Sante Fe Trail #709 • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Feb 22 2025

Whiffer

Guides 3
Routes 161
Photos 477
Triplogs 147

70 male

Joined Jan 02 2016
Prescott, AZ

Santa Fe #709 from Iron Springs TH, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2025
		Whiffer • Triplogs 147

Hiking	10.04 Miles	834 AEG

Hiking	10.04 Miles	3 Hrs 34 Mns	2.81 mph
	834 ft AEG

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West Side Story Trail #725

Skyline Trail #712

Sante Fe Trail #709

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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

Whiffer

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

Hiking		Jul 06 2024
		Whiffer • Triplogs 147

Hiking	10.00 Miles	796 AEG

Hiking	10.00 Miles	3 Hrs 36 Mns	2.78 mph
	796 ft AEG

no photosets

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West Side Story Trail #725

Skyline Trail #712

Sante Fe Trail #709

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no partners

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.

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

Dec 28 2021

PrestonSands

Guides 170
Routes 148
Photos 5,914
Triplogs 2,097

48 male

Joined Apr 12 2004
Tucson, AZ

Sante Fe Trail #709

Prescott, AZ

Sante Fe Trail #709

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Dec 28 2021
		PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097

Hiking	4.25 Miles	310 AEG

Hiking	4.25 Miles	1 Hour 22 Mns	3.11 mph
	310 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

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Driving to Mount Union during a snowstorm didn’t seem like the best idea, so I drove up to Highland Pines off Iron Springs Road, intending to hike West Spruce Mountain. The old Santa Fe railroad grade caught my eye as it has often done, so I figured I’d try something new instead. I was happy to see the railroad grade was made into an official Forest Service trail. I hiked from the Skyline Road crossing down past the Iron Springs community a ways, passing the junction with the “Clown Town” Trail (I’m loving that name). I can only hope the fat tire tracks in the snow were from a unicycle. The wind and blowing slow were relentless and I was glad I’d worn multiple (and waterproof) layers. Not anything particularly interesting about this trail, but the rolling ridges of brush and pine are pleasant scenery. Walking the old Santa Fe Prescott & Phoenix Railroad grade from the 1890s in a snowstorm was excitement enough for me today, though.

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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan

2 archives

May 29 2021

Whiffer

Guides 3
Routes 161
Photos 477
Triplogs 147

70 male

Joined Jan 02 2016
Prescott, AZ

Sante Fe Trail #709

Prescott, AZ

Sante Fe Trail #709

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		May 29 2021
		Whiffer • Triplogs 147

Hiking	4.44 Miles	170 AEG

Hiking	4.44 Miles	1 Hour 44 Mns	2.66 mph
	170 ft AEG	4 Mns Break

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

South end at Skyline Trail #712 in Spence Springs Basin, 1/4 mile from #712's north end at Westside Story Trail #725 and 1.4 miles from Iron Springs Trailhead. See #725 and Noodle Loop Trail #760 for more about the Spence Springs Basin. First mile from #712 junction climbs and winds through ponderosa pine and oaks to Skyline Drive. After 0.7 mile heading north, there are good views of Spence Springs Basin, Thumb Butte and the San Francisco Peaks in distance. The 3.4 miles north of Skyline Drive is a railroad right-of-way through mostly chaparral with the north end of the Sante Fe Trail where Box Culvert Trail #620 continues on the railroad right-of-way.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
On May 29, 2021, a few penstemon and a couple New Mexico thistles in bloom. Several Arizona thistles almost ready to bloom. A single southwestern pricklypoppy and a single primrose (possibly a tufted evening primrose) in bloom.

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3 archives

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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