#hikeofthemonth

March 2024 Mangum Dental Hike of the Month Hyde Mountain Trail #6 Fire Lookout Tower Prescott, Arizona

Distance: 4.4 miles round trip

Elevation Gain:  1500 feet ( The elevation of Hyde Mountain is 7,272 feet and the highest point in the Santa Maria range)

Difficulty: Moderate to High

Parking: No fee

Directions:  From Outer Loop Road and Williamson Valley Road, head North on Williamson Valley Road for 13 miles. Turn left on Camp Wood Road, continue for 15.4 miles to FR95, and turn right. Continue for 0.2 miles to FR95C, turn left, and continue 2 miles to the trailhead.

This hike combines a full-day adventure to parts less traveled and a breathtaking 360-degree view of our beautiful surroundings including Sedona, Humphreys Peak, and Granite Mt. However, it is not for the faint of heart, less experienced, or pavement-only drivers! It has a consistent vertical grade, many loose rocks along the trail, and is best accessed with a crossover, SUV, or pickup truck. Nonetheless, for those up to the challenge, the rewards are abundant: a beautiful drive, incredible views, and a huge sense of accomplishment!

The start of this hike is at the end of FR9825C. The trailhead is well marked but may take a moment to find it at the beginning. Once on the trail, it is well-worn and is shared by off-road motorcycles so watch the ruts. The trail is an uphill climb and maintains a steady upward grade throughout the hike.  Keep an eye out for interesting geology and past efforts to supply the lookout tower. At about the 1-mile mark, you will come to a livestock gate followed by a trail crossroads. After passing through the gate we encountered several cattle during the rest of the hike. The next half-mile is under the tree canopy and crosses a seasonal creek that may pose a hazard during heavy inclement weather. As we emerged from the trees, the views continued to astound and spurred us to the top.  Communication antennas came into our view and eventually the lookout tower. After the upper saddle sign, the trail is not as well-defined and wide, but still distinguishable.  Once at the top, the rewards were both an emotional sense of triumph as well as a circumferential view that was stunning and magnificent.

Mangum Dental has been serving the Prescott-area dental needs since 1978. We strive to provide exceptional patient care while rendering outstanding compassionate service.  

Mangum Dental January 2024 Hike of the Month Locket Meadow - Flagstaff, Az. by Jami Ogden

The road to Locket Meadow trail is usually closed from late Fall to early Spring. The Trail is generally only accessible from May- October. The best and most vibrant time to visit Locket Meadow is the first 3 weeks in October.

Distance: 3.4-mile loop Difficulty: Moderate Elevation gain: 839 feet Parking at the trailhead is free. Day-use areas in the campground are $8 per vehicle. Restrooms available Dog Friendly trail (On leash) Directions: From Flagstaff, head north on US 89 for about 12 miles. Look for the Sunset Crater turnoff on your right. Directly across from the Sunset Crater turnoff is FR 420, take a left onto this maintained dirt road.

Summary As the autumn season approaches, the magical transformation of nature takes place. The leaves of the trees begin to change into brilliant hues of orange, red, and yellow, and the air becomes cool and crisp. Locket Meadow Trail is a perfect way to experience the enchanting beauty of nature during this magical time of year. Walking through the trail is like stepping into a fairy tale. The crunching sound of the golden leaves beneath your feet, the scent of wood and earth, and the stunning colors of the trees create a truly enchanted atmosphere. The trail is the perfect place to witness the breathtaking beauty of the fall season that we normally don't get to see in other parts of Arizona.

Follow the dirt road up the hill, there are signs along the way creating a clear path to the trailhead parking. Be aware that the road is not maintained so high clearance is recommended. It is also narrow and there are no turnaround spots. Several blind corners with steep drop-offs come up along the road, so take your time and be cautious. You’ll climb a steep and narrow road for roughly about 3 miles. You always have the option to park at the bottom and hike up doubling your hike time.

Once you reach the top you'll see the road turns out into a very rudimentary overnight campground and day-use area. These spots can be reserved for a fee. You’ll also want to be aware that parking is limited to 100 vehicles at a time so plan accordingly with Friday-Sunday being the high season in October.

October 2023 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month Piglet Loop at Thumb Butte Prescott, Arizona

Distance: 3.9 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation: 367 feet

Parking: Trailhead is at the main Thumb Butte Parking Area just off Thumb Butte Road. There are restrooms, water, and a $5 National Forest Fee, or you can use your National Parks Pass.

Directions: Take Gurley West from the Courthouse Plaza for 1.5 miles. The road changes to Thumb Butte Road and continues for an additional 2.0 miles. Pass the painted crosswalk at the base of Thumb Butte and turn right into the parking area.

