Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide

PIPELINE CANYON TRAIL

If an easy hike near lake pleasant through amazing wildflowers appeals to you, then you'll like this hike.

HOW TO GET THERE

This hike is located near Phoenix, AZ.

To get to the trailhead: From the Phoenix area, take I-17 North to the Carefree highway exit (HWY-74). Turn West (left) and go about 11.5 miles. Turn into the park by Castle Hot springs road and drive 2.2 miles. Turn right here onto the Lake Pleasant Access road. After 0.25 miles, this road dead ends at the trailhead. This is a fee area and as of March, 2005, this fee was $5 per car.

RATING

Be Aware of: crowds, $5 fee to enter the park area.

30 yr old Recommendation: This hike is really only worth doing after a rain. The desert turns amazingly green and the wildflowers are everywhere. The out and back described here is an Easy hike.

DETAILS

Elevation change: nothing to speak of

Distance: The hike described is 1.0 miles to the bridge and back.

Time: This hike took about 45 minutes with lots of time for pictures.

Time of year: Best hiked during cooler weather after some rain to see the wildflowers.

Solitude: You won't too much solitude on this hike. Expect to share this trail with 30-50 other hikers.       

From the trailhead, take the well marked trail North from the parking area. After a rain, the wildflowers quickly overrun this area and add color rarely seen by the desert. Orange, Red, Purple, Yellow, and gold all find their way into the desert wildflowers in this area. After about 0.5 miles of easy walking through this kaleidoscope of color, you will reach a bridge. If the water is at a high mark, this bridge may be closed. If it is closed, this makes a good turn around point. If it is not closed, you can continue another 1.5 miles to a different trailhead.

[Wildflowers and the lake]

[Wildflowers closeup]

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