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Willy Nilly Tractor #707 - 1 member in 6 triplogs has rated this an average 2 ( 1 to 5 best )
6 triplogs
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Jan 31 2026
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 Guides 3
 Routes 171
 Photos 517
 Triplogs 157

71 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Noodle-Sidekick-Javelina-Willow-Willy, AZ 
Noodle-Sidekick-Javelina-Willow-Willy, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 31 2026
Whiffer • Triplogs 157
Hiking6.00 Miles 732 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   2 Hrs   21 Mns   2.59 mph
732 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Sidekick Trail #721
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
This is one of many possible "tadpole" loop hikes that are possible from the Spence Springs Trailhead west of Prescott, AZ. Noodle Loop Trail #760 is the only trail from this trailhead and itself is what I call a tadpole loop that has a tail (just 0.4 mile on #760) from the trailhead to where a loop can be formed. Since Noodle Loop Trail is only 2.2 miles and I wanted to hike six miles, I took Sidekick Trail #721 SSW to Javelina Trail #332 and Javelina Trail SSE to the fireplace (see photo) which I hadn't seen for about a year. I returned to the Noodle Loop Trail via Willow Creek Trail #704 and Willy Nilly Tractor #707. We've had enough precipitation in the winter of 2026 that Willow Creek was flowing (see photo) and providing a soundtrack for 2/3 of the Willow Creek Trail, until I climbed out of earshot.

Longer loops can be hiked by not turning at the fireplace. One option is to continue on Javelina Trail for a longer tadpole tail out-and-back, or taking West Trail #318 northeast to Firewater Trail #325 to return to the fireplace and the trailhead via Willow Creek Trail and Willy Nilly Tractor. Instead of continuing on Javelina Trail, you can take Firewater Trail east to West Trail and West Trail southeast to a bit of Pine Lakes Trail #316 to a left turn on Ridgetop Trail #317 and go mostly north to the east end of Willy Nilly Tractor, then return to Noodle Loop Trail. You can also make a big loop to the west by taking Javelina Trail to Little Italy Trail #703, Missing Link Trail #724, West Side Story Trail #725, Javelina again, and Vista Trail #706. I have posted some of these alternatives previously.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Fireplace Spring Gallon + per minute Gallon + per minute
Willow Creek flowing

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Spence Spring Gallon + per minute Gallon + per minute
Willow Creek flowing
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229222
Jan 25 2025
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 171
 Photos 517
 Triplogs 157

71 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 157
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
220775
Jan 18 2025
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 Guides 3
 Routes 171
 Photos 517
 Triplogs 157

71 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Willy Nilly-Ridgetop-West, AZ 
Willy Nilly-Ridgetop-West, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jan 18 2025
Whiffer • Triplogs 157
Hiking9.90 Miles 957 AEG
Hiking9.90 Miles   3 Hrs   41 Mns   2.71 mph
957 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Willy Nilly Tractor #707
Ridgetop Trail #317
West Trail #318
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
A fairly easy 10-mile out-and-back hike from the Spence Springs Trailhead west of Prescott, AZ. The only trail that starts at the Spence Springs Trailhead is Noodle Loop Trail #760 which is left out of the title. You can add about a half-mile by doing all of Noodle Loop Trail, or all of West Trail, or adding any of the other trails in the Spence Basin. Two of the options are to return to the Spence Basin via Firewater Trail #325 (before the turnaround of this hike) or Javelina Trail #332 (a little past the turnaround). A month into winter, the foliage notes have been removed, but there's still some color hanging on the branches, like the skunkbush sumac in the photo.
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  1 archive
220594
Nov 16 2024
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 Guides 3
 Routes 171
 Photos 517
 Triplogs 157

71 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Spence Springs Loop, AZ 
Spence Springs Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Nov 16 2024
Whiffer • Triplogs 157
Hiking10.22 Miles 1,036 AEG
Hiking10.22 Miles   3 Hrs   57 Mns   2.63 mph
1,036 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   8 linked trail guides
Noodle Loop Trail #760
Willy Nilly Tractor #707
Little Italy Trail #703
Missing Link Trail #724
Russ T. Fender Trail #728
West Side Story Trail #725
Javelina Trail #332
Vista Trail #706
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
A ten-mile loop clock-wise around Spence Springs Basin. The foliage was about as bright as it gets. There are mostly Ponderosa pines and Gambel oaks with a sprinkling of junipers and willows, aspens and (maybe) cottonwoods along Willow Creek, Spence Creek and some of the gullies. The Gambel oaks, willows and aspens or cottonwoods were near peak yellow.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Light
Trees described above. Near the trailhead were a few skunkbush sumac with hammered copper leaves
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  1 archive
219320
Apr 03 2022
avatar

 Guides 107
 Routes 249
 Photos 2,067
 Triplogs 515

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 515
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!
 
195390
Nov 26 2021
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 171
 Photos 517
 Triplogs 157

71 male
 Joined Jan 02 2016
 Prescott, AZ
Willy Nilly Tractor #707Prescott, AZ
Willy Nilly Tractor #707
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 26 2021
Whiffer • Triplogs 157
Hiking1.87 Miles 462 AEG
Hiking1.87 Miles      53 Mns   2.39 mph
462 ft AEG      6 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Northern-most route between Spence Springs basin and trails west of Thumb Butte, in this case Ridgetop Trail #317. The east end of Willy Nilly is a junction with Noodle Loop Trail #760 which provides access from the Spence Springs Trailhead. It's about a mile from the trailhead to the junction with Willy Nilly, if you take the east side of Noodle Loop by turning left at the all Noodle Loop T. Lots of switchbacks on both sides of Spence Creek.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
A Gambel oak seedling and a couple skunkb
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Very few at lowest elevation
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192301
average hiking speed 2.58 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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