Owl Hoot Trail - MSPN • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Jan 13 2025

mt98dew

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

55 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Owl Hoot Trail - MSPN

Phoenix, AZ

Owl Hoot Trail - MSPN

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 13 2025
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387

Hiking	13.34 Miles	297 AEG

Hiking	13.34 Miles	3 Hrs 43 Mns	3.59 mph
	297 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

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no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

This trail has been a thorn in my side for several years. I think this was my third attempt at this trail and I finally knocked it out. I won’t go into past attempts, but this trail seems to have my number. I made it today, but it was a challenge. I was battling stomach issues all morning, so I was not a happy hiker for most of the hike.

I love the MSP. This is one of my favorite systems in the valley. Just wish it was a little closer. I also, wish the gate wasn’t as regulated. Most preserves go with a 5 or 6am start time. The McDowells flex their gate opening, depending upon the season. Currently, the gates don’t open until 7:02am. I prefer to get out a little earlier, but this system is worth the flex. Got on the trail a little after 7am. Got out there just early enough to catch the full moon setting. Cool! The Owl Hoot Trail is about as far out in the preserve as you can get to do a single trail. I took 5 different trails to get out there, which came out to about 5.45 miles. One of the things that had tripped me up previously is that the maps label this trail as the Owl Hoot, but the trail sign at the juncture labels this trail as a “neighborhood access trail”.

I was ready this time. (If I had the Darthstiller’s description I would have been ready the previous time, because he mentions this discrepancy in his trail description).

The Owl Hoot is a nice trail. It does a lot of twisting as it makes its way west towards Legend Trail Pkwy. About a mile in, you pass through a fence and you are on State Trust Land. There is a no trespassing sign, but I think if you stay on the trail you should be good. As nice as this trail is, it is no better than many of the other fantastic trails in the system that are closer and are “loopable”. This trail doesn’t offer this possibility so you are basically doing an in and out.

Happy to have this one done. Probably not one I will do again. Weather was a little chilly, but not too bad. Wildlife included 5 hawks, 3 while I was on the Hawknest. The nest must be around there somewhere. Encountered 10 hikers and 6 bikers. Almost all on the Upper Ranch Trail.

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Mar 21 2020

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 669
Photos 12,096
Triplogs 856

56 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Owl Hoot Trail - MSPN

Phoenix, AZ

Owl Hoot Trail - MSPN

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 21 2020
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 856

Hiking	13.70 Miles	655 AEG

Hiking	13.70 Miles	4 Hrs 58 Mns	2.76 mph
	655 ft AEG

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Brown's Ranch Road Trail - MSPN

Hawknest Trail - MSPN

Stagecoach Trail - MSPN

Malpais Trail - MSPN

Basalt Ridge Trail - MSPN

Upper Ranch Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

Finally got a chance to head out here and hike the Owl Hoot Trail. Since it's so remote, it makes for a long hike, so I wanted to wait until the gates are open when I get there and not start later, like after 7am.

Very few people in the parking lot or at the building when I started. Saw one biker early on for the first 7+ miles. Took Brown's Ranch Road to Hawknest and Stagecoach, then took the Owl Hoot Trail out to the Legend Trail Parkway. I didn't feel like taking the same way the whole way back, so I decided to walk along the Legend Trail Parkway down to where the Malpais Trail comes out, then I took that back to the Stagecoach. I then made the choice to take the Basalt Ridge and Upper Ranch Trails back to the trailhead instead of Brown's Ranch Road. I was hoping I might see a little less traffic along that route, but it was pretty busy. The last 2.5 miles I saw more people than the rest of the morning up to that point. Parking lot was also packed when I finished.

Saw a hawk sitting on a boulder on the Malpais Trail just after I got on it from the Legend Parkway. Then later on the other end of the Malpais Trail, I saw a big nest in a saguaro that I hadn't seen on my way out, which was being guarded by a mama hawk.

I switched back to an old pair of boots that are getting to the end of their usefulness, but have still been good for longer distance hikes compared to my older Merrells. Not anymore. My feet were hurting the last few miles of this hike, and there were a few expected blisters when I changed shoes at the end. Nothing too bad. My time was really great starting off, but I got slowed down quite a bit at the end. Oh well.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Harris Hawk Red-tailed Hawk

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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.

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