Garden Valley Loop Photoset • AZLumberjack • 2015-10-03 • HikeArizona.COM

Garden Valley Loop, AZ

	2015-10-03
	4 by AZLumberjack

Garden Valley Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Garden Valley Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking	5.30 Miles	958 AEG

Hiking	5.30 Miles	2 Hrs 57 Mns	2.21 mph
	958 ft AEG	33 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

linked

Dutchman Trail #104

Second Water Trail #236

Partners

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Looks like the weather's finally starting to make its seasonal change and this morning was a perfect start for that change. As I headed out of First Water Trailhead, the temp was somewhere in the upper 60's and it felt like hiking weather for a change

There were only two other vehicles in the lot as I entered and a couple more came in as I was departing and it wasn't even 6:00 yet.

It's such a pleasure to hike these trails and watch the sun slowly light up the mountains as you continue on. Garden Valley was still in shadows when I broke over the top of the trail, but you could see the Western hills surrounding the Valley come alive as the sun lit them up like a torch..... and there was no one else but me to witness it.

Garden Valley was so quiet it was surreal, the birds were already busy and singing but not another sound could be heard to break the silent trance. I met two hikers coming up the trail from Hackberry and as we talked, three trail runners came up from behind me and quickly disappeared down the trail..... so much for being alone anymore, although I didn't see another hiker the rest of the time.

Hackberry Spring area was deserted except for some pesky flys that clung to exposed skin so I passed through there quickly. The First Water Gorge had only a couple of pools and no flowing water. When I got to the parking lot I was surprised to see 13 vehicles in the lot and a Forest Service Volunteer at the Trailhead. Yep, guess the Autumn hiking season's about here. :y:

Autumn Foliage Observation None
The Cottonwood and Willow along the creek are still in their summer green.

	First Water Creek at Second Water Trail #236	Dry	Dry
	Don't trip over the rocks... bone dry.

	Hackberry Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	There's the normal slow drip coming out of the end of the pipe.

_____________________

On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip.

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