| when | Trip Report : February 13, 2011 |
| Trip Report : March 24, 2009 | |
| Trip Report : March 21, 1998 | |
| where? | Usery Mountain Regional Park, northeast Mesa |
| the hike |
Join me for a quick sunset hike up to the Wind Cave at Usery
Mountain Park in east Mesa. One of my favorite hikes, this one
is a good way to get some exercise.
It will take 45 minutes to get to the top; the route down is a
bit quicker. The trail is a popular one.
The first half is a gentle climb; then the pace picks
up as the trail switchbacks across the face of the mountain up to
the cave. There is a fabulous view of the valley from the top;
you can see Camelback and San Tan Mountains as well as the
surrounding cities. If we time it right, we should get to see the
sun setting on our way down. This hike is described on pages 186-187 of Freeman, Roger and Ethel, Day Hikes and Trail Rides in and Around Phoenix (2nd. ed.), Gem Guides, Upland, CA, 2000. |
| distance | 3.2 miles round trip |
| time | 1 1/2 hours |
| EC | +-800' elevation change |
| elevations | 2020' (Wind Cave Trailhead) to 2840' (Wind Cave) |
| on trail | 100% — Wind Cave Trail #281 |
| dogs? | no |
| rating | "C" Rate yourself as a hiker. |
| cost | Entrance fee into the Park is $6 per vehicle. When car-pooling, pay your share the cost of gas. The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5/non-member. |
| weather | Apache Junction |
| meet | Meet at CVS Pharmacy at 4:00 PM on the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Brown. Cost is $6 per car, shared among passengers. |
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| updated July 29, 2016 | © Copyright 2016, Arizona Trailblazers. All rights reserved. |