Summary

This hike provides some of the best views of Thumb Butte of any in the Prescott area. There are also views of Granite Mountain and a glance at the San Fransisco Peaks. Start on Trail #315, Water Tower, located directly next to the campground host trailer at the northeast end of the parking area. The trail starts a gradual uphill, keep an eye out to the right for the water tower. After 0.9 miles, take a right when the trail meets the #317, Ridgetop Trail. After 0.1 miles, the #317 ends at a gate leading to a neighborhood and Trailhead Drive. Turn left onto trail #328, Piglet Trail. This connecting trail was added in 2017 by the "Over the Hill Gang." This section is 0.6 miles downhill to connect to the #316 Pine Lakes Trail. Most of the previous trail was semi-exposed, but take a right on the #316 and hike in the shaded canyon, now hiking slightly uphill. This hike has only moderate elevation gain with plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting. Hike on #316 for 0.8 miles and turn left on trail #317, Ridge Top. This stretch is 1.2 miles heading south and has the best views of the iconic Thumb Butte, which looks over this trail area like a sentinal tower. This area is semi-exposed and climbs gently until it intersects the southern portion of the #316 Pine Lakes Trail. Turn right and hike downhill about 0.2 miles to the parking area. The highlights of this hike include the views, birds and wildlife, and excellently maintained trails. Sometimes, this area can be moderately busy with hikers and mountain bike riders. The views of Thumb Butte give the advantage of hiking this trail counter-clockwise.

Mangum Dental is a family dental practice established in Prescott, Arizona, in 1978. We work diligently to earn your trust with a smile. More information about Dr. Brett Mangum and Dr. Jim Ransdell can be found at www.mangumdental.com. Also, find our hike of the month archives on our website.

November 2019 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month #4 Grapevine Creek Trail, Mayer Arizona 

Distance: 5.8 miles

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Elevation Gain: 771 feet (4961′ to 5,806′)

Parking: Along road (Forest Road 87A) with no facilities and no fee.

Directions: From the Maverick gas station in Dewey (Intersection of Hwy 69 and Fain Road) drive South toward Mayer for 10 miles.  Look for a large American Flag flying near the highway.  Turn right onto Forest Road 87A.  Drive about 2 miles on this road.  Some will want to park here as the road begins to get rocky, the hike description is from this point on the dirt road.  Those with high clearance 4WD will be able to drive to the actual trailhead.

Summary

Many have driven through Mayer hundreds of times and never realized this hidden gem to the west of Highway 69.  The Grapevine Creek boasts 12 perennial springs that gives rise to a riparian ecosystem with diverse plants and vital wildlife activity.  While hiking it is obvious to see the effects of the June 2017 Goodwin Fire.  However, some of the beautiful creek area was spared.  The trail appears to be lightly used and marked by many cairns. 

This description of the hike begins about 2 miles off Highway 69 as Forest Road 87A narrows and becomes rocky.  There is adequate area for parking on the south side of the road (some will drive to the trail head).  Hike along Forest Road 87A crossing some creek beds.  After a half mile the evidence of the Goodwin Fire can be seen with the standing burnt trees.  At about 0.8 mile mark, go through a gate and continue down the dirt and sometimes sandy road.  The Grapevine Creek can be seen off to the left, paralleling the road.  At 1.5 miles from the parking area the road will cross the creek to a wide open area used by campers.  Stay along the east side of the creek a short distance and the trailhead will become evident and with a brown carsonite marker with the #4 and an arrow.  The trail begins by crossing back over the creek which was dry in September 2019. The cairns were helpful as the trail is not always distinct.  As the trail heads further west, there is water in the creek.  The plant life begins to change to a more riparian habitat with associate wildlife including deer, squirrel, and multiple species of birds including Western Scrub Jay, Spotted Towhee, Red Tailed Hawk.  After hiking along the creek for about 1.5 miles the trail began to diverge from the creek.  I returned to the creek to enjoy the miracle of water in these normally arid hills.  At this point I turned around and headed back along the same path.  In the future, I plan to explore further up the creek to hopefully find the springs origins.  

October 2019 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month

#264 West Spruce Mountain Trail

Distance: 9.2 miles 

Difficulty: Moderate due to distance and elevation gain

Elevation Gain: 2,795 ft (Starts at 5174′ and ends at 6802′, highest point 7054′)

Parking: Free parking at the north and south ends of the trail.  No services.

Directions: From the intersection of Iron Springs and Williamson Valley Road, head west on Iron Springs Road for 6.6 miles.  Turn left on Dosie Pit Road.  Head south on Dosie Pit Road for 2.8 miles.  The trail head is marked with a brown carsonite trail maker with the numbers #264.

