January 20, 2023 Peralta Regional Park Trails including the Oro Vista, Wanderer, Saguaro Loop, Desperado and North Star Trails

John was leader for the Long Group. They started at the Interpretive Trail and hiked back to Serenity, then to Desporato to North Star Trail. North Star trail leads to the top of the Wedding Cake (the mountain seen in the group picture). Then they continued on Desperato until Saguaro Loop where they found the arch. From there they hiked to Oro Vista which leads to the Wanderer and back to the trailhead. 

Lunch was at the Backpack Campsite #7

                                                

Nancy (I) was leader for the medium hike. We started on the connector trail to Wanderer. There were sites of previous hikes from Lost Goldmine Hike from the viewpoint on Wanderer. From there we hiked onto Oro Vista and the connector trail and left onto Saguaro Loop Trail. This trail also has beautiful landscapes and an arch. Saguaro trail leads to Desperado Trail. We took a short detour onto North Star Trail and crossed a stream. We met the long group coming down North Star. We turned back onto Desperado Trail and headed for some rocks for lunch. The trail was fairly wet from the recent rains for a short distance. We hiked until we came to campsite #5 where we walked across the road onto a short connector trail to Serenity Trail. We took this to Interpretive Trail and back on Serenity for a short distance and cut across to the parking area. 

                                          

The long group is on the North Star Trail on Wedding Cake 

Where we stopped for Lunch 

Barb's pictures. 

Starting up the Connector Trail to Wanderer

Going down the end of Wanderer

                                                  

Across water on Desperado trail

Where we stopped for lunch on the rocks

Casa Grande Hike

Pictures from Nellie

Peralta Regional Park: This park just opened and will be a new hike for the club and new hikes for All Trails too! We will be hiking the Oro Vista Trail, Wanderer Trail, Saguaro Loop, and the Desperado Trail to name just a few. Awesome scenery! There is an entrance fee of $7.00 per vehicle.

DIRECTIONS: (GPS: Peralta Regional Park, 17975 Peralta Rd., Gold Canyon, Az.) Approximately 57 miles.

Exit Palm Creek by turning right onto Henness and continue to Cottonwood and again make a right. Follow the caravan on the back roads to Florence Junction and turn onto Hwy 60 heading for Phoenix. At the first traffic light turn right onto Peralta Rd. Continue on Peralta to the entrance of the Peralta Regional Park on the right. This is where you will pay the $7.00 fee per vehicle and then continue a short distance up the road to the first left turn. The parking lot is just up the road. Restrooms are available and extra clean!

Google Maps to Peralta Regional Park Trails

SUMMARY:

A very scenic hike of approximately 6 miles for the medium group and 7.5 miles for the long group. The medium would probably be rated as an easy to somewhat moderate hike because of the elevation we encountered but it was always only for short distances at a time. The long hike is probably a little more difficult because of the total distance and elevation encountered hiking up the mountain they call the Wedding Cake, therefore, easy to moderate plus. Good footwear and at least one hiking pole would be recommended. Sunscreen would be a bonus!

Peralta Regional Park Trails - Map

Short Hike to Casa Grande Mt.

Denis will be available at 7:45 a.m. Friday for anyone wanting to take the short hike of approximately 3 miles. They leave at 8:00 a.m. and generally are back to Palm Creek by noon. This is a good chance for people who have just started hiking or those who feel they are a bit out of shape. Please note that a Palm Creek Hiking Membership and a fee of $10.00 for the year are required.

REMEMBER:

We meet in the parking lot in front of the Ballroom entrance Fridays at 7:30 a.m. to sign up for the particular hike of your choice and sign up on the carpool sheet. TWO SHEETS TO SIGN  UP ON!  We are always in need of drivers. Riders, please don't forget to reimburse the drivers $10.00 to help with gas. We also caravan to the hike following the lead vehicle and have someone sweep to make sure everyone gets to the correct destination.  Remember, if for some reason a hike must be canceled, you will receive an email by 6 a.m. and you can go back to bed! For questions, call John Robichaud at 207-446-0650 or Jerry Garrison 307-630-0252.

Hope to see everyone Friday as this is really a unique opportunity and hike and you'll probably be some of the first to enjoy it!