The_Eagle's Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Mazzie Swingset via FR177

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Swinging in the Mazzies, AZ

Hiking		Mar 03 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	15.79 Miles	3,770 AEG

Hiking	15.79 Miles	7 Hrs 57 Mns		2.27 mph
	3,770 ft AEG	59 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Mazzie Swingset via FR201

Pine Butte

Partners

partners

LindaAnn

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

L and I have had this on our radar for a while. Passing it numerous times on SR87, neither of us had ever been in this area of the Mazzies and we were curious. Oh yeah, and the Mazzie Swingset was up there.

Mazzie Swingset via FR177
We parked at the intersection of FR177 and FR191. When dry, most passenger cars can make it to this point. Past this point on 191, something with higher lift than a Subaru is required. A mile or so in, the tread changes to single-track and the trail closes in. It's not terrible and doesn't slow you down. The grade reminds me of the climb up to Mt. Ord. Gold Creek had a decent flow for the first 2 miles of the hike.

We made the turn up to the Swingset and checked out the mine, the burned-out trailer, and other mining relics in the area. The final destination was a short break at the swingset itself.

Mazzie Swingset via FR201
Next up was Pine Butte, so we jumped back on the track and headed for our turn at FR201.

Pine Butte
This will be a "one and not done" for me. The first part of the climb is on a loose, rutted "road" that is steep enough that some will be on all fours in sections. This ends and the off-trail jaunt begins toward the peak. It's a maze of manzanita that just does not quit. We made it past 5588 and then up to the next rise before calling it quits. The manzanita was just getting too thick and looked even worse ahead.

We retreated and decided to add something David / @hikerdw and his son had done a while back. There is an unmarked old road that goes around the north side of Pine Butte and joins back up with FR191. This was actually one of the highlights of the day. It's a single-track that is in great shape, offering some great views. After some lunch, we rejoined our route back.

A fun day in the Mazzies with good temperatures and off-and-on breezes. It was good catching up with Linda again.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Miners Lettuce

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Pine Butte

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

1 archive

229768

Feb 23 2026

Whiskey West - Red Tanks Loop

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Dutch - Whiskey - Bluff Springs Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 23 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	15.49 Miles	2,400 AEG

Hiking	15.49 Miles	7 Hrs 32 Mns		2.34 mph
	2,400 ft AEG	55 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Dutchman Trail #104

Whiskey Spring Trail #238

Red Tanks Trail #107

Bluff Springs Trail #235

Partners

partners

joebartels

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

The drive in to the Peralta TH is in great shape except for the final 1/2 mile, which is a bit rocky. I wouldn't take the Vette or the Lamborghini on this part, but the Subaru was more than fine.

Signs are up warning of the upcoming TH closure on March 3rd for those seeking to surf the wave from that TH, and crews are busy lining the road with five miles of fencing to keep the riffraff out. Note to those assembling the fence: you’ll have job security repairing it from said riffraff. Land mines or lasers might need to be deployed.

62 and breezy to start (Joe calls it cold, Linda calls it hot, I thought it was jussst right).
We did the CCW loop going out on the Dutchman Trail. Barkley Basin is as green as I’ve ever seen it. Based on the forecasted temps and precip outlook, it won’t last more than a couple of weeks. After making the climb to Miners Summit, we turned onto the Whiskey Spring Trail.
Whiskey Spring Canyon still has flowing water in places. We passed a pleasant British couple backpacking for a couple of days.

On the Red Tanks Trail, we passed more flowing water and pools. We took a short break at LaBarge Spring before starting our climb up the Dutchman Trail again. Lunch was in Bluff Springs Canyon, with a trickling creek and a gecko doing push-ups.

