| Approx hike distance (miles): | 2.5 | Area: | Salt River Recreation Area |
| Accum. elevation gain (feet): | 200 | Park Entry Fee: | No |
| Low to high elevation gain: | N/A | SCAMR All Trails Map: | No |
| Recommended gas donation: | $10 | Website for reference info: | N/A |
| Unpaved miles: | 0 | Trailhead GPS Coordinates | 33.554696, -111.572365 |
| Road Conditions: | Good | High clearance vehicle req’d: | No |
Please arrive 10 minutes prior to departure to check -in |
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| Trail Conditions | |||
| Maintained Trail: | Yes | Uneven footing | Yes |
| Steep side drop-offs | No | Steep Trail: | No |
| Off Trial (scratchy) | No | Slippery Trail Surfaces: | No |
| Use of hands required: | No | Boulder Hopping: | No |
| Difficulty: | Moderate | Water Crossings: | No |
| Restrooms at Trailhead: | Yes | Gloves Required: | No |
Special Instructions:
This is an out and back hike along the Salt River and through a wash to an abandoned lime oven. Along the river you may see fishermen, birds such as ducks and egrets (a bald eagle nest is nearby), mountain sheep and wild horses. The trail hugs the bottom of a bluff until it enters a wash where the Heber-Reno Sheep driveway existed for over a century, moving up to 400,000 sheep in the spring and fall from San Tan Valley to Heber and back again. In recent years the number had dropped to 4,000, herded by dogs and men on donkeys, still using some city streets. Bring plenty of water and a snack.
Directions:
Take N Hunt Hwy to Gary Rd and turn right. Continue to Rittenhouse Rd. Turn right onto S Ellsworth Rd. Take the 3rd right to stay on S Ellsworth Rd – 12.7 miles. S Ellsworth Rd turns slightly left and becomes N Ellsworth Rd – 0.5 miles. Continue onto N Ellsworth Rd/N Usery Pass Rd. Continue to follow N Usery Pass Rd – 6.7 miles. Turn right onto Bush Hwy towards Saguaro Lake – 2.5 miles (great view of 4 Peaks). After crossing the Salt River via bridge, take first left into parking lot. The trail leaves the parking lot behind the restroom nearest to the bluff.
