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SPRING VALLEY TRAIL

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SPRING VALLEY TRAIL:  Hells Canyon Wilderness Area A stock tank on Spring Valley Trail When the itch to “Get the hell out of Dodge” hits Arizona city-dwelling hikers, sometimes all it takes to scratch it is a free afternoon and a short drive.   A rustic gate frames views of distant Tonto NF peaks Spanning 9,951 acres of back country a few miles northwest of Lake Pleasant approximately 25 miles north of Phoenix, Hells Canyon Wilderness Area offers a quick way to escape into an untamed swath of desert that’s more paradise than purgatory. Small in comparison to other Arizona wilderness areas like Mazatzal (252,500 acres) and Superstition (160,200 acres)   Hells Canyon, which straddles Maricopa and Yavapai counties, was established in 1990 and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. A hiker takes in the views from a ledge above Garfias Wash Of the several sketchy routes that wander through the area, the most popular and easiest to follow is the Spring Valley Trail. Excep...

Maricopa Trail: Lake Pleasant – Anthem

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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...