Saturday, January 16, 2010

Pass Mountain Loop, Usery Mountain Recreation Area-Tonto NF, AZ



Distance: 7.3 miles (11.8 km)

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Season: October through May

Elevation: 1900 - 2600 feet (580 - 793 m)

The Pass Mountain Loop located in the Usery Mountain Recreation Area and adjacent Tonto National Forest in northeast Mesa, is a wonderful introductory hike of the Sonoran Desert ecosystems for those visiting the Phoenix area or for snowbirds looking for a place to camp for a while.



The loop provides opportunities to look for the subtle changes in the desert vegetation as you hike through several different microclimates. The loop also provides spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains, the Four Peaks, McDowell Mountains, as well as, sweeping views across the Valley of the Sun.

In addition, if you pay close attention, you can also see Quartz Peak in the Sierra Estrella mountains and Table Top mountain far off in the distance, on the other side of "The Valley". Both of these will be featured in later editions of the Hikemasters.


The trail starts at the Wind Cave trailhead in Usery Mountain Recreation Area. You may choose to go in either direction. If it is winter and the temperatures cool, I would recommend starting counter-clockwise (heading south) to get the morning sun. This direction will also provide you with shade on the north slopes of Pass Mountain once you have exerted your energy climbing to the saddle. If it is a warmer season, you may want to start clockwise to be in the shade while you ascend the slopes of the mountain and be in the sun as you descend the otherside. I have done both, but I will describe the hike going counter-clockwise, as that is the direction I did most recently.



The trail follows the fenceline boundary of the Tonto National Forest along the southern bajada, before passing the horse staging area. Then, it passes the fence, enters the "forest" and heads off across a mostly level bajada landscape with spectacular views of the Superstition Mountains ahead.



The trail then approaches a housing development before turning north and heading up into the amphitheater above. As the trail slowly climbs, the terrain becomes more rocky. The trail slowly switchbacks up the slopes of the mountain before reaching the saddle.




At the saddle, a whole new world opens up. In addition to panoramic views to the north and east, you can finally leave behind the views of the Phoenix valley and the never-ending suburbs. Instead, you get a view across the Tonto National Forest, which if there are any trees, they must all be saguaros. In addition, you can see the spendid Four Peaks rising in the distance.





Crossing the saddle to the shady northern slopes also changes the vegetation. Gone are the saguaros and instead you see grasses and lots of jojoba shrubs. In the darkest ravines and rocky overhangs, mosses and ferns can even be seen clinging to the rocks. The reason the saguaros because less numerous is that saguaros are damaged by frost and these northern slopes get less sun and stay cooler in the winter.



The trail will soon offer nice views to the north of the McDowell Mountains, Fountain Hills, and Red Mountain. As the trail eventually works its way back to the western side of the mountain, the shooting range becomes visible. The trail descends onto the bajada once more, but this time it undulates up and down the eroded slopes.



The western slopes have an enormous profusion of saguaros. It has the largest number of tiny and young saguaros I have ever seen. There is a real regeneration occuring on that slope. I suspect this virtual forest of cacti has to do with getting the hot late afternoon sun on those slopes, as well as, collecting more rainfall when the storms approach from the west.


23 comments:

Unknown said...


15.07.20fangyanting
soccer jerseys for sale
abercrombie & fitch
kate spade handbags
air jordan uk
longchamp outlet online
pandora charms
rolex watches for sale
coach outlet store online
coach outlet
true religion jeans outlet
pandora bracelets
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ralph lauren polo shirts
kate spade bags
coach outlet
snapbacks hats
toms shoes for women
soccer shoes for sale
ray bans
beats headphones
hollister kids
gucci handbags
cheap oakley sunglasses
replica watches for sale
coach factory outlet
gucci borse
gucci belt
cheap snabacks
hollister outlet
tory burch outlet
kate spade bags
michael kors
air max 2015
longchamp pliage pas cher
mcm outlet online


Unknown said...

