There was frost on the grass as nine noble Trailblazers set out from Pine Trailhead to find fame and fortune in the fantastic fall finery of Oak Spring Canyon.

With Sandy Dwyer as our hike leader, we found the mysterious crossing of the Beeline Highway and set out westward on trails and primitive roads for Bradshaw Tank and the temeritous trail 16 to Oak Spring. It is also passage 26 of the Arizona Trail, well marked in this region of mining and ranching.

The first of several cat trails takes us out of the valley and on our long climb to a high point southeast of hill 6107. From there it’s down, down, down, steeply in places until switchbacks land us in the bottom of Oak Spring Canyon. Along the way we enjoy fine views of Pine Ridge and Buckhead Mesa.

The canyon is our lunch stop.

Five of the hikers decide to walk on down the canyon to visit Oak Spring, while the rest of us stay at the canyon crossing to enjoy a leisurely picnic and take pictures of the autumn leaves.

Ted starts walking up the trail, figuring the others will catch up shortly. When they finally do catch up he is across the highway and almost back to Pine Trailhead. A passer-by takes group pictures by the Arizona Trail sign before we start our drive back to Fountain Hills.

According to Ted’s GPS we walked 7.2 miles, +-1200' elevation change. Thanks to Sandy for leading a most enjoyable hike!