Maricopa Trail: Lake Pleasant – Anthem
MARICOPA TRAIL: Lake Pleasant – Anthem
Finding
water in the desert is kind of like striking gold. This is especially true for
hikers accustomed to desert trails where there’s seldom any water except for puddles and stock tanks. Not so on
the Lake Pleasant-Anthem segment of the Maricopa Trail.
The 16-mile stretch of the 317-mile
Valley-circling route passes by an important water resource hub.
Located south of lake Pleasant Regional
Park, the Agua Fria trailhead serves as the launch point for an interesting
hike that moves from a sparsely populated watershed area to the busy suburbs of
the north Valley.
There’s a map kiosk
and pay station at the trailhead, but you’ll only need to pay the $7 fee if you
intend to take the 2.7-mile spur trail north into the park. This hike heads
east (go right at the map sign) along a dirt single track that soon crosses a
paved road where several signs point to the where the Maricopa Trail turns
south toward the White Tank Mountains. Pay attention here because the route you
want follows the road a few yards farther where a small sign post hidden among
mesquite trees marks where the trail leaves the road and continues uphill. The path ascend the banks of the Waddell
Canal topping out over its terminus with great views of the Waddell Dam and the
lower lake beneath it.
Standing 300 feet
above the Agua Fria riverbed, the 4,700-foot-long dam that contains Lake
Pleasant’s 10,000-acre surface is an impressive sight. Another short uphill section lands hikers on a
cholla-cluttered flat with glimpses of the lake peeking out over tall
saguaros. Soon, the trail begins a
descent into a water-ravaged corridor with steep walls of stream deposits and
soft-sand washes.
This scenic section
winds through thick desert trees and shrubs, crossing the wash several times
before it climbs out of the gorge along a cacti-studded ledge.
Once out of the drainage, the trail calms
down on a flat open area near the Maricopa Water District facilities and the
Pleasant Harbor RV park. Here views of the Peoria peaks of Calderwood Butte,
East Wing and West Wing mountains standout on the near horizon while the New
River and Cave Creek mountain ranges bolster the north horizon. From this point
on, the hike is a relatively flat stroll over open desert. If you prefer a less level or shorter day
hike, a good option is to turn around at New River Road for a 7.2-mile out and
back trip. Otherwise, keep on trekking.
At the
9.2-mile mark, the route makes a sharp turn north and follows the Black Canyon
Trail for 1.1 mile before heading east again passing by a pistol range before ducking
through a tunnel under Interstate 17 and into suburbs.
LENGTH: 7.2 miles to New River Road and back or 16
miles one way for entire segment
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 1,406 - 1,743 feet
GETTING
THERE:
Agua Fria
Trailhead:
From
Interstate 17 in Phoenix, take the State Route 74 (Carefree Highway) exit 223 and
go 8.8 mile west on SR 74 to the turn off for the Beardsley CSR access road.
Turn right and continue a short distance to the parking area.
INFO &
MAP:
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 |
| The route dips into a drainage area alive with greenery |
 |
| This section of the MT passes by the Waddell Canal |
 |
| Saguaros tower over tangled desert trees on the MT |
Finding
water in the desert is kind of like striking gold. This is especially true for
hikers accustomed to desert trails where there’s seldom any water except for puddles and stock tanks. Not so on
the Lake Pleasant-Anthem segment of the Maricopa Trail.
 |
| Waddell Dam and the lower lake from the Maricopa Trail |
The 16-mile stretch of the 317-mile
Valley-circling route passes by an important water resource hub.
 |
| Ironwood shade a water-scoured section of the trail |
Located south of lake Pleasant Regional
Park, the Agua Fria trailhead serves as the launch point for an interesting
hike that moves from a sparsely populated watershed area to the busy suburbs of
the north Valley.
 |
| Beyond the lake, the trail goes thru mostly flat, open desert |
There’s a map kiosk
and pay station at the trailhead, but you’ll only need to pay the $7 fee if you
intend to take the 2.7-mile spur trail north into the park. This hike heads
east (go right at the map sign) along a dirt single track that soon crosses a
paved road where several signs point to the where the Maricopa Trail turns
south toward the White Tank Mountains. Pay attention here because the route you
want follows the road a few yards farther where a small sign post hidden among
mesquite trees marks where the trail leaves the road and continues uphill. The path ascend the banks of the Waddell
Canal topping out over its terminus with great views of the Waddell Dam and the
lower lake beneath it.
 |
| Part of the route overlooks Lake Pleasant |
Standing 300 feet
above the Agua Fria riverbed, the 4,700-foot-long dam that contains Lake
Pleasant’s 10,000-acre surface is an impressive sight. Another short uphill section lands hikers on a
cholla-cluttered flat with glimpses of the lake peeking out over tall
saguaros. Soon, the trail begins a
descent into a water-ravaged corridor with steep walls of stream deposits and
soft-sand washes.
 |
| A hiker navigates a bend in the trail |
This scenic section
winds through thick desert trees and shrubs, crossing the wash several times
before it climbs out of the gorge along a cacti-studded ledge.
 |
| Sheer wall of stream debris bolster washes along the way |
Once out of the drainage, the trail calms
down on a flat open area near the Maricopa Water District facilities and the
Pleasant Harbor RV park. Here views of the Peoria peaks of Calderwood Butte,
East Wing and West Wing mountains standout on the near horizon while the New
River and Cave Creek mountain ranges bolster the north horizon. From this point
on, the hike is a relatively flat stroll over open desert. If you prefer a less level or shorter day
hike, a good option is to turn around at New River Road for a 7.2-mile out and
back trip. Otherwise, keep on trekking.
 |
| Strawberry hedgehog cacti grow from a cliff face on the trail |
At the
9.2-mile mark, the route makes a sharp turn north and follows the Black Canyon
Trail for 1.1 mile before heading east again passing by a pistol range before ducking
through a tunnel under Interstate 17 and into suburbs.
LENGTH: 7.2 miles to New River Road and back or 16
miles one way for entire segment
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 1,406 - 1,743 feet
GETTING
THERE:
Agua Fria
Trailhead:
From
Interstate 17 in Phoenix, take the State Route 74 (Carefree Highway) exit 223 and
go 8.8 mile west on SR 74 to the turn off for the Beardsley CSR access road.
Turn right and continue a short distance to the parking area.
INFO &
MAP:
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