Trailblazers. [photo by Robbi]

Robbi, Teena, Yu-Ling.

The Adero Canyon Trailhead. [photo by Robbi]

At the Adero Canyon Trailhead, we discussed the brisk weather and took a picture of the map as Fountain Hills suggests and of our little group.

Alas, I did not know as yet that the cover over my camera lens was shattered. Thus, the blurry group photo.

Sign at the Adero Canyon Trailhead. [photo by Robbi]

We started through the gate. The signposted Overlook/Ridgeline trail began on our right. This trail follows a ridge overlooking Adero Canyon. It is extremely well groomed – almost landscaped. We bypassed the Overlook on the way out knowing we would catch it on our return. The Lower Ridgeline, a new addition and on that day, unsigned, gave us an additional 1-mile loop starting at mile marker R2 and ending at mile marker R4, with stupendous views of the valley, the mountains beyond and Fountain Hills. Lots of quartz and interesting rock formations on this trail.

Valley of the Sun. [photo by Robbi]

Trail to the summit. [photo by Robbi]

The Overlook is a short trail up a small foothill summit. To my delight every time I visit this spot, it provides a map of the vista in front of you. Always a plus – to know what you are looking at.

From the Adero Canyon Trailhead parking lot, the Promenade Trail begins after the gate. It follows the same old jeep road we have begun on since the beginning of the month. We bypassed the Western Bike Trail on this outing to reach the signposted Andrews Kinsey Trail. This we followed, with numerous stops for scenery gazing, past a Overlook with bench to the Western Loop Trail. The Western Loop Trail climbs to a scenic view.

Linda C Ryan. [photo by Robbi]

The Western Loop Trail. [photo by Robbi]

The trail meets up again at a higher spot with the Promenade Trail, where we had parted from Bill Craig last hike and descends to the parking lot on Promenade. This trail is listed as Difficult by Fountain Hills, and Hard by AllTrails. This hike was described on the AZTC events page as a D. In our humble opinion it was Moderate at most, but short. We traveled clockwise this day. The trail is beautiful. Enjoyable. Twisty and a steady ascent. FUN! It was not hard or difficult. Do not be discouraged by the ratings this hike has been given.

Trailblazers at the Western Loop sign. [photo by Robbi]

Linda, Robbi, Jennifer, Yu-Ling, Cathy.

Sign showing where the trails are. [photo by Robbi]

Robbi. [photo by Robbi]

From the Adero Canyon Trailhead parking lot, we followed the Promenade Trail in what we would have described at the time as gale force frigid wind that gentled the more we proceeded into the canyon. This trail begins going uphill and then undulates up and down once you reach the signposted Sonoran Trails.

On this day we chose to hike the Lower Sonoran Trail a short distance to the sign posted Scenic Overlook. Then we continued, past the posted end of the Fountain Hills Park, into the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. We stopped to gaze at the views and take selfies. When we reached the Dixie Mine Trail T intersection, we crossed paths with a Conservancy Hike doing the Challenge that we headed to Dixie Mine that day. They continued on the Dixie Mine Trail and we turned right to travel towards the Golden Eagle Trailhead. At Golden Eagle we shuttled back to Adero by car in batches for an enjoyable end to this hike.