Saturday, February 26, 2022
Tonight I’ll be sleeping under Picacho Peak just north of Tucson, Arizona!!
See my hike up Picacho Peak in Winter 2021
Sleeping Under the Shadow of Picacho Peak
It’s actually not what you think. I’m in a dirt lot behind a Shell gas station a few hundred yards from highway 10. I’ll hear trucks and cars all night. But sometimes I just don’t want to drive too far. Ok, most of the time I don’t want to drive too far.
My day started outside Organ Pipe National Monument in a place called Gunsight Wash. I woke up at 4 AM since the night before I fell asleep at 8:15 PM, I was dog tired from my hike of 7.6 miles!
I rolled out at dawn heading up AZ state road 85 to Highway 8 East.
I’ve been trying to find hiking along my routes. Using AllTrails I found a great rated trail just outside the city of Casa Grande.
Hiking Mountain Trails in Casa Grande
Exiting off highway 8 onto Trekell Road I was taken, to what seemed, away from the trails. Through farm land and a dirt road I realized that approaching from the west this is the easiest route. But for a good 20 minutes I was a little worried Google was taking me somewhere I shouldn’t be in an RV, Google has done this to me before. Yes, I checked directions before leaving, Google has changed directions while I was driving in the past when my signal was weak.
To my relief and a few twists and turns I found the parking lot!
At first I was leery to hike here, there weren’t many cars parked in the lot and I could this area has had it’s share of partying (glass and trash). Yet as I sat for a bit to get a feel of the area I noticed quite a few people around. My hike was on!
After lacing up my hiking shoes, I applied sunblock, filled my water jug, grabbed my backpack and headed out.
The first thing I noticed was how rocky this area is. The trail itself as well as the surrounding landscape. This makes for a beautifully varied hike but also one where, at times, your footing can be compromised. If you’re a hiker with unsure feet trekking poles could be very helpful.
The trail meanders up and down and around bends, which I love!! It makes for a more interesting walk since the views are constantly changing. It’s a hazy day but I can see Picacho Peak in the distance. I get a little nostalgic thinking about last year when I hiked to the top with my friend, Stephanie.
The ground is covered in rocks of all sizes and dead grass, which, to me, is rattle snake haven. My rule of thumb is when I see a lizard I can also see a snake. Luckily the weather was in the mid-50’s and from what I understand reptiles tend to stay hidden until it warms up.
I was pleasantly surprised to smell the creosote bush in the air this morning! When I looked closely I could see the glossy oils of the bush on it’s leaves. Some Creosote had flowers as well!
Half of my hike was on a ridge which in my past I wouldn’t have done due to my fear of heights. Yet I was happy that I’ve been exposed to many ridges in my hiking adventures higher than this so my fear never surfaced. (See Day 8 of my Colorado Trail backpacking trip.)
Overall I can firmly say I loved hiking this area! There are many more trails to venture off to explore and I ended up happily greeting many people. I even got my dog fix! A sweet little doggie came around a bend on guard yet as soon as I greeted her she gently approached to let me give her scratches. My only complaint would be that I could hear the highway 8 traffic the entire time. I guess you can’t have it all when you’re limited to traveling and parking in an RV.
For RVers, this is definitely a good place to stop, unless you’re rig is taller than 14 feet. There is an underpass approaching that reads height limit of 14’2. Other than that there is ample parking in both lots.
It was happy hiking day!
Now to have dinner under the shadow of Picacho Peak!
