February 24, 2023 American Flag Trail - Medium and Long groups; Casa Grande Mountain Hike - Short group

Both the medium and long groups hiked the same trail that started at the trailhead for the American Ranch Trail which is a portion of the Arizona Trail. Arizona Trail spans from Mexico to Utah with three-quarters of the trail going through National Forest Park Service lands. Website describing this area and history

We stopped at the Oracle Visitors Centre then the Historic Ranch which is the home of the first Post Office in Arizona. 

Nancy led the long group. The trail was wet with water running down some parts of the path due to the train and snow during the week. The beginning of this trail is in a burnt-out zone, from a fire a few years ago. The fire didn't affect the higher elevations. 

 There is Arizona Trail sign and High Jinks sign about 2.5 miles up the trail. Buffalo Bill Cody once had a mine here. This has been purchased by the country and now is privately owned. The property around it is designated as a National Historical Site. There are old stone structures and a wagon filled with antiques. A mailbox still stands on the property above an old swimming pool. There is a gate to Oak Creek Ranch, that may have been used for a Boy Scout Camp in the past. We could see the ranch once we hiked further up the trail. 

The long group hiked another 1/2 mile to the right of the top of the ridge trail. This took us to a scenic overlook of Oracle. This hike was an out-a-back hide 7.5 miles. 

The medium group was led by Jerry. They hiked 7.2. miles. 

Jerry's photos

Lunch

Short Hike to Casa Grande Mt: (Arcade to Ridge Trail)  Denis will be available at 7:45 a.m. Friday for anyone wanting to do the short hike of approximately 3-4 miles. They leave at 8:00 a.m. and are generally back to Palm Creek by noon. This is a good hike 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 is required for all groups.

Medium Group Hike:  A scenic in-and-out hike of 7 miles on the Arizona Trail, passage 12, to Oracle Ridge, known as the American Flag Trail. During the hike, we will stop at the HighJinks Mine, once owned by the wild west showman, Buffalo Bill Cody.  Distance 7 miles and rated as easy to barely moderate only because of the elevation climb and distance. No rock scrambling!  At least one hiking pole is recommended and sunscreen would be a bonus. Sunny with a high of 58 degrees.

Long Group Hike: Same hike as the Medium Group with the exception that this group will add an extra mile hiking the ridgeline.

DIRECTIONS: (GPS: American Flag Ranch Trailhead,)

Exit Palm Creek by turning left onto Henness Rd. and continue to Florence Blvd.  Make a left turn onto Florence and continue to I-10 east headed for Tucson for about 24 miles following the caravan as best you can.  At exit 219 turn right and then left onto Picacho Peak Rd. to Camino Adelanta, the frontage road, where you turn right and continue about 10 miles to E Park Link Dr. and turn left. Continue 18 miles to AZ-79 S and turn right. Continue about 10 miles to AZ-77N and turn left. About another 10 miles you turn right onto W American Ave. where you will also see a sign for Oracle. Travel 2.4 miles and turn right onto E Mt. Lemmon Hwy. Continue about 4 miles and turn right onto American Flag Ranch Rd. The parking area is just up the road on the left. There are no restrooms at the trailhead. We will stop at the Oracle Information Center which is a couple blocks past the Circle K. We have made arrangements for it to be open. (Approximately 70 miles and took an hour and twenty minutes)

SUMMARY:

The  American Flag Ranch Trail is part of the Arizona Trail system, Passage # 12. The oldest standing post office building in Arizona is also the trailhead for an exceptional section, 3.5 miles, of the Arizona Trail. There is beauty in all directions amidst the huge granite boulders that characterize Oracle and the Catalina Mountains. There is a gentle incline to the HighJinks Mine where we will stop and survey the surroundings. From there it is a gentle to modest incline to the ridgeline where there are awesome views of the surrounding valley, Picacho Peak and the Biosphere2. Our return is the same route and found it to be very easy to hike.  

INFORMATION:

We meet in the parking lot in front of the Ballroom entrance Fridays 7:30 a.m. to sign up for the hike each hiker is taking and sign up on the carpool sheet. YOU HAVE TWO SHEETS TO SIGN UP ON!  We can always use extra drivers. Riders, please don't forget to reimburse the drivers $10.00 to help with gas. We leave at 8 a.m. sharp and caravan to the hike trailhead following the lead vehicle and always have a sweep vehicle to make sure everyone arrives safely. 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

We are getting closer and closer to the overnight (s) hike to Chiricahua National Monument! This is an awesome hike even if you have been there before! Let John R or Nancy know if you are interested!!!! Nancy's phone number is 403-896-9899 and email nanc21.na@gmail.com

If you are on the Palm Creek Hiking Club emails and do not wish to receive our Hiker News, please contact Jerry, email. text or phone!

 Hope everyone can make it Friday! This is not only a great hike but one that is quite historical!