the first snake that I have seen this year.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Gopher Snake
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Mar 10 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 10 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.29 Miles 1,250 AEG
Hiking6.29 Miles   2 Hrs   30 Mns   2.68 mph
1,250 ft AEG      9 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I decided to do this loop again today, and once again did a variation of the standard route by taking the Mesquite Hollow Trail from the Promenade Trail.

They put a sign up finally for the Mesquite Spur Trail. I am not sure why this trail exists -- it adds an extra loop but only adds 0.1 miles to the hike.

I finally saw the large mesquite tree after which the Mesquite Hollow Trail is named. The tree is at the second junction of the Mesquite Hollow Trail and the Mesquite Spur.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mesquite
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  East End
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  1 archive
Feb 25 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 25 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.10 Miles 1,198 AEG
Hiking6.10 Miles   2 Hrs   32 Mns   2.63 mph
1,198 ft AEG      13 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I did this loop clockwise.

I saw 4 deer on the way back; I rarely see any on these trails so it was my lucky day.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
There were a some red flowers on a few leafless ocotillo, but that was it for wildflowers.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Feb 09 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 09 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking7.76 Miles 1,472 AEG
Hiking7.76 Miles   3 Hrs   29 Mns   2.50 mph
1,472 ft AEG      23 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
This was a variation of the Sonoran-Lower Sonoran Loop. On the way out I did an out-and-back on the North Leg Trail. Once I got to the 4 way junction at the end of the Promenade Trail I went out on the Mesquite Hollow Trail and returned on the Lower Sonoran Trail.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Jan 25 2025
avatar

 Guides 27
 Routes 670
 Photos 12,111
 Triplogs 857

56 male
 Joined Jul 05 2006
 Mesa, AZ
Mesquite Hollow Trail - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 25 2025
DarthStillerTriplogs 857
Hiking9.40 Miles 1,678 AEG
Hiking9.40 Miles   4 Hrs   53 Mns   1.95 mph
1,678 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Took a trip up to Adero Canyon to check out the new trail that was built in the FH Preserve. I started at 6:15am in the dark and hiked the first mile+ on the Promenade Trail in the dark. It was still dark when I got to the Mesquite Hollow Trail, so I decided to keep going and start on the Sonoran Trail. Both of these trails junction the end of the Promenade Trail just a few feet apart.

I hiked the Sonoran Trail all the way to the Dixie Mine Trail, then turned around. On the way back, I hiked an unofficial spur trail that heads up one of the many ridges to the top of the McDowells. It ended once it gets up on the ridge, so I made my way back down to the Sonoran Trail.

On the way back I took some of the Lower Sonoran Trail to its connector and then back up to the Sonoran Trail then hiked back on the Mesquite Hollow Trail to the Promenade. Along the Mesquite Hollow Trail I saw a trail building crew that were up higher building another trail. I never saw where the junction to that trail is with the existing trails. I also saw 3 mule deer along this trail. There is a small loop spur along this trail that adds about a quarter mile, which I also hiked. Interestingly, I saw only one mesquite tree along this trail, and it was dead. When I finished the Mesquite Hollow Trail at the Promenade Trail, the cars of the trail building crew were parked at the end of the Promenade.

Once I got back towards the Adero Trailhead, I hiked out a bit on the Andrews-Kinsey Trail and back to add some mileage. The lot was mostly full when I got back, but not packed. Lots of cars parked on Eagle Ridge Drive for those who didn't want to wait. Lots of people milling around, including the trail building crew who had also finished their day.
_____________________
 
Jan 19 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Thompson Peak from Adero Canyon THPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 19 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking14.96 Miles 3,365 AEG
Hiking14.96 Miles   7 Hrs   4 Mns   2.37 mph
3,365 ft AEG      45 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I hiked up to Thompson Peak from Adero Canyon today.

It was a tad cold at the early morning start, but warmed up once the sun came up.

