Trailblazers ready to hike. [photo by Robbi]

Jenna, Wendy, Teena, Robbi, Carl, Yu-Ling, Donna. (In the back: Gene, Dave)

After a quick route discussion at the map, we headed out just before sunrise, at a comfortable 80 degrees, with a mixed bag of people well familiar with this park and its trails and a handful who had never been there before. We took the Bootlegger Trail for 0.7 miles slowing only to do introductions, take pictures of the sunrise and a group shot, then turned left on Saddlehorn Trail for 0.2 miles.

Turned left again to travel on Granite Mountain Loop Trail clockwise, after pointing out Balance Rock in the distance and the opposing trail that would get you there. Following the trail, the circumference of Granite Mountain through incredible rock formations, we stopped occasionally, but only momentarily, to appreciate the crisp clean view of distant peaks, let those that wished to take pictures and swap trail stories.

Of note was the proliferation of Jumping Cholla, with small yellow blooms abounding.

The group split at the junction of Coyote Canyon Trail and The Granite Mountain loop. Three hikers opted to take the rest of the circumference trail; the other eight to take Coyote Canyon Trail toward Crested Saguaros, slot canyons, and sandy washes.

The Coyote Canyon Trail, in and out of sunshine now, had the occasional view of birds and bunnies. The first of two double crested saguaros were a short stop for more photographs. The trail then drops into a narrow section, a bit overgrown where smooth granite walls create a nice sometimes even shady lane. The sandy path threads its way through a maze of granite and encroaching vegetation. Just before the end of the rock walls we stopped to take a few pictures of the “Coyote Rock” the canyon and trail are named for.

Gene at Coyote Rock. [photo by Robbi]

After that the trail is a soft and sandy wash with a desert oasis feeling amongst the grasses and reeds. We spaced out on the trail through the sand but met up again at each intersection.

As planned, we turned again onto Cow Poke Trail instead of continuing on to 136 Express. Cresting a small knoll, we spotted a family of deer leaping and bounding by twos across our trail less than 50 ft from us. Too fast for photographs, but not for excitement, we gathered in a knot to catch another glimpse in the bushes and cacti, but it was barely a glimpse.

Another few bends down the trail and one of the hikers discovered she’d missed the sighting (and picture opportunity) of another Crested Saguaro. She turned back to find the cactus and a seasoned hiker accompanied her. The rest of us continued on as we were one or two twists on the trail away from our return to the Granite Mountain Loop Trail.

I had a text by then of the first three hikers back in the parking lot and heading home. Of the eight that took the Coyote Canyon, we all arrived back at the Visitor Center Map in 2’s and 3’s within a few minutes of one another. We compared mileage (8.16), steps (19, 350), apps and future plans then headed for our cars. We hiked for approximately 3 hours 16 minutes. The first 3 hikers hiked 6.1 miles in 2 hours 23 minutes.