Maricopa Trail: Lake Pleasant – Anthem
MARICOPA TRAIL: Lake Pleasant – Anthem 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 sta...