Now we’re in the homestretch on the Bluff Springs Trail. I think it’s actually harder going down Cardiac Hill than up. 82 degrees to finish, but the breeze kept it palatable. Good catching up with Joe-Joe the wonder chimp.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cream Cups Hopbush Wild Cucumber

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aircraft

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Crystal Spring Miners Needle

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

Bark at Dutchman Crossing

Dry

	Bluff Spring Canyon	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle

Trap Canyon

Dry

	Upper LaBarge Box Canyon	Light flow	Light flow

	Whiskey Spring	Dry	Dry
	Flowing water both upstream and downstream from the location indicated on the topo map

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

229599

Feb 10 2026

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Garden Valley Loop

Boulder Canyon Trail #103

Garden Valley Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 10 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	17.73 Miles	2,620 AEG

Hiking	17.73 Miles	7 Hrs 49 Mns		2.61 mph
	2,620 ft AEG	1 Hour 1 Min Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Second Water Trail #236

Partners

partners

LindaAnn

trekkin_gecko

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

It had been eight years since I’d been up on Black Top Mesa, so it was definitely time for a return trip. We had a couple of loop options in mind and decided on the Marsh Valley loop after descending from the Mesa. The temperatures were pleasant throughout the day, with filtered clouds fending off the sun's stronger rays for the majority of our hike.

Dutchman Trail #104
This section of the Dutchman has never been a favorite of mine, but with all the greenery and flowers, it was actually quite nice. Passing East Boulder Canyon, you get some great views of Weaver’s Needle.

Bull Pass Trail #129
This climb really gets the heart beating! It’s short and feels like more than a 300-foot climb, but you get a bit of a break once you reach the Bull Pass Saddle.

Black Top Mesa
It’s another 600-foot gain to the top at the south end of Black Top Mesa. We checked out the petroglyphs and other assorted carvings. The views from this spot are easily some of the best in the Supes. After taking a break and enjoying the breeze, we headed down. The path across the mesa is much more defined now than it was on my last trip.

Cavalry Trail #239
We started seeing water along the Cavalry Trail, along with more evidence of previous fires. You need to pay attention along here, as the trail gets thin in spots.

Boulder Canyon Trail #103
More burn area along here, but the geology in the colored cliff bands is beautiful. We had lunch in one of the few shady spots available. As we continued, views of The Battleship’s stern came into sight.

Second Water Trail #236
This was our last "earnest" climb of the day. We also encountered our first fellow hikers here; most were backpackers on their way into the wilderness.

It was great to get back out to the Supes and hike with Kelly and Linda again.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Gila Monster

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Battleship Mountain Black Mountain La Barge Canyon

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Poppies, Blue Richards, Owl Clover, Brittlebush, Indian Paintbrush, Fairy Duster and stinkweed to name just a few. They were substantial in pockets.

Boulder Creek - Superstition WA

Light flow

Boulder Creek at #103 / #236 Jct

Light flow

First Water Creek - Upper Turnoff

Dry

	Second Water Canyon	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle
	Did not check out the spring, but it's thick, green and moist in the canyon.

West Boulder - Dutchman Crossing

Dry

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

229330

Feb 08 2026

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Out in the Open, AZ

Hiking		Feb 08 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	4.06 Miles	484 AEG

Hiking	4.06 Miles	5 Hrs 53 Mns	1.70 mph
	484 ft AEG	3 Hrs 30 Mns Break

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

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

Our yearly excursion to enjoy the Peoples Open. It was a warm one out there so we looked for vantage points taking advantage of the shade where possible. We were lucky enough to be able to take advantage of the Greenkeeper area for some much needed food and barley pops.

Unlike most of my hikes, we ran into a "few" people out there...in all modes of dress. Like in hiking, high heels on a golf course makes 0 sense.

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

229277

Jan 29 2026

Jumping Jacks Cut - Hawes

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Hawes Sampler, AZ

Hiking		Jan 29 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	10.86 Miles	2,413 AEG

Hiking	10.86 Miles	4 Hrs 35 Mns		2.59 mph
	2,413 ft AEG	23 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

Linked

10 linked trail guides

High Noon Trail - Hawes

Red Mountain Rush - Hawes

Goat Trail - Hawes

Peak 2972 - Usery Mountains

High Ridge Trail - Hawes

High Ridge Loop

Alp d'Huez Trail - Hawes

Iron Goat - Hawes

Pure O - Hawes

Partners

partners

LindaAnn

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

This was my first foray into the trail system known as Hawes.

