Western Loop Trail - FHP • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Dixie Peak 2,429 - Phoenix Preserves

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Two City High Points in Maricopa County, AZ

Hiking		Mar 06 2025
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.10 Miles	1,773 AEG

Hiking	6.10 Miles	3 Hrs 41 Mns	1.80 mph
	1,773 ft AEG	18 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

linked

LV Yates Trail #8

Partners

none

no partners

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

This triplog is for two separate hikes on this day, with each hike going to the high point of one of Maricopa County's 24 incorporated municipalities:
1) Paradise Valley
2) Fountain Hills

Paradise Valley High Point
(2.77 miles with 912 feet of AEG)
The Paradise Valley High Point is atop Dixie Peak, aka Two Bit Peak. I parked at the 40th Street TH and started the hike from there. I was initially on the LV Yates Trail and then continued on an unnamed trail to the summit. The trail was fairly smooth at first, but then got rocky and bouldery as I ascended.

There were nice views at the summit and I had the summit to myself. There was hardly anyone out there today, and the parking lot had lots of empty spaces.

Fountain Hills High Point
(3.34 miles with 861 feet of AEG)
The high point of Fountain Hills is along a ridgeline that runs from the West View Overlook, aka Peak 3098, up to Peak 3804. The high point is at the boundary line between Fountain Hills and Scottsdale.

I started from the Adero Canyon TH and took the Western Loop Trail up the southside of Peak 3098. Once at the saddle below Peak 3098, I left the trail and followed the ridgeline over to the high point. There is no frustum at at the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills boundary, but there was a small cairn where I expected the boundary to be. I added to the cairn and left a summit register.

While going across the ridgeline I went over a bump that I thought was higher than the boundary line, but I can't be certain of that. In any event, I'd suggest tagging some of the high bumps along the way just to be sure that you get the high point.

On the return trip I took the Western Loop Trail down the northside of Peak 3098 to make a loop out of the hike.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Jan 04 2025

Nightstalker

Routes 189
Photos 7,236
Triplogs 1,740

57 male

Joined Apr 25 2011
Goodyear, AZ

Adero Canyon, AZ

Hiking		Jan 04 2025
		Nightstalker • Triplogs 1,740

Hiking	4.90 Miles	1,455 AEG

Hiking	4.90 Miles	2 Hrs 33 Mns		2.37 mph
	1,455 ft AEG	29 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Looping in Fountain Hills, AZ

Hiking		Jan 03 2025
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.68 Miles	1,678 AEG

Hiking	6.68 Miles	3 Hrs 26 Mns	2.18 mph
	1,678 ft AEG	22 Mns Break

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Mesquite Hollow Trail - FHP

South Sonoran Crossover Trail - FHP

Partners

none

no partners

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.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Desert Cottontail

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] East End McDowell Mountains Tom's Thumb

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

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 19 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.49 Miles	1,652 AEG

Hiking	6.49 Miles	3 Hrs 2 Mns	2.45 mph
	1,652 ft AEG	23 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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 22 2024

FLYING_FLIVER

Guides 1
Routes 259
Photos 10,458
Triplogs 293

male

Joined Jan 28 2010
Fountain Hills,

Adero Trailhead & No Name Trail, AZ

Hiking		Nov 22 2024
		FLYING_FLIVER • Triplogs 293

Hiking	5.00 Miles	1,134 AEG

Hiking	5.00 Miles	3 Hrs 43 Mns	1.83 mph
	1,134 ft AEG	59 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

Well, my plan was to do a hike north of Wickenburg. It didn't happen.

Eight miles from my designated trailhead, on a terrible remote road, I came upon a 'boulder slide', blocking the road.
When I hike far from home, I have an alternate hike ready to go, just in case my first hike is a fail. That alternate hike didn't happen either. A couple "No Trespassing" signs stopped me, even though I think they were probably bogus signs.

So, since I had my hiking costume on etc, I drove back to civilization, and did a hike from Adero Canyon TH, in Fountain Hills.