Summary: 

The story of this hike began after school on a Friday afternoon in August.  Two of my teenage children and I decided we would backpack this trail for an overnight adventure.  We set out excited, determined, and undaunted.  The trail seemed to be lightly traveled with bush overgrowth, but we pressed forward, excited to be outside.  After a mile we reached the dry Iron Springs Wash.  We mistakenly thought that the path had become increasingly less distinct, however we had traveled off the trail for an hour before we realized that we were not where we intended to be (a man is never lost).  We bushwhacked the rest of the way up to the top of a hill for a better look around.  It was getting dark and we intended to meet the rest of the family near West Spruce Mountain.  We were in trouble.  The terrain was steep and the hiking was extremely slow going.  We finally found the trail, but the sun was setting. We decided to head back to the car, arriving well after dark.  We were defeated.  We met up with the other family at a park for dinner and relegated to sleeping back home on the trampoline.  

The morning came early.  I awoke with the words of Edwin Markham in my head, “Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out.”  The warrior emerged and I dressed with the same cloths as the night before and headed back to Dosie Pit Road, determined “to take the trail or die.”  It was now easy to see that we missed the switchback up out of the creek.  The trail had plenty of bush overgrowth and for the first 3 miles there was  thick low-lying bushes with very few trees.  The trail was fully exposed.  As the trail rose over Spruce Canyon, the canyon appeared rugged and intimidating.  The layers of ridges and ravines were like roast beef folded and stacked on a sandwich.  The trail was steadily uphill from mile 1.0 to 3.5 as it approached the east side then wrapped to the south of Sugarloaf Mountain.  At 3.7 miles the trail reaches Jeep Trail 47B.  I turned left and hiked on the jeep trail and hike for the next 1.4 miles mostly uphill.  The forest changes from low-lying brush to pine forest as the road approached the top of West Spruce Mountain.  There was a wire gate at the 5.1 mile and after the gate, the West Spruce Trail  picks up on the right side.  The elevation here is 7,000 feet and the high mountain hiking is refreshing.  Trail 300 intersects at 5.9 miles and is marked by a pile of rocks, but no signs.  I stayed straight on #264. The rest of the hike continues south of Porter Mountain, along the Sierra Prieta Ridge, south of Willams Peak and ends at Forest Road 373 north of the Sierra Prieta overlook. The stunning views to the south west overlook Skull Valley and the multiple layers of blue mountains that fades with increased distance.  

July 2019 Mangum Dental Hike-of-the-Month Cactus to Clouds (C2C)

- by Dr. Jim Ransdell

Distance: 17.5 miles

Difficulty: Advanced

Elevation Gain: 10,577 ft.

Parking: This trail starts at the Palm Springs Art Museum parking lot; however, hike parking is not permitted at the museum.  Park on the street near the museum.

Directions: The museum address is 101 N. Museum Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262.  The drive from Prescott is just under 5 hours and shy of 300 miles.  The best route is to travel from Prescott down through Yarnell, Congress, Aguila, and Salome to Interstate 10.  Stay on I-10 for 146 miles before exiting Date Palm Drive in Palm Springs.

Summary: The Cactus to Clouds Trail is also named the Skyline Trail.  It is a 17.5-mile hike to the summit of Mount San Jacinto. It was given the distinction as the hardest day hike in America by Backpacker Magazine and ranked in the top 5 most arduous day hikes in the world.  The challenges include the 10,500 feet of elevation gain, the length of the trail, and the change in climate from the bottom to the top.  This is not a casual day hike.  It is essential that one plans well, trains, and studies the trail.  There have been fatalities on the trail and if a hiker encounters a problem there is a point when descending is far more dangerous than continuing.  The Skyline Trail starts at the Art Museum and climbs continuously for 10.5 miles and 8400 ft to Long Valley, at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. From there, the adventurous (mentally unstable hiker) will continue 5 miles to the top of Mt. San Jacinto, at an altitude of 10,834 ft. The hiker then descends back 5 miles to the tram station for the ride back to the bottom.  The tram is a few miles from the art museum and transportation can be arranged through a taxi, Uber, or pre-placing a car at the bottom of the tram station.  The best time of year is May or October, as the weather at the bottom is not too hot, and the top is not too cold.  Most hikers will start this hike between midnight and 4 am to avoid the heat and exposure at the lower elevations.

The trail has light traffic from the museum to the tram.  It is common for many hikers to catch the tram up the mountain and hike the last 5 miles to the summit.  This past May the last 2-3 miles were icy making it a challenge to follow the trail as well as staying upright.  The highlights of the hike included the night-hike up the mountain with a full moon.  The noise and lights of the city below will fade with each mile.  If you catch the sunrise, it is spectacular and the variation in habitats are magnificent as one increases in elevation.  At times, the hike may feel more like a scramble as the trail is steep.  The elevation gain is constant and relentless, but the views are outrageously beautiful.