Linda suggested the east side of the park for the better hiking country, so I put together an 11-ish mile sampler to use as our guide. We got moving around 7:00 AM just as the skies were starting to lighten. The cloudy sky, 53-degree weather, and a slight breeze made things very pleasant. There is a plethora of trails out there, so having a GPS track of your route is definitely helpful.

It’s easy to tell that the majority, if not all, of these trails were named by mountain bikers. My favorite stretches of the day were Red Mountain Rush, Peak 2972, Iron Goat, and Pure O—mainly for the views and the terrain. Pure O is a Double Black Diamond in the MTB world that I would never consider riding; it’s steep and loose with numerous jumps (including one through a tree and another that spans a 20-foot gap).

It was good catching up with Linda again. Like HAZ... oops, that’s someone else!

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

229044

Jan 27 2026

The Lookout from Tom's Thumb North

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Thumb n East End Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jan 27 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	12.25 Miles	2,328 AEG

Hiking	12.25 Miles	4 Hrs 34 Mns		2.74 mph
	2,328 ft AEG	6 Mns Break	4 LBS Pack

Linked

10 linked trail guides

Tom's Thumb Trail - MSP

Lookout Trail - MSP

East End Trail - MSP

Windmill Trail - MSP

Coachwhip Trail - MMRP

Pemberton Trail - MMRP

Boulder Trail - MMRP

Marcus Landslide Trail - MSP

Caballo Trail - MSP

Partners

none

no partners

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

I did a similar version of this hike 10 years ago starting from the Tom's Thumb trailhead.

The weather was perfect for this one, with a nice breeze keeping things comfy.

About 85% of the people I saw were on the popular Tom's Thumb Trail. This trail starts climbing right out of the parking lot, but begins in earnest about a quarter-mile in. Brittlebush, poppies, and lupine were the stars of the show on the Thumb, Lookout, and the top of the East End trails.

I had the East End, Windmill, and Coachwhip trails all to myself. There was nothing particularly exciting on these stretches, but the lush greenscape and cranking up the earbuds made them very palatable.

I saw my first biker as I hit the Pemberton and Boulder trails. The Marcus Landslide is always a little gem toward the end of the loop, and I ran into a smattering of hikers before finishing up.

The big surprise of the day was the quantity of blooming flora.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Chuparosa Coulter's Lupine Desert Marigold Mexican Gold Poppy

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Quite a few bloomining wildflowers. Brittlebush, Lupine, Poppies, Fiddleneck, Fairy Duster, Chuperosa, London Rocket and Desert Marigold

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

229015

Jan 22 2026

Dragonfly Trail - Spur Cross

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Jewel of Spur Cross Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jan 22 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	10.63 Miles	2,278 AEG

Hiking	10.63 Miles	4 Hrs 26 Mns		2.53 mph
	2,278 ft AEG	14 Mns Break	4 LBS Pack

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Boca Grande - Spur Cross

Spur Cross Loop

Elephant Mountain Trail - Spur Cross

Limestone Trail #252 - Spur Cross

Spur Cross Trail

Metate Trail - Spur Cross

Towhee Trail - Spur Cross

Partners

none

no partners

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

This is one of my close-by go-tos. A late start meant a full lot at the Jewel of the Creek parking area.

Dragonfly Trail – Spur Cross
This trail is now a lasso loop and no longer extends into Spur Cross Ranch. It’s a pleasant hike with amber cottonwoods and a trickling Cave Creek.

Boca Grande – Spur Cross
This used to be the portion of the Dragonfly Trail outside the Jewel of the Creek Preserve, located entirely within Spur Cross Ranch. It climbs out of the preserve into the ranch. Nothing exciting, but big views of the area.

Spur Cross Loop
A winding trail that gently climbs to the EMT.

Elephant Mountain Trail – Spur Cross
Sixteen years ago, when I first hiked this, it wasn’t much of a trail. It’s now easy to follow on the climb up to the saddle. The north side used to be badly water-eroded, but it’s in much better condition (relatively) than before.

Limestone Trail #252 – Spur Cross
This trail is also much more obvious now. I’d forgotten how rocky it is, with plenty of ankle-busters along a good portion of the route.

Spur Cross Trail
Good to be back on smooth ground. Saw a couple of horseback riders crossing Cave Creek. There’s a light flow, so where there aren’t bridges, it’s easy to cross.

