Nature Trail, Trail 304
|
|
Total hiking distance covered (per the GPS) 1.4 miles round trip
Total time on trail minutes 42 Minutes.
Maximum elevation 1,716 ft.
Starting elevation 1,514 ft.
On Friday, April 24, 2009, I decided to hike the Nature Trail, Trail 304 in the Phoenix Mountain Park. This is a loop trail that starts, and ends at the end of Squaw Peak Road at the Apache Ramada. The parking at this end of the road is easier to find than in the area of the Summit Trail which is the most commonly hiked trail. There are facilities available at this trail head as well as the others in the park. This is a good beginning hike as well as a very informative one. Most of the pictures I have included in this hike report show what makes the Nature Trail unique.
As we get ready to make the hike, we have to make a decision as to which direction we are going to go. Although I hiked in the counterclockwise direction, I’m writing this as if we were hiking in the clockwise direction. From the way the Nature identifying signs are set up, I would expect that this is the direction that was planned for. In my opinion, either direction is fine and as equally difficult.
Click on photographs to enlarge
 |
 |
| The Trail Head | Where we started |
 |
 |
| Brittlebush | Cholla Cactus |
To start we cross down and up the other side of a dry ravine and start up the 302 / 304 trail. Where this direction is not as steep, it is a far longer ascent with some fairly high steps. Smaller children may have to be lifted up two or three steps. After crossing the saddle we enter a very peaceful area. There are some alternate trails in this area but it’s relatively easy to determine the Nature Trail. Should you make a mistake, don’t be overly concerned. Most of the alternates again connect with the Nature Trail.
Click on photographs to enlarge
 |
 |
| Fishhook Barrel Cactus | Teddybear Cholla Cactus |
 |
 |
| Peaceful Valley | Ocotillo Cactus |
 |
 |
| Off in the Distance | Back to the Beginning |
 |
 |
| The Toughest Part of the Trail | At the end. |
All along the trail we will find information signs describing some of the natural plant life of the desert. We continue along the trail crossing a few more dry washes and then start another ascent. This one is somewhat difficult because of skree (loose rock) on the trail. At the saddle looking down we see the parking area where we started. Near the bottom is a turnoff marked “8B Trail”. The 8B is a far steeper trail to the top of the peaks on the east.
In this hikers opinion this trail is a relatively easy trail. There are only a couple of places where this trail may approach moderate. It is an enjoyable trail for someone who just wants to get away for a short informative hike.
Larry Wayt (gnhikn@cox.net)