NFLL: Hiking

Hiking the Great Outdoors

New Frontiers has two hiking groups: The Trailers and Trailblazers. The Trailers hikes are less challenging while the Trailblazers hikes are a little more aggressive. Members take turn leading the various hikes.

Each group usually meets early in the morning at a central location to carpool to the hike's starting location. The return time to the carpool location is dependent upon round trip travel time plus the length of the hike. Sometimes the group likes to stop for a refreshment following the hike, but this is optional.

Risk Form #1 must be completed to hike in either group.

Walkers Explore Parks Group
Trailers Hiking Group
Trailblazers Hiking Group
Google Mapped Carpool Locations
Hiking Resources for Future Hikes

Walkers Explore Parks

Join us for fresh air, a bit of leisure exercise and good company! Restrooms in all but Desert Arroyo Park. Each park has benches, Ramadas and nice scenery. Please bring water and a hat. Details and directions to follow.

Fall 2019 Walkers Explore Parks Schedule
October 2 – Riverview Park, Mesa
October 9 – Riparian Preserve, Gilbert
October 16 – Freestone Park, Gilbert
October 23 – Veteran’s Oasis Park, Chandler
October 30 - Desert Arroyo Park, Mesa
November 6 – Kiwanis Park, Tempe
November 13 – Riparian Preserve, Gilbert

Possibly continue

The Trailers Hiking Group

Members take turns leading the hiking group taking advantage of our wonderful parks and natural forests. They stop frequently to enjoy the scenery along the way.

These hikes are less challenging of 3-5 miles but the trail can still be steep and rocky at times. Hikers should be in reasonably good health and come prepared with proper hiking shoes, walking sticks/poles, water, hat, and snacks.

A list of hikes and a brief description are available at the open house or on request from the facilitator.

Trailers Hike Dates: Trailer hikes start on the 2^nd Tuesday after the Open House and go through the end of the school semester. Additional hikes could be added, including special hikes at non-standard times.

Trailers Hiking Schedule Fall 2019: rev Oct 20, 2019

Fall 2019 Trailers Hiking Schedule

Oct 1        Lower Salt River from Pho D Sutton:A perennial favorite right in our backyard. A great way to kick off the season. Leader: Marie-France

Oct 8        North Loop Trail, McDowell Regional Park: This close in trail is a three mile loop with a 138ft elevation gain. It is rated as easy. A great hike! Leader: Greg

Oct 15      San Tan, Hedgehog, and Moonlight Trail, San Tan Regional Park:Great views just south of town. Leader: Greg

Oct 22      Butcher Jones Trail, Tonto National Forest: Yes, there is water in Arizona. This hike proves it. Leader: Marlin

Oct 29      Blue Point to the Ovens, Tonto National Forest: Leader: Marie-France

Nov 5        Hieroglyphic Trail, Superstition Mountains: Some of us have never been on this uber popular close in hike. We’ll change that. Leader: Ron

Nov 12      Pinnacle Peak Trail, Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve: Leader: Marie-France

Nov 19      Balance Rock, Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve: Leader: Marlin

Dec 3        Marcus Landslide, McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Leader: Marie-France

Dec 10      Usery Mountain Medium Loop, Usery Mountains Regional Park: Leader: Marlin

For additional information contact the facilitator, Greg Master, at gamst51@gmail.com

Trailblazers Hiking Group

The Trailblazers offer a challenge in hikes of 5-7 miles with an elevation change of 300-1,000 feet. The trails are more difficult and challenging for this group and can be steep and rocky at times. Hikers should come prepared with proper hiking shoes, walking sticks/poles, water, hat and snacks and be in good reasonably good health.

Trailblazers Hike Dates: Trailblazers hikes start on the 2^nd Friday after Open House and go through the end of the school semester. Additional hikes may be added, including special hikes at non-scheduled times.

Trailblazers exclusion hike dates: New Member's Coffee and the General Meeting.

Trailblazers Hiking Schedule Fall 2019: rev Oct 20, 2019

Fall 2019 Trailblazers Hiking Schedule

Oct 4               West Fork Trail, Oak Creek Canyon: A specular hike that was under appreciated in the spring. So we are trying it again when more people are available. Don’t miss this opportunity! Leader: Ron

Oct 11             Roger Naylor’s “Boots and Burgers” Special Event - Red Mountain Trail / Lunch / Veit Springs Loop, Flagstaff: This is a combo hike on the north side of Flagstaff, with lunch in between while enjoying the spectacular views from Arizona Snowbowl. Total distance is 4.5 miles of easy hiking - first into the cinder cone of a dormant volcano, then through the Aspens in their fiery autumn splendor. Leader: Greg

Oct 18             Slate, Quartz, and Go John Loop with Flat Rock Spur to go John Canyon, Cave Creek Regional Park: A different take on the wonderful Go John trail that we’ve done before. Leader: Greg

Oct 25             Wind Cave Trail. Usery Mountain Regional Park: A special encore of a local favorite. Leader: Nancy

Nov 1              Fall General Member Meeting – No hike scheduled

Nov 8              Spears S Ranch Loop, New River:    A 5.4 mile loop trail near New River, rated moderate. Leader: Allan

Nov 15            Peralta Trail, Superstition Wilderness:    A challenging local favorite. Leader: Ron

Nov 22            Piestewa Peak Freedon Trail, Phoenix Mountain Preserve: A 3.8 mile moderate hike honoring a hero. Leader: Anna

Dec 6               Deem Hills Circumference, Glendale:    A 5.6 mile loop trail rated as moderate. Leader: Allan

Dec 13             Bursera Trail, South Mountain Park, Phoenix:    A 7.1 mile loop trail rated moderate. Leader: Allan

For additional information contact the facilitator, Greg Master, at gamst51@gmail.com

Carpool Meeting Locations

Due to limited parking spaces at many of the hiking trailheads, carpooling is preferred. Donations to help pay for gas are recommended and greatly appreciated by our drivers. The map links for the carpool meeting locations are for Google maps, providing the driver the option to map the drive.

Country Club and Brown — 1025 N Country Club map: The Mesa Schools Student Services Center is located on the east side of Country Club just south of Brown Road. Meet at the south end of the parking lot at the corner of 9^th Place and Country Club.
Dobson and Southern Campus — Main MCC Campus map: The southwest corner of the southwest parking lot at Dobson and US-60.
Superstitions Springs Mall — Power Road and US-60 map: Meet in the southwest corner of the Superstitions Spring Mall parking lot inside the outer circumference drive across from the former Toys-R-Us.
Red Mountain Campus — Power and McKellips Roads map: Meet in parking lot #3, west side and southwest of the Saguaro building.
Gilbert and McKellips — Southeast corner map: Park in the lot on the southeast corner of Gilbert and McKellips Roads, just east of the Starbucks.

Hiking Resouces for Future Hikes

If you are interested in leading a hike or just looking for one to explore on your own, check out the various sources.

Websites

Books

Carlson, Jack and Stewart, Elizabeth. Superstitions Wilderness Trails East: Hikes, Horse Rides, and History. Tempe: Clear Creek Publishing, 2013
Carlson, Jack and Stewart, Elizabeth. Superstitions Wilderness Trails West: Hikes, Horse Rides, and History. Tempe: Clear Creek Publishing, 2013

Ready to Join?

Join Now!