Metate Trail – Spur Cross
Been there, done that… yep, metates were seen.

Towhee Trail – Spur Cross
No towhees seen, and it’s too early for the wild cucumber.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Limestone Spring - Spur Cross Metate Pond Page Spring - Spur Cross Skull Mesa

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

	Limestone Spring - Spur Cross	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Cool clear water with a lot of bees

	Metate Pond	76-100% full	76-100% full

	Page Spring - Spur Cross	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Catchment was full of yucky green scummy water.

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

228905

Jan 15 2026

Ocotillo Trail - Sonoran Preserve North

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Apache Wash, AZ

Hiking		Jan 15 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	7.24 Miles	976 AEG

Hiking	7.24 Miles	2 Hrs 15 Mns		3.22 mph
	976 ft AEG		4 LBS Pack

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Ridgeback Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Ridgeback Overlook Trail - Sonoran Pres N

Sidewinder Trail - Sonoran Perserve N

Javelina Pass Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Apache Wash Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Apache Vista Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Partners

none

no partners

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

Beautiful weather. Testing out some new hiking accessories. Late start with a smattering of hikers and bikers.

Wildflowers Observation Light

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

228748

Jan 06 2026

Pine-Strawberry Trail #15

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Payson, AZ

Pine-Strawberry Trail #15

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Jan 06 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	9.87 Miles	1,121 AEG

Hiking	9.87 Miles	3 Hrs 23 Mns		2.98 mph
	1,121 ft AEG	4 Mns Break	5 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Strawberry Mountain Trail

Partners

none

no partners

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

It had been a while since I was last on this trail, and I had a couple of things I wanted to check out. First, the path had been rerouted since my last hike. Second, I had read somewhere that a new trail was being created to climb to the summit of Strawberry Mountain, though the report gave no specifics.

Starting from the Strawberry Trailhead, I headed south. Some sections were still muddy from last week’s rains. I initially saw no hint of a trail climbing toward Strawberry Mountain. The new reroute of the P/S #15 trail moves the path further away from SR-87 and eliminates some of the "roller-coastering" elevation changes. I passed signage for the Goshawk and Mohawk Trails; the P/S Trail used to follow these, but the reroute now bypasses them entirely.

I passed two other spurs—the Towhee and Kestrel Trails—which I’ll have to explore in the future.

After reaching Hardscrabble Road, I retraced my steps back toward the Strawberry Trailhead. About 100 yards from the TH, I noticed a fresh-cut trail to the west. I followed it to its terminus. It is nicely constructed, climbing and traversing the contours toward Strawberry Mountain. The tread was very recent, with visible tracks from a trail dozer. The path stopped abruptly, but flagging was visible beyond the current end.

This is another trail I’ll be interested to check out later in the year. In the past, reaching the summit required crossing private property from the south or navigating steep, off-trail climbs from the east or north.

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

228587

Jan 03 2026

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Little Granite Mountain - McDowells

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 03 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	8.35 Miles	659 AEG

Hiking	8.35 Miles	2 Hrs 55 Mns		2.93 mph
	659 ft AEG	4 Mns Break	4 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Bootlegger Trail - MSPN

Coyote Canyon Loop - MSPN

Balanced Rock Trail - MSPN

Partners

partners

Tortoise_Hiker

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

Denny was not able to join us for the pre NYE hike earlier this week, so we fashioned this one to keep our string of 15 years going.

We started with temps in the 40's, as the sun was rising in the orange sky. We did the CCW loop and saw very very people until the last 2 miles of the hike.

Everything that is normally brown is a lush green. The brittlebush is confused an is in full bloom. Also a smattering of Poppies, Lupine, Desert Globemallow, Penstemon are making an appearance.

We made a stop at the Balanced Rock area to check it out. Getting closer to the TH and later in the morning, the trail started getting busier with bikes, hikers and horses.

Good catching up with the Turtle again and keeping the string alive.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Balanced Rock - MSP Little Granite Mountain - MSP North

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
The brittlebush thinks it's springtime. Some lupine, poppies and other assorted wildflowers.