There weren't many people out at this part of the preserve, which was nice.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Jan 10 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 10 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking7.83 Miles 1,709 AEG
Hiking7.83 Miles   3 Hrs   36 Mns   2.58 mph
1,709 ft AEG      34 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I did a variation of this loop by 1) going out-and-on the North Leg Trail on the outbound portion of the hike, and 2) taking the Mesquite Hollow Trail from the Sonoran Trail back to the Promenade Trail on the inbound portion of the hike.

It was a nice day out there -- sunny, breezy, and a bit cool. I had a windbreaker on for a while -- it would get cool when the wind gusts picked up and get warm when the gusts subsided.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Jan 04 2025
avatar

 Routes 189
 Photos 7,240
 Triplogs 1,741

57 male
 Joined Apr 25 2011
 Goodyear, AZ
Adero Canyon, AZ 
Adero Canyon, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 04 2025
NightstalkerTriplogs 1,741
Hiking4.90 Miles 1,455 AEG
Hiking4.90 Miles   2 Hrs   33 Mns   2.37 mph
1,455 ft AEG      29 Mns Break8 LBS Pack
 no routes
Harem picked Adero Canyon for today's hike, which is find by me! Got to the trailhead sometime past 8am, parking lot was 60-70% full. The Trailblazers were there prepping to start some trail maintenance on the new Mesquite Hollow trail. We started out trek on Promenade, Lower Sonoran, Sonoran, and back over the hill on Western Loop. Great day to be out on the trails with Carey, Christina, and Dan.
_____________________
 
Jan 03 2025
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Looping in Fountain Hills, AZ 
Looping in Fountain Hills, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 03 2025
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.68 Miles 1,678 AEG
Hiking6.68 Miles   3 Hrs   26 Mns   2.18 mph
1,678 ft AEG      22 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I had planned to go up to Mount Ord today but my heel was hurting when I got up this morning so I decided to hike close to home instead.

From the TH, I first went up to Peak 3098, aka the West View Overlook. I then went out on the Promenade Trail with the intention of doing the Sonoran-Lower Sonoran Loop. When I got to the junction I was pleasantly surprised to see the new trail in the FHP is open -- called the Mesquite Hollow Trail.

This trail more-or-less parallels the Sonoran Trail for 1.5 miles, at which point it ends at the Sonoran Trail. The new trail has some moderate elevation gain, but the tread is super -- smooth dirt with hardly any rock in it. I think that I will be hiking on this trail some more. The trail has a nice sounding name, but I did not see even one mesquite tree. Methinks that it should be called the Palo Verde Hollow Trail instead!

The new trail will facilitate doing some loop hikes in the FHP. Eventually I think that another trail will be built that will connect the Mesquite Hollow Trail with the Quartz Trail in the Scottsdale Preserve. I look forward to that because it will make possible some longer loop hikes on the trail system.
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunrise
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  1 archive
Dec 19 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 19 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.49 Miles 1,652 AEG
Hiking6.49 Miles   3 Hrs   2 Mns   2.45 mph
1,652 ft AEG      23 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I decided to stay close to home this morning and do this hike.

Before going on the Sonoran-Lower Sonoran Loop I first went up to the summit of Peak 3097, aka the West View Overlook.

For a change did the loop clockwise, and I think that I like it better in this direction.

I only saw 2 other people out on the trails, and that was when I was almost back to the TH.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Weavers Needle
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunrise
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Nov 10 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 10 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking7.45 Miles 1,578 AEG
Hiking7.45 Miles   3 Hrs   25 Mns   2.53 mph
1,578 ft AEG      28 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I decided to get some morning miles in today by doing this hike. As usual, I did the loop CCW. On the way out I added in an out-and-back on the North Leg Trail, aka the trail to nowhere, to get some extra distance and elevation gain.

It was cool at the start of the hike, but it warmed up once the sun came up.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  2 archives
Nov 03 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 03 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.53 Miles 1,639 AEG
Hiking6.53 Miles   3 Hrs   11 Mns   2.39 mph
1,639 ft AEG      27 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Now that the temps have finally gotten cooler I decided to stay close to home this morning and do this hike. I did the loop CCW, and on the way back I added in a loop on the western loop trail and went up and over Peak 3098, aka the West View Overlook. This makes an odd looking figure-8 configuration.

