Phoenix: Hackberry Spring Loop
Hike saguaro-covered hillsides to a small desert spring on this 5.2-mile loop encircled by mesas and red sandstone cliffs.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 8.4
Waypoints
HBS001
Location: 33.4802780151367, -111.442924499512
Go S on Dutchman Trail #104, an old dirt road to First Water Ranch
HBS002
Location: 33.4773788452148, -111.439697265625
L @ Y onto Second Water Trail #236
HBS003
Location: 33.4789199829102, -111.435600280762
Photo op: The long, prickly arms of saguaro cacti frame views to a distant mesa
HBS004
Location: 33.476634979248, -111.428527832031
Cross First Water Creek (usually dry). Swing N on Second Water Trail; gentle climb up cactusy wash to Garden Valley
HBS005
Location: 33.4820365905762, -111.427841186523
Trail empties onto flat, sometimes-muddy plain where cholla and mesquite flourish and mesas encircle Garden Valley
HBS006
Location: 33.4858207702637, -111.42749786377
Bear L, staying on Second Water Trail; in 100 ft., leave Forest Service trail and bear L again on well-defined path where horse hoofprints head off to the NW
HBS007
Location: 33.494800567627, -111.435203552246
Stay on main trail across saddle
HBS008
Location: 33.4987602233887, -111.4375
More classic saguaro figures with mountain peaks in distance
HBS009
Location: 33.4980201721191, -111.440902709961
Vegetation provides shade @ First Water Creek
HBS010
Location: 33.4951705932617, -111.441398620605
Hackberry Spring provides a welcome respite; views of towering cliffs
HBS011
Location: 33.4916496276856, -111.441398620605
Bear R @ large cairn, leaving First Water Creek; head toward old corral, windmill, and obvious saddle to the SW
HBS012
Location: 33.4871711730957, -111.442199707031
R @ cairn toward saddle to the SW
HBS013
Location: 33.4828186035156, -111.446998596191
Turn L onto road back to the trailhead to complete loop
Starting off on the loop
Location: 33.4789505004883, -111.442199707031
©Steffan Fay
Pickly pear, palo verde and saguaro cover hillsides
Location: 33.4792060852051, -111.434616088867
©Steffan Fay
A distant mesa
Location: 33.4789085388184, -111.436157226562
©Steffan Fay
Second Water Trail near the entrance to Garden Valley
Location: 33.482250213623, -111.42797088623
©Steffan Fay
View to the SE across Garden Valley
Location: 33.4860649108887, -111.427627563477
©Steffan Fay
Classic saguaro
Location: 33.4942512512207, -111.433113098145
©Steffan Fay
Saguaro with snow-stippled mountain peaks in the distance
Location: 33.4987525939941, -111.437400817871
©Steffan Fay
Hackberry Spring
Location: 33.4951934814453, -111.441513061523
©Steffan Fay
