Today we drove up Highway 87 to hike the Ballantine Trail in Tonto National Forest. Our hike was 8.25 miles round trip with an overall gain of 1,800 ft. The beginning of the Trail is the 2.7 mile Pine Creek Loop Trail, we went up counterclockwise to do the steep side first. We saw lots of saguaros today.
There were several areas with these windmill wildflowers in bloom.
Tall saguaros against the blue sky this morning.
Distant ridges
Once we passed the junction with the return route on the Pine Creek Loop Trail, we were hiking among the boulders.
butterfly resting on a rock
The trail took us up around to the other side of these peaks called The Boulders.
More lovely boulders
After passing The Boulders, the Ballantine Trail crossed the Ballantine Connector Trail to the right, and an connector trail to Boulder Cabin Road to the left. We went on the trail to the left.
View down to the cabin below (there is lots of Cats Claw bushes over growing the trail, ouch!)
The old cabin
We followed some of the trails that interconnect, to make a small loop around the cabin, more lovely boulders.
Views as we returned along the Ballantine Trail
When we returned to Pine Creek Loop Trail, we went counterclockwise again, taking the more gentle descent back to the trail head.
We passed this very tall saguaro with many arms.
Today we drove up Highway 87 to hike the Ballantine Trail in Tonto National Forest. Our hike was 8.25 miles round trip with an overall gain of 1,800 ft. The beginning of the Trail is the 2.7 mile Pine Creek Loop Trail, we went up counterclockwise to do the steep side first. We saw lots of saguaros today.
There were several areas with these windmill wildflowers in bloom.
Tall saguaros against the blue sky this morning.
Distant ridges
Once we passed the junction with the return route on the Pine Creek Loop Trail, we were hiking among the boulders.
butterfly resting on a rock
The trail took us up around to the other side of these peaks called The Boulders.
After passing The Boulders, the Ballantine Trail crossed the Ballantine Connector Trail to the right, and an connector trail to Boulder Cabin Road to the left. We went on the trail to the left.
View down to the cabin below (there is lots of Cats Claw bushes over growing the trail, ouch!)
The old cabin
We followed some of the trails that interconnect, to make a small loop around the cabin, more lovely boulders.
Views as we returned along the Ballantine Trail
When we returned to Pine Creek Loop Trail, we went counterclockwise again, taking the more gentle descent back to the trail head.
We passed this very tall saguaro with many arms.
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