Trailblazers for the Perimeter Loop hike. [photo by Vicki]

Nine hikers showed up on a cloudless crisp sunny Saturday at the Perimeter Loop in the parking lot of the Camp Verde Sports Complex. This loop hike began with a walk through open and grassy slopes ascending onto a dirt path into a sea of creosote shrubs. A car racing track hosting several drivers could be seen along buff-colored cliffs and a large mesa-like mound to the northeast, exposing views of the Verde River to the west. After passing into the Coconino National Forest, the hikers met a sign warning equestrians that the conditions ahead could be dangerous for horse travel.

Can you see the three bears. [photo by Vicki]

The trail ascended rapidly with abrupt twists, loose rock and close to the edge traverses on a base of crumbling limestone. The trail’s high point was on the White Hills Narrows that exposed views of the San Francisco Peak to the north and West Clear Creek Wilderness to the east where the hikers stopped for lunch.

Lunch time above the race track. [photo by Vicki]

Time for Lunch. [photo by Vicki]

After scrambling over chalky ledges, the descent has its challenges due to erosion damage that made footing difficult but did offer views of cliffs sweeping over ridgetop flatlands. A spiral of switchbacks led hikers back into a sea of creosote bushes eventually intersecting the Champion Trail Road.

Trail on top of the mesa. [photo by Vicki]

View from on top. [photo by Vicki]

On the trail at the bottom of the hill. [photo by Vicki]

Everyone made it out. [photo by Vicki]