The beginning of the Rainbow Valley Trail, long rumored to exist and celebrated in legend and song, was found on this hike! Starting from the Rodeo Arena we traversed the ridge to the northwest, climbing peak 1188 before making our descent south to the wash.

The secret is to turn east instead of west after you cross the wash. The trail to the west leads to an abandoned ramada (which has since been removed) and an off-trail route southward which connects with the Rainbow Valley Trail. The trail to the east soon divides, with its southern branch leading over a low pass and by a campground which may be an archaeological site. That southern branch is the beginning of the Rainbow Valley Trail.

Spring rains had brought out the blossoms on ocotillo, hedgehog cactus, yellow poppies, and a variety of small desert flowers. The morning started out clear, but became quite hazy as a northeast wind blew Phoenix smog over the Estrella Mountain Regional Park. Then some high clouds drifted overhead, shading us as we hiked south and east around peak 1633 and turned north on the Spur Trail for our walk back to the Rodeo Arena.

Marnie Shepperd, Loyd Cook and Ted Tenny hiked over the Rainbow on this hazy day of spring. We had the route all to ourselves except for hawks, ants and a few lizards.