Pass Mountain Trail (Usery Mountain Regional Park)

Click on photographs to enlarge

Total hiking distance covered (per the GPS)  7.53 Miles

Total time on trail 2 hour s 53 minues

Average hiking speed 2.6 MPH

Maximum elevation  2, 576 feet

Starting elevation 1,862 feet

Elevation Change 714 feet

On Sunday, November 04, 2007 a group of four of us hiked the Pass Mountain trail in the Usery Mountain Regional Park.  We were planning to add the Wind Cave trail to the hike but due to it getting hot after the Pass Mountain hike we decides to omit that portion. 

 The Usery Mountain Regional Park is relatively easy to find.  All you need to do is go east on the 202 freeway to Power Road.  Go South to Mc Dowell, head east to its end which is Usery Pass Road.  Turn Left and go north about a mile to the park.  The entrance fee for day use is a mere $6.00 per vehicle and the area is well worth it.

 We arrived at the park around 8:45 AM and proceeded to the trailhead.  There are facilities which were nice to have before we started the hike.  As we went up the trail about 50 feet we arrived at the three way fork.  Either left or right would take us on the Pass Mountain trail and straight would take us up the Wind Cave trail.  When we inquired which direction was the best for the Pass Mountain trail we were informed that the clockwise direction was somewhat more difficult.  That is the direction we opted to take. 

Click on photographs to enlarge

Trailhead	The Gang
Gentle Trail	Easy going

Great views	Phil relaxing

 When we started out it was obvious that the trail was a relatively easy trail.  It went up and down through dry washes but didn’t climb much at all.   We were glad that it wasn’t very steep because the surface of the trail was decomposed granite and very slippery.  The trail remained consistent all the way north.  As the trail turned east, it started to climb some but never became difficult.

 The trail went east for a short period and then turned south.  Along the east side of the mountain the trail continued to climb and its surface changed to sedimentary soil which made it easier to hike.  Half way around the trail we reached the saddle which was the highest point on the trail.

Click on photographs to enlarge

To the East	To the north
Through the wash	First break
Cacti everywhere	There's the Flat Iron
Rough climbing	The Trail goes on

 The trail had a relatively steep drop for a few yards and then again leveled out quite a bit.  The trail surface again changed and became more rocky which of course was more common to our form of hiking.  Near the end of the hike we came to two more forks.  Neither of which we took because we wanted to return to our start.  Shortly we again arrived at our starting point and since the temperature was above 90 degrees, we opted to call it a day.

Still rugged	The saddle
Wake up Ira	Another break
Cat peaks turnoff	We've done it

  This hike is an easy hike and to rate it even as high as moderate would be pushing it.  It is 7 and a half miles which is equivalent of the distance of the South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon but by no stretch of the imagination is as difficult.  This is g good hike for someone who wants to begin adding distance to their hiking routine.

Hikers:

Ruth Dambach              Phil Mercieca

Ira Ungar                                  Larry Wayt

Home  Hike Listing Page

Larry Wayt (larry@live2hike.org)