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| Hiking | 6.79 Miles |
1,797 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.79 Miles | 2 Hrs 11 Mns | | 3.11 mph |
| 1,797 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Not as early as I would have liked, but it turned out the timing couldn’t be much better. Got to the Adero TH around 6am. In time to catch a mini “sprinkle storm”. There’s nothing like the smell of a gently soaked desert. Add to that a steady breeze to start the hike it was almost magical. Perhaps I’m being a bit overly dramatic, but days like this are few and far between which make them all the more special. Also, was fortunate to catch a rainbow that last all of five minutes. It actually started in Adero Canyon and I could see where it started from. Took the Alt. up to the Andrew-Kinsey and then continued on up to Sunrise Peak. The weather was ideal for the first hour, but by 7am the sun was coming out from behind the clouds, the breeze died down and there was a noticeable increase in humidity. Briefly enjoyed the views at the peak before descending via the eastern leg and then looping back on the Sunrise Trail (basically doing a mini loop below Sunrise Peak) to reconnect to the Andrew-Kinsey.
Really enjoyed today’s hike, especially early on. No wildlife today, but quite a few hikers. Encountered 26 hikers and two joggers. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
). The trail is easy to follow as it circumnavigates the beginnings of where one of the canyons begin to develop. There is some minor up and down where the canyon is starting to form and also at some of the lookouts. Nothing major. Views while on the trail are primarily of piñon/juniper and prickly pear. You have no idea that there are canyons around you until you near the lookouts. There are three lookouts, two of which give you good views of Balcony House. Very impressive. This and Cliff Palace are the two ruins that guided tours are needed to see the ruins close up. Sadly, for us, that would have to be for another visit.
(All Maricopa County Parks change their hours to 5am May 1st 
). The Maricopa Trail is well marked within the park system. All trail junctures have Maricopa Trail signs with arrows guiding you on which trail to take. Starting at the Quail Trail, I took that in to the Rainbow Valley. I turned east on the Rainbow for about .8 miles until I reached the Toothacher. Just on the Toothacher for a short time to connect to the Butterfield Trail. The Butterfield took me east and south to connect to the Gadsden Trail. And then I only had to go about 1.7 miles to reach where I left off on my last Maricopa Trail hike. In total, it was about 4.65 miles to reach this point. Returned the way I came. Great temps today. Some nice color to the sky, but unfortunately I wasn’t out early enough to catch it. No wildlife, though I did see a roadrunner on the drive in. 
Encountered 7 hikers.
The other guy is a lot more able and focused. Finally got a hello out of him as we passed. 
either direction, but I’d rather go up it. The National and Gila are “strolls in the park” comparatively speaking. Saw two joggers on the western tip of the Gila and then one other as I approached the TH. No wildlife. Temps were nice; I think in the upper 60’s at the start of the hike.
