Southern Mazatzal Wander
35.4 mi5,200 ft
5,745 ft
3,399 ft
Long hike that attempts to turn some of the southern Mazatzal Wilderness trails into a looping dayhike. Lots of road-walking was involved.
Photos
Full moon over a burned tree in the Mazatzals
Slowly waking sky
Saddle / Little Saddle Junction
Sign for the wilderness near Mormon Grove
Easy walking on Saddle Mountain Trail
Ridge from Mount Peeley to Sheep Mountain
Close encounter with Saddle Mountain
Gnarled trunk of an old manzanita
Thick catclaw near Story Mine
Halfway mark of the Arizona Trail
Thick trees in McFarland Canyon
Easy going on Sheep Creek Trail
Empty water trough at Squaw Flat Spring
Overgrown campsite at Squaw Flat
Sheep Mountain from Squaw Flat
Humble, sickly water source
Tall pines along Thicket Spring Trail
Walking in a wash
Looking over at Mount Peeley from West Fork Trail
Pleasant sights along Cornucopia Trail
Busy trail junction
Finally at the northern turnaround
Some overgrown sections along Thicket Spring
Charred landscape left from Sunflower Fire
Looking down at the two Saddle Mountains
Big southern views of Four Peaks and Superstition Ridgeline
Stealing water from the water dancers
Shade along FR 25A
Some solid road construction along the way
Climbing up from Sycamore Creek
Afternoon sun on Sunflower Trail
Looking north to the goal posts around Little Saddle Mountain Trail
Galloping along a dusty two-track
One way to cross a highway
Another crossing of Sycamore Creek
A hot, long look back at the mountains
Mt Ord from between the highway bridges
Darn foxtails - hurt as bad as cactus needles
Old, abandoned road
Last remnants of daylight at the end of a long day
Along the way
Spring 1
- Squaw Flat Spring
Creek 1
- McFarland Canyon at Sheep Creek Trail
Mountain 1
- Saddle Mountain
Camping 1
- Squaw Flat campsite
Trailhead 3
- Mormon Grove Trailhead
- Cross F Trailhead
- Bushnell Tanks
Junction 4
- Sheep Creek / Saddle Mountain Trail Junction
- Saddle / Little Saddle Trail Junction
- West Fork / Cornucopia Trail Junction
- Cornucopia / Mazatzal Divide Trail Junction