Cypress Ridge Loop
22.8 mi5,355 ft
5,528 ft
3,081 ft
A long day hike starting from Saddle Mountain Trail, down Copper Camp Trail, up and over Cypress Ridge, and back up Sheep Creek Trail.
Photos
Early morning light breaking through the clouds
Mount Peely to Sheep Mountain ridgeline
Gazing down at the McFarland drainage and the pines within
Arizona cypress, coming back thick among the snags
Big views from the edge of Squaw Flat
Trusting the cairns
Old mines on the hillside
Copper Camp vibes
Rough hiking through riparian growth
Saddle Mountain looking so close yet so far away
Loose red rock at the start of the climb up Cypress Ridge
Horseshoe Basin peeking beyond the ridge
Grassy basins in the shadow of Cypress Ridge
In the first meadow, not all of the grass was friendly grass
Flat grass the whole way to the treeline
An inch of murky water at the bottom, still enough to filter
Cairns leading the way up the creek
More old ranching remains along the trail
Dreamy section of trail
Looking up at the climb above the climb
Long view northwards towards Table Mountain
Last look back at Cypress Ridge
Picking out the unburnt sections
Along the way
Spring 3
- Round Spring
- Seep near Loading Corral
- Squaw Flat Spring
Creek 1
- McFarland Canyon at Sheep Creek Trail
Ruin 1
- Sheep Loading Corral
Trailhead 1
- Mormon Grove Trailhead
Junction 2
- Copper Camp / Sheep Creek Trail Junction
- Sheep Creek / Saddle Mountain Trail Junction