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Juniper Gate Trail #701 - 3 members in 6 triplogs have rated this an average 3 ( 1 to 5 best )
6 triplogs
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Nov 08 2025
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 167
 Photos 497
 Triplogs 153

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Vista Juniper Tunnel Waterline Noodle Loop, AZ 
Vista Juniper Tunnel Waterline Noodle Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Nov 08 2025
Whiffer • Triplogs 153
Hiking5.23 Miles 524 AEG
Hiking5.23 Miles   2 Hrs   7 Mns   2.51 mph
524 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   6 linked trail guides
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Vista Trail #706
Juniper Gate Trail #701
Tunnel Vision Trail #714
Javelina Trail #332
Waterline Trail #733
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
This is one of many possible loop hikes starting from the Spence Springs Trailhead a few miles west of Prescott, AZ. The only trail that starts at this trailhead is Noodle Loop Trail #760, but it is only 0.4 mile to Vista Trail #706 which ends at Javelina Trail #332 a few tenths south of the Iron Springs Trailhead. About 1.5 miles from the start, before reaching Javelina Trail, this route turns south on Juniper Gate Trail #701. About 1. 8 miles from the start, this route turns onto Tunnel Vision Trail #714. I had planned to hike to the end of Tunnel Vision and take Tatanka Trail #735, but I had to cut this hike short, so after passing through the eponymous tunnel under Javelina Trail, I took an unmarked trail to Javelina Trail and then returned to Noodle Loop on Waterline Trail #733. One of the benefits of this route is that Waterline Trail is open and the vast majority of the yarrow, Arizona thistles and daisies were on Waterline, while the southwestern mock verain were prevalent on Vista and Juniper Gate.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
a few bushes and vines in yellow and rarely red, including a few leaves of a pineywoods geranium
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
common yarrow; southwestern mock verain; camphorweed; New Mexico fleabane; the last of Arizona thistle, common mullein and Dalmation toadflax; Apache plume seedheads; one each harlequinbush and yellow salsify seedhead (see photos)
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  4 archives
Jan 25 2025
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 Guides 3
 Routes 167
 Photos 497
 Triplogs 153

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Tunnel -Russ-Link-Italy-Willowy Loop, AZ 
Tunnel -Russ-Link-Italy-Willowy Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 25 2025
Whiffer • Triplogs 153
Hiking9.86 Miles 917 AEG
Hiking9.86 Miles   3 Hrs   50 Mns   2.57 mph
917 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   11 linked trail guides
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Juniper Gate Trail #701
Tunnel Vision Trail #714
Tatanka Trail #735
Russ T. Fender Trail #728
Zygomatic Trail #761
Missing Link Trail #724
Little Italy Trail #703
Javelina Trail #332
Willow Creek Trail #704
Willy Nilly Tractor #707
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
There are many loops possible in the Spence Basin (full of Ponderosa pine), starting from either the Iron Springs Trailhead or, like this one, from the Spence Springs Trailhead. The only trail at the Spence Springs Trailhead is Noodle Loop #760, but there are four trails onto which you can turn to start a loop. It had been a few years since I had hiked Tunnel Vision #714, so named because it passes through a (low and narrow) tunnel under Javelina Trail #332 where #332 follows the old Iron Springs Railway right-of-way. It had also been awhile since I had hiked Tatanka #735 and Zygomatic #761, so I took those and Missing Link to take Little Italy south, then west, then east, a direction that I have rarely hiked. This provided views of Granite Mountain and Thumb Butte, plus lots of rocky hillsides (see photo for example). I then returned to the trailhead via Javelina, Willow Creek #704, Willy Nilly Tractor #707 and the east side of Noodle Loop for a nearly 10-mile hike. There are way too many trails to include all in the name of this loop hike, so I have included parts of the names of four trails and combined parts of two more (Willow Creek and Willy Nilly Tractor) to form Willowy.
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  2 archives
Aug 30 2024
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 5,059
 Triplogs 4,195

50 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Noodle Loop Trail #760Prescott, AZ
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Prescott, AZ
Run/Jog avatar Aug 30 2024
fricknaley • Triplogs 4,195
Run/Jog19.25 Miles 1,894 AEG
Run/Jog19.25 Miles   4 Hrs   19 Mns   4.64 mph
1,894 ft AEG      10 Mns Break7 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Vista Trail #706
Sidekick Trail #721
West Side Story Trail #725
Tunnel Vision Trail #714
Juniper Gate Trail #701
Partners none no partners
I ran a bunch of loops using different trails out in this area. Great trails for running. Finished right when the rain hit.
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hi
 
