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4 triplogs
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Feb 22 2025
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 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Santa Fe #709 from Iron Springs TH, AZ 
Santa Fe #709 from Iron Springs TH, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 22 2025
Whiffer • Triplogs 147
Hiking10.04 Miles 834 AEG
Hiking10.04 Miles   3 Hrs   34 Mns   2.81 mph
834 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
West Side Story Trail #725
Skyline Trail #712
Sante Fe Trail #709
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
The Santa Fe Trail #709 provides the furthest vistas of any of the trails accessible from the Iron Springs Trailhead west of Prescott, AZ. This hike doesn't include the western end of Santa Fe Trail to keep the entire hike at about 10 miles and because the scenery doesn't change much as you head further west and gradually descend. Except for the eastern-most mile, the Santa Fe Trail follows the Iron Springs railroad right-of-way that slopes down east-to-west, roughly parallel to and separated from Iron Springs Road by a ridge. If you prefer that kind of hiking and want to hike uphill on the return trip, you can start where Santa Fe Trail crosses Skyline Road. Along this stretch are views of juniper-covered, gently eroded West Spruce Mountain, and Sugarloaf Mountain with more distant peaks beyond (see photo). The eastern-most mile of the Santa Fe Trail, east of Skyline Road slopes down west-to-east and has views of Granite Mountain, Thumb Butte and Chino Valley with the San Francisco Peaks in the distance (see photos). By starting at the Iron Springs Trailhead, the first and last mile and a half are through the Ponderosa pine forest of Spence Springs basin on West Side Story Trail #725 and (briefly) Skyline Trail #712.
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  3 archives
Jul 06 2024
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 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Sante Fe #712 via West Side Story and Skyline, AZ 
Sante Fe #712 via West Side Story and Skyline, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jul 06 2024
Whiffer • Triplogs 147
Hiking10.00 Miles 796 AEG
Hiking10.00 Miles   3 Hrs   36 Mns   2.78 mph
796 ft AEG
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   linked  
West Side Story Trail #725
Skyline Trail #712
Sante Fe Trail #709
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
This was my first ten-mile hike since mitral heart valve repair in November 2023 and was much easier than nine miles on Little Granite Mountain Trail #37 the week before, because the slopes are much more gradual. The middle six miles are on the railbed of the Iron Springs Railroad west of Skyline Drive, but it's downhill to the west and uphill on the return. The route starts at the Iron Springs Trailhead and uses the first 1.5 miles of West Side Story Trail #725 and a short stretch of Skyline Trail #712 to get to the east end of Sante Fe Trail #709 and then continues on Trail #709 until five miles are reached, so that the round-trip hike is ten miles. The photoset provides good examples of what the trail is like west of Skyline Drive. A few cars can park where Trail #709 crosses Skyline Drive, so it is possible to start hiking there and follow the Iron Springs railbed west.

Like the rest of Spence Springs Basin to the east, Trails #725 and #712 are in a Ponderosa/juniper/oak forest with lots of shade. Shortly after heading west on Trail #709, the Ponderosa pines and oaks disappear and the junipers become sparse with mostly desert holly and skunkbush sumac alongside the trail, until a tenth of a mile east of Skyline Drive when the trees briefly return. There is another stretch of Ponderosa pines and oaks in the fourth mile of the route. Just east of Skyline Drive, there are many Gambrel oaks, but along the rest of the trail the oaks are mostly Emory oaks.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
Lots of silverleaf nightshade in the center and alongside the trail, especially at 34.577867, -112.571247; quite a few purple prairie verbena and Arizona thistle; and a few common mullein and Dalmation toadflax, as well as many others.
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  5 archives
Aug 06 2022
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 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Javelina-West Side Story Loop, AZ 
Javelina-West Side Story Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 06 2022
Whiffer • Triplogs 147
Hiking8.63 Miles 872 AEG
Hiking8.63 Miles   3 Hrs   12 Mns   2.75 mph
872 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
Linked   11 linked trail guides
Javelina Trail #332
West Side Story Trail #725
Little Italy Trail #703
Missing Link Trail #724
Zygomatic Trail #761
Russ T. Fender Trail #728
Waterline Trail #733
Tatanka Trail #735
Skyline Trail #712
Spence Creek Trail #719
Vista Trail #706
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
This loop starts south on Javelina Trail #332 from Iron Springs Trailhead. It uses all of Javelina Trail on the Iron Springs Railroad right-of-way, then stays on Trail #332 when it leaves the railroad right-of-way. After passing the fireplace, take Little Italy Trail #703 (may be no sign) west along the south bank of Willow Creek, then cross the creek and head east, northeast and northwest to the junction of Trail #703 and Missing Link Trail #724. Take Trail #724 west past Zygomatic Trail #724 to Russ T Fender Trail #728. It's less than 0.1 mile on Trail #728 to West Side Story Trail #725 which returns to the Iron Springs Trailhead. I wanted to go a little more than 8 miles, so this route takes Spence Creek Trail #719 back to Javelina Trail #332 and north to Vista Trail #706. Vista Trail is well-named with views of Granite Mountain (near Williamson Valley Road), Thumb Butte and the Spence Creek Basin. This route goes out and back on Trail #706 to get in the distance I wanted to cover on this hike (about 8.5 miles). The Spence Creek Basin contains a mesh of trails made and named by mountain bikers. The route contains waypoints for some of the trail junctions. It is easy to shorten or lengthen the loop by taking other trails. At the trailhead is one of the modern USFS signs with a map and trails. There are similar maps at some of the trail junctions. I have also created triplogs for these trails.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
Arizona Thistle, Dalmatian toadflax, datura, goldenrod, common mullein, firecracker penstemon, and many more yellow, purple and orange wildflowers
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  3 archives
May 01 2021
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 Guides 3
 Routes 161
 Photos 477
 Triplogs 147

70 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Skyline Trail #712Prescott, AZ
Skyline Trail #712
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar May 01 2021
Whiffer • Triplogs 147
Hiking1.01 Miles 340 AEG
Hiking1.01 Miles      28 Mns   2.24 mph
340 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Skyline Trail is 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. Skyline Trail is the western-most trail in the Spence Springs Basin and thus, is more accessible from the Iron Springs Trailhead (1.3 miles west on Iron Springs Road from the Spence Springs Trailhead). From the Iron Springs Trailhead, hike 1.3 miles on West Side Story Trail #725 to the start of Skyline Trail which ends 1 mile later at Skyline Drive. The two-tenths of a mile closest to Skyline Drive provides excellent views of Granite Mountain (near Williamson Valley Road) and Thumb Butte, as well as the San Francisco Peaks in the distance (see photos). In May of most years, a variety of wildflowers and blooms on bushes further add to the enjoyment of this short hike. Connecting trails can be added for additional wildflowers (see my Memorial Day Wildflower hike on 5/23/20 and Arizona Thistle hike on 6/13/20). The photos here were taken 5/1/21 as wildflowers were just starting to show. For example, Sante Fe Trail #709 starts about 0.2 mile from West Side Story Trail and had more Arizona Thistles (not yet blooming) on 5/1/21 than Skyline Trail.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
A few cryptantha, Dichelostemma capitatum, ashen milkvetch and purple prairie verbena on 5/1/21, but many more expected by Memorial Day.
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  5 archives
average hiking speed 2.65 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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