Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Goat Canyon Day Hike

when	Trip Report : February 24, 2018
where	White Tank Mountain Regional Park
the hike	The rugged and picturesque White Tank Mountains, located at the far western edge of the valley, form a natural barrier that separates the Phoenix Basin from the vast Hassayampa Plain to the west. The “tanks” are actually a series of natural basins scoured out of solid rock by natural wind and water erosion over eons of time.     Today’s hike will involve one trail (Mesquite Canyon) that we’ve hiked several times in the past and a second trail (Goat Canyon) that we have never hiked before. These two trails form a 12.5-mile clockwise loop through the heart of White Tank Mountain Regional Park.     Start out on the Goat Canyon Trail (GC) and hike that for 5 miles west, before making a sharp turn to the northeast and hiking another 1.5 miles to its junction with the Mesquite Canyon Trail (MQ).     We’ll look for a good place and stop for a rest and lunch break somewhere near this junction. Then we’ll hike the Mesquite Canyon Trail for 4.5 miles east to Ramada Way Trailhead and parking area, where our vehicles will be waiting for us. Several drivers will take one vehicle and drive back to the Goat Canyon Trailhead to pick up and return the remaining vehicles to the Ramada Way Trailhead.     NOTE: The Goat Canyon Trail will be an exploratory hike, since we’ve never done this trail before. There’s a 1.5-mile section of the Goat Canyon Trail that’s classified as hazardous since it’s rough, with narrow spots, loose rock, and a very steep uphill stretch hiking west. This is the reason for hiking the loop clockwise. Required: •  Sturdy hiking boots •  At least 3 liters of water •  Rain poncho •  Hat, sunblock, sunglasses Recommended: •  Lunch or snacks •  Camera
distance	12.5 miles
time	6-7 hours
EC	+-1,702' elevation change
elevations	1,538' at Goat Canyon Trailhead to 3,240' at the top of the loop.
type	one way
starting at	Goat Canyon Trailhead
ending at	Mesquite Canyon Trailhead
on trail	100% — Goat Canyon Trail up, Mesquite Canyon Trail down
rating	"B+"     Rate yourself as a hiker.
dogs allowed	no
cost	$6 per vehicle entrance fee into the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. If you have a Maricopa County Parks Pass, please bring it with you. Please share gas expenses with the driver. The club allows voluntary contributions of $5 for non-members.
weather	Litchfield Park
meet	•  For those living in the north and west valley, we will meet in the Fry’s parking lot on the SW corner of I-17 & Bell Road. Park behind Denny’s, near the entrance to the Deer Valley Park & Ride. Please be there by 6:45, so we can sign everyone in and depart at 7:00 AM. • Those of you from the east valley can meet behind the Denny’s on the SE corner of US 60 & Rural. Plan on meeting there at 6:45 as well, with a departure time of 7:00 AM. • And for those of you who live on the far west side and want to meet the group at the Library & Nature Center, please be there by 7:45. • Drive time to the park is about 45 minutes.
drive from Bell	•  Take I-17 south to the I-10 interchange. • Take I-10 west to exit #124 (Estrella Parkway, Loop 303). • Drive north on Loop 303 for about eight miles to Olive Avenue. • Make a left turn onto Olive Avenue and continue driving west for another four miles until you reach the entrance to White Tank Mountain Regional Park. • Before hitting the pay station, we’ll park all vehicles at the Library and Nature Center just outside of the pay station. Use the restroom facilities here and then take as few vehicles as possible to minimize the $6/vehicle entry fee. We can safely leave all remaining vehicles behind in the Library and Nature Center parking lot away from the library entrance. • Once inside the park, we’ll hit the restrooms and take White Tank Mountain Road less than a half mile to the Goat Canyon Trailhead and drop off most hikers and their gear there. • All drivers will then continue north on White Tank Mt. Road for about one mile to Waterfall Canyon Road and make a left. • Continue driving on Waterfall Canyon Road for about a half mile and make another left onto Ramada Way. • Go to the end of Ramada Way and park most of the vehicles there and then return to Goat Canyon Trailhead in 1 or 2 vehicles. • Approximately 45 minutes drive time to the trailhead. Restrooms are located just inside the park entrance.

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