Hiking at Spur Cross Ranch park, Friday, May 31, 2019

I get monthly emails from Cave Creek Park and Spur Cross Ranch - for May, this included a hike on a loop that included the Fairy Duster Loop, Mariposa Hill and Metate Loop Trails.  

The instructions were to meet at 8:00 at the ranger station.  When we arrived at 7:55, the parking lot was several hundred yards from the Ranger Station.  We could see some people there, so we parked and walked to the Ranger Station.  The station has a beautiful mural painted on the side facing the covered picnic area.

By the time we got to the Ranger Station, no one was there.  We looked around and got a map, and then two other people showed up - they were on vacation from Pennsylvania and the four of us set out.  We headed out to the Fairy Duster Trail - it is a loop trail off the Maricopa Trail.  A short way in, we encountered what I thought was a chuckwalla but which Patty correctly identified as a gila monster.

 

 

After the Fairy Duster Loop Trail, we continued on the Maricopa Trail to the Mariposa Hill Trail.  Because of the unusually warm morning, the group decision was to skip that part of the hike and continue on to the Metate Loop Trail.  There were lots of interesting saguaro cacti.

Near the end of the Metate Loop Trail, we came to the Solar Oasis - a nicely shaded small pond with places to sit and relax.

We also learned about the ironwood trees that had been nearly wiped out from over harvesting and since replanted by the park.

A nice hike to remember for future adventures.