Gadsen Trail, Sierra-Estrella Mountains 

The trail first goes across creosote bush flats, through some small passes, then across rolling hills of hardpan before turning to the starting point at a rental stable parking lot in the park. 

From the trailhead we headed south to our first junction with the Gadsen Trail. From there, we headed east and around a small mountain. Heading back west, we continued back to the main north-south trail (Rainbow Valley Trail). This route took us around 2 more peaks (on our right) before heading north and back to the trailhead. We passed by several smaller mountains and over several wash areas between mountains. 

The Estrella Mountains, all perpendicular granite rising up to 4,337 feet at the Montezuma Peak, provide a spectacular backdrop to the south and west. 

The above listed trip reports--documenting day hikes, backpacking trips, and car camping trips organized and arranged by the Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Inc.--are meant to be more of a record of the various events performed by the hiking club and are not meant to be the only guide for anyone else wishing to do the same hike or backpacking trip. Instead, they should only be used as a supplemental to an official guidebook that addresses that specific hike or backpacking trip. Natural changes (floods, fires, windstorms, etc.) can occur and change and alter the landscape. The Forest Service sometimes changes the routing of a trail. Trail junction signs can be removed or altered. For these reasons, the hiking club's trip reports and even the official guidebooks may no longer be totally accurate in describing the trail and its layout. There is always the possibility, however remote, of a hiker sustaining harm or injury while on any hike, no matter how safe it may initially seem. The Arizona Trailblazer's Hiking Club, Inc., as well as any of its officers, directors, representatives, and designated hike leaders, disclaims any liability or responsibility for accidents, injuries, damages, or losses whatsoever that may occur to anyone using the trip reports that are available on our website. The responsibility for good health and safety while hiking, backpacking, or camping, ultimately rests with the individual.