Three Arizona Trailblazers hiked 8.8 miles on December 11, with the hike starting at the Spur Cross Conservation Area and hooking into the Maricopa Trail in Tonto National Forest.

Tom and Li at the trailhead. [photo by Stan]

We took the Metate Trail to the Spur Cross Trail, which goes directly into Tonto National Forest.

Tom at sign of connecting trails. [photo by Stan]

Just a little water in the creek. [photo by Stan]

The three of us agreed that the weather was perfect as it was just about 60°, with a breeze before a storm moved in later that night.

Few flowers were still around yet a few butterflies danced around us.

The reason for taking Metate Trail is just three quarters of a mile in you come to Solar Oasis, which I refer to as the frog pond. This is a cool serene area where people can see frogs, lilly pads, and just listen to the quiet water. As the story goes, there is a wildlife camera watching the pond and a couple years ago. It caught some people stealing the frogs. They were using the secretions of the frog for hallucinogens.

At about 2.5 miles, we came to the base of a hill. This is where we stopped for the group photo in front of the wooden map of the trails in this area.

We turned around at the bottom of a wash, which is a good place to turn around because if you don’t know where your going it’s easy to lose the trail here. This is surprising, because the rest of the trail is easy to discern.

For those who want to hike more, it is 12 miles from Spur Cross to Seven Springs. This would have to be done as a shuttle.

Spur Cross Conservation Area is a gem in the Maricopa County Park system. Before the drought, the streams would be perennial, but now they are often dry.

It is 2,154 acres of Sonora desert terrain. Spur Cross also has archaeological sites and remnants of ranches and mines.

Spur Cross Conservation Area has eight official trails with Spur Cross Trail, Dragonfly Trail and Elephant Mountain as the most popular.

The surrounding mountains. [photo by Stan]

Tom and Li on a decorated bench on their way out of the hike. [photo by Stan]

Li. [photo by Stan]

The cost is $3 to get in as you walk in after parking. Bathrooms are slightly farther.