Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Taawa and Big Bang Day Hike

when	September 12, 2026 Saturday
where	Mount Elden-Dry Lake Hills
the hike	Join me on this hike that is a new trail completed during Fall 2024 and built in Flagstaff’s Mount Elden-Dry Lake Hills (MEDL) area. The word Taawa is the Hopi word for sun spirit or creator and replaces a maze of heavily traveled trails including the Lost Burrito Trail on its lower half. It is designated solely for hiker use and features an expanded series of new stacked loops also sharing space with the Arizona Trail and the Flagstaff Loop trail. We will start our ascent at the Shultz Creek Trailhead, hike .6 miles on the Rocky Ridge Trail where will meet up at the Taawa Junction with a well-marked trail sign. Our ascent will continue on switchbacks that are steep, exposed, and thin path. This vertical assault will calm down after about a half mile revealing a meadow where views of the San Francisco Peaks and the town of Flagstaff can be viewed between trees that are just far enough apart. The trail ends at its high point at the second Big Bang Trail junction where we will stop for lunch. We will make a return loop using the Big Bang Trail that will offer additional challenges involving steep downhill traversing that will eventually hooks up with the Taawa Trail. From the Taawa we will head back to our cars. Pace: Moderate pace. This hike is steep, but solid hiking boots are highly recommended in addition to layered clothing, a broad brimmed hat (some shade is available), binoculars and rain gear. There are some short scrambles over boulders. Bathrooms are not available in the very small parking area. For those wishing to stop for dinner after the hike the group will meet at Delhi Palace Cuisine of India, 2500 S. Woodlands Village Blvd., #8, Flagstaff, AZ.
distance	8 - 10 miles
time	5 - 6 hours
EC	+/- 1500' elevation change
elevations	7,100' to 8,500'
type	Loop
on trail	100% — Taawa, Rocky Ridge, Big Bang
rating	"B"     Rate yourself as a hiker.
dogs allowed	no
cost	The club allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member.
weather	Flagstaff
leader	Email the leader to confirm.
meet in Phoenix	7:30 AM in the McDonald’s carefree off I -17 at 3140 W Carefree Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85086.
drive	• To meet at the Schultz Creek Trailhead in Flagstaff go 3 miles north on U.S. 180 (Humphreys Street). At the light turn left to stay on US 180. • Turn right on to Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420). Continue 0.5 miles on FR 420 and make a hard left at the Elden Lookout Road (FR 577) “Y” and go another half mile on FR 420 to the parking lot of the left. There are no facilities at the trailhead. Park near a locked gate.

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