As the end of the winter hiking season gets closer and closer finding another great hike to lead gets tougher and tougher, especially one close to home. But then, while considering my options, it hit me: Lake Pleasant! Any time you can hike along a lakeshore in Arizona just has to be great, doesn’t it?

Because I scheduled the hike on short notice, and because temperatures in Phoenix were forecast at 91°, we didn’t have a large group. It was a friendly group, though, and we all enjoyed the hike and each other’s company.

Much of the hike was through desert landscape but just being close to the lake seemed to increase the density and variety of plant life.

Reaching the Yavapai Point vista required scaling the day’s highest climb. Vistas are like that. The trail is well-maintained, though, and generally not too steep. And once you reach the summit, the awesome view is more than ample reward.

Given rising temperatures, we took two shortcuts. One was a connector trail from the Pipeline Canyon trail to the Yavapai, and the second was turning around shortly before the end of the Cottonwood trail. We therefore ended up back at the starting trailhead before noon and encountered no temperatures higher than 82°.

After the hike five of the group immediately left for home with the second half of their day all their own. It turned out Joe and I were both suckers for waterfront restaurants, though, and so we stopped at the Scorpion Bay Marina and had lunch at the floating restaurant. If you get a chance you should try it!