air max 90
tiffany and co
adidas outlet
cheap nhl jerseys
los angeles lakers jerseys
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
calvin klein outlet
san francisco 49ers jerseys
vans shoes
toms shoes
louis vuitton outlet
true religion jeans, http://www.truereligionoutletstore.us.com
air jordan shoes
abercrombie and fitch
cheap football shirts
manchester united jersey
ray ban
tods outlet
swarovski crystal
nike outlet store
replica watches
cartier love bracelet
koby bryant shoes
beats headphones
cheap oakley sunglasses
ed hardy clothing
air jordan 11
kansas city chiefs jerseys
nike air max uk
supra shoes
thomas sabo uk
ugg uk
oakley outlet
north face jackets
tiffany jewelry
cheap jordans
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses
0803maoqiuyun

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

Unknown said...

nhl jerseys
hermes belt for sale
tory burch outlet online
ralph lauren outlet
kobe bryants shoes
swarovski crystal
air jordan 11
ray ban outlet
coach outlet store
michael kors factory online
miami dolphins
celine outlet
michael kors handbags outlet
new york giants
nike outlet store
ralph lauren outlet
true religion outlet
toms outlet store
beats by dre
oakley sunglasses wholesale
1024minko

xumeiqing said...

151212meiqing
uggs for women
louis vuitton handbags
jordan concords
michael kors outlet online
lebron james shoes 2015
longchamp outlet
gucci handbags
rolex watches outlet
louis vuitton
uggs boots
fitflops
nike air max
toms
louis vuitton handbags
ugg boots
cheap uggs
coach outlet store online
coach outlet
coach outlet store online
vans shoes
nike air force 1
uggs clearance
gucci outlet
gucci handbags
canada goose jackets
louis vuitton
louis vuitton handbags
michaek kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
jordans
jordans
louis vuitton outlet
jordans for sale
coach outlet
replica watches for sale
michael kors outlet online
uggs outlet
nike trainers
louis vuitton handbags
kate spade handbags

Unknown said...

20160402 JUNDA
ray bans
asics shoes
true religion outlet
timberland boots
lululemon sale
michael kors outlet
under armour outlet
michael kors outlet online
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
nike huarache trainers
supra shoes
michael kors outlet
coach outlet online
nike free runs
louis vuitton pas cher
christian louboutin uk
asics gel nimbus
oakley sunglasses
marc jacobs outlet
coach outlet
armani watches
under armour shoes
rolex replica watches
lululemon outlet
salvatore ferragamo
ferragamo shoes
christian louboutin outlet
jimmy choo shoes
instyler max
canada goose outlet
coach outlet online
pandora jewelry
air force 1
cheap uggs
fitflops outlet
mont blanc pens
omega seamaster
ray ban outlet
ed hardy uk

柯云 said...

2016-05-09keyun
ray ban outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
gucci outlet online
hollister clothing
adidas trainers
louis vuitton handbags
nike outlet store
giuseppe zanotti outlet
nhl jerseys
michael kors outlet online sale
coach factory outlet online
christian louboutin shoes
nike roshe shoes
michael kors handbags
beats by dre outlet
red bottom shoes
nike roshe run mens
hollister clothing store
ed hardy outlet
michael kors outlet online
ralph lauren outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach outlet
oakley sunglasses
adidas outlet store
michael kors outlet online
concords 11
ray ban sunglasses uk
replica rolex watches
nike air max uk
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
nike roshe run
louis vuitton outlet
nike store
nike free uk
adidas superstar
ray ban eyeglasses
toms outlet

John said...

coach outlet store online
adidas trainers
kate spade outlet
coach outlet online
rolex watches
hollister kids
coach factory outlet online
michael kors handbags
coach factory outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet
true religion sale
cheap jordan shoes
salvatore ferragamo
valentino shoes
oakley sunglasses outlet
nmd adidas
mizuno running shoes
the north face outlet
reebok outlet
kobe 11
ray ban sunglasses outlet
adidas pure boost
michael kors outlet online
jordans shoes
longchamp bag
ray ban outlet store online
abercrombie and fitch
lacoste shoes
stephen curry shoes
louis vuitton purse
mlb jerseys wholesale
burberry outlet
kobe bryant shoes
designer handbags outlet
prada outlet
converse
2016627yuanyuan

Anonymous said...