Apr 24 2022
avatar

 Guides 10
 Routes 689
 Photos 7,512
 Triplogs 4,760

67 female
 Joined Nov 17 2008
 phoenix, az
Noodle - Vista Loop :: Spence BasinPrescott, AZ
Noodle - Vista Loop :: Spence Basin
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 24 2022
trekkin_gecko • Triplogs 4,760
Hiking4.50 Miles 536 AEG
Hiking4.50 Miles
536 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Vista Trail #706
Juniper Gate Trail #701
Partners none no partners
nebraska friend is in arizona for a visit
we spent a couple of days in prescott and sedona
i've wanted to check out the trails from spence basin
started on the noodle loop trail, continued west on vista, back on juniper gate and noodle
made one wrong turn for some extra credit
i liked this area - nice trails through pine and juniper
not too many mountain bikers, and all were courteous
a lot more to do from here, too
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hazhole
 
Apr 03 2022
avatar

 Guides 107
 Routes 249
 Photos 2,067
 Triplogs 514

male
 Joined Nov 18 2005
 Phoenix, AZ
Noodle Loop Trail #760Prescott, AZ
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Prescott, AZ
Backpack avatar Apr 03 2022
nonot • Triplogs 514
Backpack16.00 Miles 1,500 AEG
Backpack16.00 Miles3 Days         
1,500 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   17 linked trail guides
Willy Nilly Tractor #707
Sidekick Trail #721
Willow Creek Trail #704
Javelina Trail #332
Little Italy Trail #703
Missing Link Trail #724
Zygomatic Trail #761
Village Loop Trail #736
Rocky Top Trail #727
Russ T. Fender Trail #728
West Side Story Trail #725
Tatanka Trail #735
BLM Trail #729
Tunnel Vision Trail #714
Happy Ending Trail #705
Lloyd's Drop Trail #711
Juniper Gate Trail #701
Partners none no partners
To make up for the sufferfest I went through on my last backpacking trip, for this weekend I chose an easy wander through the Spence Basin area, as I was fairly certain the trails were well maintained, and I enjoyed my last visit to this area. I found the trail conditions to be excellent.

Weather was about perfect for the 3 days, with the high reaching 70 and lows staying above freezing. I managed to complete all the parts of my plan well ahead of schedule. I only spent about 8 hours hiking over the 3 days, leaving plenty of time for lounging, relaxing and catching up on both reading and sleep.

While this area is popular with bikers it is also open to hiking and backpacking. Many of the trails skirt nearby housing developments, but even so I found the trails enjoyable, although many of them have few distinguishing features.

Was lucky to run into some deer on Saturday, as that was more wildlife than I expected to see in an area of forest hemmed in by housing developments. Sadly, this area seems to have no spring wildflowers at all and in general the landscape has a drab appearance as if it is still recovering from a harsh winter.

For HAZ members looking to rack up some easy miles through scrub-oak/pine woodland, I'd recommend this area in the spring and fall when it is otherwise a bit hot to hike in the low desert.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Spence Creek Light flow Light flow
Light flow at the sidekick crossing

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water less than max Willow Creek Medium flow Medium flow
Medium flow at Little Italy crossing, along Javelina, along Willow Creek, and at Willy Nilly crossing.
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http://hikearizona.com/garmin_maps.php

Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
 
Apr 03 2021
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 167
 Photos 497
 Triplogs 153

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Juniper Gate Trail #701Prescott, AZ
Juniper Gate Trail #701
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 03 2021
Whiffer • Triplogs 153
Hiking1.23 Miles 43 AEG
Hiking1.23 Miles      33 Mns   2.46 mph
43 ft AEG      3 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
One of the trails in the Spence Springs Basin just west of Prescott, Arizona. For a full description of the trails in the Spence Springs Basin, see the description of Noodle Loop Trail #760 which is the only trail from the the Spence Springs Trailhead. The East end of Juniper Gate Trail #701 is near Spence Springs Road at a junction with Waterline Trail #733 and the East arm of Noodle Loop Trail #760. From there, Juniper Gate Trail #701 runs generally west to Vista Trail #706 about a half mile from the Iron Springs Trailhead. About one-quarter of the way there, Juniper Gate Trail #701 crosses the West arm of Noodle Loop Trail #760.
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  3 archives
average hiking speed 2.51 mph

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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