While hiking from Adero TH, I noticed a very faint trail that I had never come across before. It turned out to be a new "trail-under-construction". I took the trail, thinking I might have to do a 180, if it abruptly ended. It did end, but I could follow flag markers for a long distance, and when they ended, I just bushwhacked to a known trail.
This backup (to a backup), hike actually turned out well, so no complaints.

I'll just buy a gas station and all will be well. -

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Trail Signs and Markings

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] East End McDowell Mountains Tom's Thumb

_____________________

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

2 archives

Nov 03 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 03 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.53 Miles	1,639 AEG

Hiking	6.53 Miles	3 Hrs 11 Mns	2.39 mph
	1,639 ft AEG	27 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Oct 19 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	8.35 Miles	1,914 AEG

Hiking	8.35 Miles	4 Hrs 1 Min	2.40 mph
	1,914 ft AEG	32 Mns Break

Linked

North Leg Trail - FHP

[ checklist ] Superstition Mountains - Ridgeline Weavers Needle

Partners

none

no partners

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

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Oct 05 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Oct 05 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.53 Miles	1,516 AEG

Hiking	6.53 Miles	2 Hrs 56 Mns	2.48 mph
	1,516 ft AEG	18 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Western - Sonoran Figure 8, AZ

Hiking		Sep 20 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.56 Miles	1,516 AEG

Hiking	6.56 Miles	2 Hrs 58 Mns	2.44 mph
	1,516 ft AEG	17 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

Jul 10 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jul 10 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.30 Miles	1,363 AEG

Hiking	6.30 Miles	2 Hrs 53 Mns	2.47 mph
	1,363 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

It was a hot and sunny morning with very little wind, and I am glad that I started early.

Route scout flat-lined a couple of time for some reason. I used a tablet computer that stayed in my backpack on airplane mode for the entire hike, so I am not sure what caused the malfunction. It wasn't like I have never done this hike, so I adjusted the distance to what it should be.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Jun 26 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jun 26 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.24 Miles	1,426 AEG

Hiking	6.24 Miles	2 Hrs 55 Mns	2.51 mph
	1,426 ft AEG	26 Mns Break

Linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

I started the hike at 5:00 AM and was in shade for about 1/2 way up to Sunrise Peak, but it was sunny thereafter.

It is definitely summertime now!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Four Peaks

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sunrise

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Jun 03 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jun 03 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.35 Miles	1,486 AEG

Hiking	6.35 Miles	3 Hrs 5 Mns	2.32 mph
	1,486 ft AEG	21 Mns Break

Linked

[ checklist ] Four Peaks Sunrise Peak - McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Partners

none

no partners

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

I stayed close to home this morning. I only saw 2 other people on the hike.

I could see lots of smoke from the Adams Fire, which isn't too far east of Fountain Hills. Fortunately for Fountain Hill residents, the fire seems to be heading north instead of west.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Fire - Wildfire Smoke

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

May 28 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 28 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.27 Miles	1,337 AEG

Hiking	6.27 Miles	2 Hrs 48 Mns	2.46 mph
	1,337 ft AEG	15 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

I have not done this hike since Thanksgiving, so I thought that I would give it a shot today. I imagine that I will be doing this one somewhat regularly now that the temperatures are heating up.

There was a nice breeze atop Sunrise Peak, so I took a longer than normal break up there.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

May 26 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 26 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.39 Miles	1,642 AEG

Hiking	6.39 Miles	3 Hrs 6 Mns	2.32 mph
	1,642 ft AEG	21 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

I decided to stay close to home again today and give this hike a try.

I did the loop CCW; on the way back I did another loop on the Western Loop Trail to add a bit of elevation.

This was a straightforward hike today: no snakes and no drama.

There is a lot of sun exposure on this hike, and I was looking into the sun for much of the first couple of miles. Thus, this isn't the best early morning summertime hike unless it is a cloudy morning.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

May 01 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 01 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	6.15 Miles	1,550 AEG

Hiking	6.15 Miles	3 Hrs 12 Mns	2.16 mph
	1,550 ft AEG	21 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

I did the Sonoran/Lower Sonoran Loop CCW. I saw a couple of deer on the Lower Sonoran Trail, which are the first ones that I have seen on this hike.