Beli Obat untuk Ambeien Berdarah, Beli Obat untuk Mengatasi Ambeien Berdarah
Beli Obat untuk Menyembuhkan Ambeien Berdarah, Beli Obat untuk Ambeien Berdarah Herbal

Beli Obat Tradisional untuk Ambeien Berdarah

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20160909 junda
ugg boots on sale
basketball shoes
pandora outlet
michael kors outlet
ugg outlet
mulberry handbags
nike trainers
tiffany jewelry
canada goose outlet
tiffany and co
cheap oakley sunglasses
polo shirts
canada goose
ferragamo outlet
hollister uk
ray ban sunglasses
ed hardy tshirts
louis vuitton outlet
thomas sabo uk
michael kors outlet online
reebok trainers
oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet stores
mont blanc pens
instyler ionic styler
oakley sunglasses wholesale
cheap nba jerseys
louis vuitton bags cheap
mulberry sale
michael kors outlet
herve leger dresses
soccer jerseys wholesale
louis vuitton outlet
nike mercurial
mulberry outlet

Unknown said...

michael kors outlet
michael kors handbags
cheap uggs
swarovski outlet
ugg boots
nike mercurial
michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet online
tiffany jewelry
pandora jewelry
20161202caihuali

Unknown said...

tiffany jewellery
oakley sunglasses wholesale
cheap oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
coach factory outlet
cleveland cavaliers jersey
ray ban sunglasses
gucci borse
cartier watches
gucci outlet online
chanyuan2017.02.17

chenmeinv0 said...

coach outlet store online
reebok outlet
prada handbags
true religion jeans
parker pens
nike air force one
nike huarache uk
christian louboutin sale
nike air max 2016
the north face jackets
2017.3.18xukaimin

Unknown said...

20170323 junda
louis vuitton handbags
oakley sunglasses sale
adidas nmd runner
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
tods outlet
coach outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
hollister clothing
swarovski jewelry

chenmeinv0 said...

longchamp bags
john terry jersey
ferragamo handbags
michael kors bags
kate spade outlet
michael kors purses
michael kors outlet
adidas nmd runner
coach factory outlet online
supra shoes
chenyingying20170406

Unknown said...

adidas yeezy
yeezy 700
pandora jewelry
vibram fivefingers
adidas outlet
fila shoes
michael kors handbags
moncler
lebron soldier 10
fitflops sale clearance

Unknown said...

adidas ultra boost
kobe 9
golden goose sneakers
derrick rose shoes
yeezy
air max 90
nike air max
kevin durant shoes
nike air vapormax
adidas gazelle sale

QQQQQQQQQ said...

ferragamo belt
adidas eqt
nike air max 270
kyrie 4
fila
lebron shoes
adidas crazy explosive
jordan 6
michael kors outlet
moncler jackets

SSSSSS said...

moncler jacket
air max 90
adidas tubular
nike free
tory burch sandals
jordan 13
russell westbrook shoes
basketball shoes
longchamp longchamps
jordan shoes

5689 said...

zzzzz2018.8.11
red bottoms
tn pas cher
canada goose jackets
canada goose jackets
pandora
pandora jewelry
polo ralph lauren outlet
pandora jewelry
nike air jordan
moncler outlet

Unknown said...

www1013


moncler outlet
ferragamo belt
adidas shoes
coach outlet
nike shoes
prada shoes
michael kors outlet
ralph lauren polo
superdry uk
canadian goose



Unknown said...

russell westbrook shoes
off white clothing
golden goose
golden goose
vans shoes
http://www.kobeshoes.uk
kd 11
fila
kevin durant shoes
lebron 16

Rock said...

Erotic Massage in Delhi
Nuru Massage in Delhi
Sensual Massage in Delhi Me
Soapy Massage in Delhi
Massage Spa Near Me

Just Giving Back For All To Enjoy

Why pay money to buy hiking books? Why pay fees to view trail websites? By searching my archives and checking back often to see new posts, we are sure you will be able to find the hike that is right for you ... and for free!

In addition, we provide fascinating ecological and geological information to make the hikes informative and fun. As former National Park Rangers, we know how to find the right hike for you. So, if you are on vacation, we will provide you with the hike you absolutely MUST do while in an area. Do not go on vacation without checking out this site!