Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Mesquite Flat Day Hike
| when |
Trip Report :
March 6, 2010
|
| where |
Tonto National Forest,
Desert Area |
| the hike |
Mesquite Flat, once a pioneer settlement, is now a campground on the
Apache Trail. Walk an primitive road from Mesquite Flat up to a panoramic
view of El Recortado, Sheep Mountain, Black Cross Butte, Horse Mesa, and
the river country.
After the hike, those so inclined can stop for refreshments at
nearby Tortilla Flat.
This hike is described in
Footloose from Phoenix by Ted Tenny, pages 104-108.
|
| distance |
5 miles |
| time |
3-4 hours |
| EC |
+-750' elevation change |
| elevations |
1875' (Mesquite Creek) to 2575' (vista) |
| type |
Y-shaped |
| starting at |
| Mesquite Flat |
33° 32.157' N, 111° 22.681' W [NAD27]
|
|
| on trail |
100% — primitive road |
| rating |
"C"
Rate yourself as a hiker. |
| dogs? |
no |
| cost |
When car-pooling, pay your share the cost of gas.
The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member. |
| weather |
Apache Junction |
| meet |
8:00 AM at
Red Mountain Park located at 7745 E. Brown Rd. in
Mesa (south side of Brown Road just east of Power Road).
|
| drive |
| • |
Take the Superstition Freeway (US 60) east to Idaho Road, exit 193. |
| • |
Turn left and go north on the Apache Trail Highway (Arizona 88), up and
over Apache Gap and down to Canyon Lake. Continue east, past Tortilla Flat.
|
| • |
Two miles east of Tortilla Flat, Mesquite Creek flows over the pavement.
Drive across the creek, then turn left on the first dirt road and park near
the highway.
|
| • |
30 miles from Red Mountain Park to Mesquite Flat (60 round trip).
|
|