On the way back I added a loop on the Western Loop Trail, and went to the top of Peak 3098, aka the West View Overlook, on the way.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Desert Mariposa Perezia

Wildflowers Observation Light
there is still some brittlebush, but a lot of it is drying up

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Mar 30 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Adero Double Loop, AZ

Hiking		Mar 30 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	8.03 Miles	1,818 AEG

Hiking	8.03 Miles	3 Hrs 53 Mns	2.42 mph
	1,818 ft AEG	34 Mns Break

Linked

North Leg Trail - FHP

Partners

none

no partners

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

I decided to stay close to home and do this double loop hike again. I also added an out-and-back hike on the North Leg Trail.

When I started going up the Western Loop Trail I noticed that work is progressing on the new Upper Sonoran Trail, which will hopefully be open before long. This trail will provide some other loop options in the preserve.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ocotillo

Wildflowers Observation Light
Wildflowers were light to moderate.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Feb 10 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Adero Super Loop II, AZ

Hiking		Feb 10 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	21.86 Miles	3,505 AEG

Hiking	21.86 Miles	9 Hrs 40 Mns	2.51 mph
	3,505 ft AEG	58 Mns Break

Linked

17 linked trail guides

Windgate Pass Trail - MSP

Dixie Mine Trail - MMRP

Coachwhip Trail - MMRP

Windmill Trail - MSP

Bell Pass Trail - MSP

Paradise Trail - MSP

Quartz Trail - MSP

Lost Dog Wash to Taliesin Overlook

Old Jeep Trail - MSP

Ringtail Trail - MSP

Partners

none

no partners

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

It was a nice day for a long hike, so I decided to do this one, which is a variation of a similar hike that I did last month.

This is a big CCW loop that starts and ends at the Adero Canyon TH. The loop goes through 3 different preserves and uses 17 different trails. The trails in the Fountain Hills Preserve are definitely the best ones on this hike!

There were a few people out on the trails in the Scottsdale Preserve, but I did not see anyone in the Fountain Hills Preserve or the Maricopa County Regional Park.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ocotillo

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mazatzal Mountains Thompson Peak

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Feb 07 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Adero Double Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 07 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	5.98 Miles	1,588 AEG

Hiking	5.98 Miles	2 Hrs 46 Mns	2.44 mph
	1,588 ft AEG	19 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

none

no partners

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

I decided to stay close to home today and do this hike again. Had I known that it wasn't going to rain I would have started earlier and done a longer hike.

From the trailhead I took the Promenade Trail to its end, and then did a loop by going out on the Lower Sonoran Trail and coming back on the Sonoran Trail. On the way back I did a second loop on the Western Loop Trail by going up and over Peak 3098, aka the West View Overlook.

I only saw 4 people out there today, so I almost had the trails to myself.

_____________________

Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Feb 02 2024

pseudalpine

Guides 59
Routes 1,100
Photos 1,191
Triplogs 1,290

male

Joined Jan 01 2023
Arizona

Fountain Hills Preserve, AZ

Hiking		Feb 02 2024
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290

Hiking	5.63 Miles	1,405 AEG

Hiking	5.63 Miles	1 Hour 59 Mns	2.89 mph
	1,405 ft AEG	2 Mns Break

no photosets

Linked

8 linked trail guides

South Sonoran Crossover Trail - FHP

North Sonoran Crossover Trail - FHP

Partners

none

no partners

4 archives

Jan 22 2024

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Adero Super Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jan 22 2024
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	19.62 Miles	3,264 AEG

Hiking	19.62 Miles	8 Hrs 30 Mns	2.58 mph
	3,264 ft AEG	53 Mns Break

Linked

17 linked trail guides

Lost Dog Wash to Taliesin Overlook

Dixie Mine Trail - MMRP

Thompson Peak Rd - MSP

Prospector Trail - MSP

Bell Pass Trail - MSP

Gateway Loop Trail - MSP

Paradise Trail - MSP

Quartz Trail - MSP

Old Jeep Trail - MSP

Ringtail Trail - MSP