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

228493

Jan 01 2026

Ocotillo Trail - Sonoran Preserve North

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Apache Wash, AZ

Hiking		Jan 01 2026
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	5.30 Miles	690 AEG

Hiking	5.30 Miles	1 Hour 36 Mns	3.31 mph
	690 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Ridgeback Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Sidewinder Trail - Sonoran Perserve N

Javelina Pass Trail - Sonoran Preserve N

Partners

none

no partners

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

Wanted something smooth and this always fits the bill. Mist turned into rain and windy conditions, so I cut it short, being soaked and cold.

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

228457

Dec 28 2025

White Canyon Upper - SW Approach FR319

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

White Christmas, AZ

Hiking		Dec 28 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	11.77 Miles	1,841 AEG

Hiking	11.77 Miles	6 Hrs 7 Mns		2.32 mph
	1,841 ft AEG	1 Hour 3 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

White Canyon

White Canyon via Wood Canyon

Partners

partners

	BiFrost	chumley
	joebartels	John10s
	LindaAnn

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

Denny and I started a tradition back in 2010 of getting a "NYE-ish" hike in for the final trek of the year. [ photo ] .
It’s been going every year since, hitting a new location each time. Denny was all gung-ho to plan the hike and gather the players for a rousing outing. That was until he hiked with Linda; she pushed him, causing injuries bad enough that he had to drop out.

Those of us with nothing better to do met up at the HC non-4x4 parking area, said our hellos, engaged in the appropriate backstabbing, and were on our way. It was a refreshingly brisk morning in the low 40s, but we all stopped complaining about the temperature once we finished the road walk.

We noted the recently flagged route that bypasses some of the narrower pour-overs—a trail created by horsemen, horsewomen, or whatever pronoun they identify as. Even though we saw it, I didn't use it; the rock scramble was much more fun.

We reached the bypass area and headed WSW to catch some nice views. Chum10S found a sweet little arch that worked perfectly for the group photo, though Linda insisted I take pictures of her and Karl peering through it.

Next, we dropped into the bottom of White Canyon to check out the Bat Cave and see how recent storms had affected the pour-off we’d bypassed. It has been filled in extensively. We then backtracked to Wood Canyon so Karl and Chums could get in their year-end bath. We had a good time navigating the obstructions and took a 20-minute lunch, though none of us noticed the turtle trying to escape just 15 feet away. Denny kept checking in on us throughout the day.

The rest was just a walk in the park back to the vehicle. It was good catching up with the Mötley Crüe again: Nikki, Tommy, Vince, John 5, and Mick.

Happy New Year to all!

(Get better, Tortoise!)

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Desert Marigold

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Unidentified Culture

Black Hills Tank

51-75% full

Crucifixon Tank

51-75% full

	White Water Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Moist in the area you'd expect

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

228382

Dec 16 2025

Bob Bear Trail #18 - Fossil Creek

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Camp Verde, AZ

Bob Bear Trail #18 - Fossil Creek

Camp Verde, AZ

Hiking		Dec 16 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	9.75 Miles	1,739 AEG

Hiking	9.75 Miles	4 Hrs 29 Mns	2.45 mph
	1,739 ft AEG	30 Mns Break

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

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

The last of the family was still in town for my son Ben's ( @Eaglet ) nuptials last weekend. I took advantage of the non-permit period to show my brother Pete Fossil Creek. There was only one car in the parking lot when we started around 9:30 AM. There are signs on this trail, as in many others in the state, of washouts from the recent rains. Pools of water were frozen both on the way down and remained frozen on the way back.

We stopped at the springs area first and 'splored around.

Then, we checked out the dam area and worked our way down toward the cave. It was there that we ran into the owner of the vehicle in the lot; she’d just gotten out of the water and was in the process of getting dressed. We hurried along so as not to embarrass her.

[ youtube video ]

After lunch, it was the trudge back to the top. With three miles to go, I was "lucky" enough to pull a calf muscle. This slowed things down a bit, as going uphill was quite painful.

Overall, it was a good time with my little brother, and I was glad I got to show him some areas outside of the Valley.

