Barnhardt Trail
03/05/2013
03/05/2013
Barnhardt Trail 03/05/2013
Since the weather has finally turned decent we decided it was time to hike. We choose Barnhardt Trail about 50 miles north of Fountain Hills and off of 87. We have driven by the sign for this since we moved here but just never did the hike. The trail is just a portion of an 18 mile loop through the Mazatzal Mountains that includes many other trails.
The trail runs along the top of Barnhardt Canyon so you get some amazing vistas. The drawback is you do a good deal of vertical. It is all worth it though because there are some great seasonal waterfalls in the side canyons and along the bottom of the canyon. Lucky us, the latest snow and rainfall ensured we would have some active water features.
Starting our hike
Some really great scenery
There were lots of small falls all along the valley floor
This great snakey rock formation attracted our attention
Yup, my George loves to stand on pointed rocks above an abyss for a good shot
Yes, that is snow. There was a fair amount of accumulation along parts of the trail
Trail shot
Another glimpse of a stream running along the valley
Looking back down on the trail. That little spec is a man
Great scenic trail
At first we thought we had arrived at the end of the hike when we found this fall in a side
You always wonder just when the balancing rock stops balancing and becomes a rolling stone
Small obstacle
The Big Falls
It was hard to get a good shot of the falls from top to bottome
The pool at the bottom of the falls
My green jacket helps with contrast
Scrambling around the rocks for a better view
Hey George
More scrambling
Climbing up to the falls
I made it and what great formations - amazing
OK, so at my age I am not as sure footed as I used to be, but I refuse to need to be rescued
This interesting lichen was everywhere