This is the second hike in a row that Route Scout has performed as it should, and hopefully that trend will continue. There are no recordings going haywire and no audio messages saying "zoom zoom" or "speedy split". Import is working fine and map rotation continues to work flawlessly. The only minor issue that has popped up the last couple of hikes is that audio doesn't work when starting a hike; to fix it I have to force a stop and then restart RS. After doing that audio works as it should.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  3 archives
Oct 19 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking8.35 Miles 1,914 AEG
Hiking8.35 Miles   4 Hrs   1 Min   2.40 mph
1,914 ft AEG      32 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
This was the first cool day in quite some time which made for an enjoyable hike, even if it drizzled for much of the hike.

I added a little extra to the loop by going out-and-back on the North Leg Trail on the way out, and then going up-and-over Peak 3098 on the way back.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Desert Tortoise
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Oct 05 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 05 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.53 Miles 1,516 AEG
Hiking6.53 Miles   2 Hrs   56 Mns   2.48 mph
1,516 ft AEG      18 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I have gotten tired of hiking to Sunrise Peak so I hiked this loop this morning. I added a twist by hiking up to Peak 3098, aka West View Overlook, before doing the loop, which I did CCW. The result was something of a figure-8.

I heard a rattlesnake on the Lower Sonoran Trail, but did not see it -- it was hidden in grass and a dried up brittlebush. It rattled more than any snake that I have encountered. While standing there listening to the snake a girl came by from the opposite direction. I pointed out where the snake was and she said that this was the first rattlesnake that she had come upon. She was able to divert from the trail and bypass the snake.

It was a hot, sunny, cloudless, almost windless morning. The calendar may say that it is early October but it feels more like early June to me.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Sep 20 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Western - Sonoran Figure 8, AZ 
Western - Sonoran Figure 8, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Sep 20 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking6.56 Miles 1,516 AEG
Hiking6.56 Miles   2 Hrs   58 Mns   2.44 mph
1,516 ft AEG      17 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I have gotten tired of hiking to Sunrise Peak from the Adero Canyon TH, so I decided to mix it up a bit today.

From the TH I made my way up to Peak 3098, aka the West View Overlook. I went up the south side and came back down the northside. Then I went on the Sonoran-Lower Sonoran Loop hike, doing the loop CCW. When all is said and done the hike looks like a figure 8 of sorts; hence, the name of this triplog.

The afternoon temps are still more like summertime than I prefer, but at least it is cool early the morning.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Aug 01 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 01 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking7.24 Miles 1,373 AEG
Hiking7.24 Miles   3 Hrs   13 Mns   2.47 mph
1,373 ft AEG      17 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
With the new month starting I had planned to hike Mount Ord today. However, with the Sand Stone Fire still burning, I did want to take any chances on Highway 87 southbound being closed again when I finished hiking up to Ord. So I will save Ord for another day.

As for this hike, I did the loop CCW and on the way out I added an out-and-back on the North Leg Trail, aka the Trail to Nowhere.

There was decent cloud cover for the hike, but it is still hot and there was almost no wind blowing this morning.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Four Peaks
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunburst  Sunrise
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
Jun 30 2024
avatar

 Guides 99
 Routes 1,485
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,375

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Sonoran / Lower Sonoran Lasso Loop - FHPPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 30 2024
DixieFlyerTriplogs 1,375
Hiking7.38 Miles 1,547 AEG
Hiking7.38 Miles   3 Hrs   11 Mns   2.50 mph
1,547 ft AEG      14 Mns Break
 
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
I did the loop CCW and added an out-and-back hike on the North Leg Trail to get some extra distance and elevation gain.

The sunrise was decent this morning and there was some cloud cover in the first half of the hike which was nice.

About half way on the Lower Sonoran Trail someone had left a 5 gallon bucket next to the trail and there were lots of bees in and on the bucket. I am not sure what was up with that, but with all the bees on the bucket I left it alone.
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
 
average hiking speed 2.47 mph
1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

helpcommentissue

end of page marker