Autumn Foliage Observation Light

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

2 archives

228157

Dec 09 2025

Sonoran Preserve - Peak 2383

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Sonoran Preserve - Desert Vista, AZ

Hiking		Dec 09 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	7.79 Miles	1,571 AEG

Hiking	7.79 Miles	2 Hrs 53 Mns		2.94 mph
	1,571 ft AEG	14 Mns Break	3 LBS Pack

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Union Hills Loop

Hawk's Nest Trail - Sonoran Preserve

Desert Tortoise Trail - Sonoran Preserve

Valle Vista Trail - Sonoran Preserve

Great Horned Owl Trail - Sonoran Preserve

Union Peak Trail - Sonoran Preserve

Dixie Mountain Loop - Sonoran Preserve

Dixie Summit Trail - Sonoran Preserve

Partners

partners

Bobzilla

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

Got out for a short one with my son. Nice weather and very few on the trail. Looking to the south, the brown cloud we were in yesterday was quite obvious.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

227952

Dec 08 2025

Goat Hill Loop via Pyramid / Bursera

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Pyramid Lost Loop, AZ

Hiking		Dec 08 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	8.03 Miles	1,878 AEG

Hiking	8.03 Miles	3 Hrs 18 Mns		2.77 mph
	1,878 ft AEG	24 Mns Break	3 LBS Pack

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Pyramid to Goat Hill

Pyramid Trail - South Mountain

National Trail - South Mountain

Lost Ranch Mine Trail

Prospector Loop - South Mountain

Partners

partners

Bobzilla

lmarie0130

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

Got out for a hike with my oldest son and his wife, in town from NC. The location of the Bursa TH has changed since the last time I hiked here.

We attacked this balloon loop CCW, hitting up the steady climb on Pyramid Trail to the National. After a break atop Goat Hill we made our way down what I think used to be called the Eliminator Trail (Now part of the Prospector Loop). First time on the trail and was surprised by the lack of switchbacks.

Pretty quiet out there with only a handful of hikers.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

227926

Dec 01 2025

Bluff Spring Mountain Loop

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Charlebois from Peralta TH

Bluff Spring Mountain Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 01 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	16.19 Miles	2,932 AEG

Hiking	16.19 Miles	7 Hrs 53 Mns		2.23 mph
	2,932 ft AEG	38 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Bluff Springs Trail #235

Terrapin Trail #234

Dutchman Trail #104

Partners

partners

joebartels

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

It’s Superstition season again.

A 7:10 start with the sun just starting to rise, temps in the 50s, and a light breeze blowing—how does it get any nicer? There was a van in the parking lot with a camera crew of some sort just getting packed up; we would see them again at the end of our hike. Not a clue what was going on there. The road in to Peralta was in mostly great shape, with only a couple of areas where you needed to slow down to avoid some rutting.

Bluff Springs Trail #235
There’s been a bit of work at the beginning of this trail to fix some washouts. Cardiac Hill still gets the heart pumping. Sure feels like more than a 500' climb.

Terrapin Trail #234
We opted to do this balloon loop clockwise to avoid the steep, loose drop from Terrapin Pass to the Dutchman Trail. This worked out well. There are a few areas on the Terrapin Trail where we actually had to consult our GPS; it’s a bit thin in spots.

Dutchman Trail #104
The Dutchman is a collection of friendly grades, running water, large trail-side boulders, and hints of fall. We took a break for lunch in a dry spot across from Oak Spring in LaBarge Creek, amongst the colorful cottonwoods.

We took the Dutchman back to the Bluff Spring Trail, where we ultimately retraced our steps back to the TH.

We did not see a single person the entire day until we were within 2 miles of the TH. Temps were perfect all day. I don’t think we went more than 15 minutes without seeing and/or hearing water. There were quite a few areas of wildflowers of all types. Get out and enjoy all the greenness of the Supes.

Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate

Wildflowers Observation Light

	Barks Canyon	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle

	Bluff Spring Mountain Canyon	Light flow	Light flow

	Music Canyon	Light flow	Light flow

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

227803

Nov 27 2025

Sunrise Peak from Adero Canyon TH

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Andrews - Kinsey Trail FHP

Sunrise Peak from Adero Canyon TH

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 27 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	6.81 Miles	1,365 AEG

Hiking	6.81 Miles	2 Hrs 25 Mns		2.94 mph
	1,365 ft AEG	6 Mns Break	4 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Andrews - Kinsey Trail MSP

Peak Spur Trail - MSP

Alternate Route - FHP

Partners

9 partners

	John10s	johnlp
	JuanJaimeiii	LindaAnn
	rayhuston	TboneKathy
	Tortoise_Hiker	trekkin_gecko
	wallyfrack

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

My first Thanksgiving Day hike with this crew. Remembering some of their past triplogs, wind and cold seemed to be the theme. The temps were perfect but the wind made an appearance. A 6:30 start in the dark gave way to a colorful sunrise.

The trail showed signs of damage from the recent deluges, but I'm sure it'll be back to it's near paved appearance in no time.

Good to see JJ and Ray Ray again... It's been awhile, and to meet TBoneKathy.

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

227670

Nov 08 2025

Christopher Creek @ Highline Trail

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

High Sees, AZ

Hiking		Nov 08 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	11.43 Miles	1,983 AEG

Hiking	11.43 Miles	4 Hrs 48 Mns		2.48 mph
	1,983 ft AEG	11 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

See Spring Trail #185

See Canyon Trail #184

Drew from See Canyon TH

Highline Trail #31

Partners

none

no partners

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

This is a hike to See Spring, See Canyon, and the Highline Trail to the Drew Trail.

I was jonesing for some color, and this was my last chance to get a color hike in for a while.

See Spring Trail #185
Based on the popularity of this trailhead (TH) in the fall, I knew I needed an early start. It was 40 degrees at 7:30 a.m. at the TH, and there were about six parking spots remaining. I passed a few people on my way to See Spring. There was still color remaining, but it was probably a week past prime. Getting there early bypassed the crowds, but it also didn't allow time for the sun to get high enough in the sky to light up the maples. There were two groups camping at the spring.

See Canyon Trail #184
Next, I thought I'd sample this trail to check out the color there. There were pockets of color, but nothing spectacular. Originally, I was going to hike to the rim and back, but the smoke from campfires had me turning around just above Nappa Spring.

I started seeing more and more people. Close to the turnoff for See Spring, I passed a conga line of 30+ hikers. I half expected to see a Greyhound bus when I got back to the parking lot.

Highline - Drew from See Canyon
@Tortoise_Hiker turned me on to this section for fall color a couple of years back. It's his little slice of maple pie. Colors were good here, and I only saw two people (a plus). I went past where Denny normally turns around and continued to the Drew Trail. Some of the best color of the day was through this section.

Of note, there is trail work going on to improve the track. It looks like they might be working east to west and even doing some more reroutes. I hiked down one reroute that is still in progress about a mile west of the intersection with the Drew Trail.

https://www.nationalforests.org/regiona ... initiative

Back at the parking lot, it was a zoo. Cars were parked more than three-quarters of a mile away along the side of the road, making it a single-lane road.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Wild Strawberry

Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
A week or so past prime

Light flow

	See Spring	Gallon + per minute	Gallon + per minute
	A heavy flow of moistness

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

227273

Nov 03 2025

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Little Granite Mountain - McDowells

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 03 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,901

Hiking	8.35 Miles	585 AEG

Hiking	8.35 Miles	2 Hrs 41 Mns		3.11 mph
	585 ft AEG		2 LBS Pack

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Bootlegger Trail - MSPN

Saddlehorn Trail - MSPN

Coyote Canyon Trail - MSPN

Coyote Canyon Loop - MSPN

Cow Poke Trail - MSPN

Granite Mountain Trail - MSPN

Partners

none

no partners

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

I hadn't been out here in awhile and it's always an enjoyable walk through the boulders. The cloud cover made it even a more enjoyable walk. There were a handful of bikes but mainly hikers out, I maybe passed 10 or so. All the trails are in great shape.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Brittlebush Fairy Duster Sacred Datura Saguaro - Crested

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Little Granite Mountain - MSP North

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

227166

Oct 23 2025

Guides 42
Routes 1,774
Photos 15,433
Triplogs 2,901

70 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Windgate Bell Loop