From Trail to Treasure: A Morning’s Hike in the North Mountain Preserve

Phoenix, Arizona (March 31, 2025) A few weeks back, I hiked the Shaw Butte Loop in the 2,000-acre North Mountain Preserve. This trail was truly a gem, as it offered a rewarding climb to the top of Shaw Butte—one of two lofty mountains within the preserve. The other is North Mountain, which was the destination for my hike on this particular day.

Hiking appeals to people for a variety of reasons, and for me, it’s about three things: enjoy an invigorating workout in the great outdoors, be inspired by the beauty of nature’s wonder, and discover something new along the way. These pursuits drive my love for hiking, and when a trail brings all three together, I call it “hitting the trifecta.”

This day, I hit the trifecta and left the trail with a smile on my face. And then...I was rewarded with an unexpected bonus. 

Enjoying an Invigorating Workout in the Great Outdoors

Most of the trails I’ve hiked boast interesting, and often descriptive, names—names like Sidewinder, Turkey Trot, Mule Deer, Osprey Connector, and Waterfall. But not this time, as I found myself walking “Trail 101 and Trail 306 Short Loop.” Numbers instead of names—almost as if I were navigating seamless stretches of concrete on interstate highways rather than untamed, rugged desert trails. Perhaps there’s a story behind these numbered names, but if so, it remains a mystery to me. 

The Short Loop, as I’ll call it, was relatively flat—it offered only 150 feet in elevation gain—well-maintained, and 2.7 miles in length from start to finish. It was rated “easy”—which proved accurate. I took this as an opportunity to power-walk the trail to invigorate my workout.

You and I may differ on the definition of “power-walk,” but for me, it meant covering the trail in just 52 minutes—a pace of 3.1 MPH. That’s a good half mile per hour faster than my usual walking speed when I hike, and I managed this despite pausing along the way to capture many photos of the desert scenery.  

Being Inspired by the Beauty of Nature’s Wonders 

I choose my hikes with help from AllTrails—a popular resource for outdoor enthusiasts that offers GPS navigation, photos, and reviews shared by its community of adventurers. When I read the reviews for the Short Loop, I was surprised that a number of hikers claimed it wasn’t scenic.

How could that be, I wondered. Afterall, the trail wandered through the breathtaking Sonoran Desert.

​Halfway through my hike, I discovered what I believed to be the answer: the Short Loop WAS scenic, but not AS scenic as other trails. Fair enough, I thought. But that didn’t diminish the beauty I saw along the way.

My favorite sight was the towering saguaros—THE most iconic cacti in this biologically diverse desert—some with long arms that reached skyward in striking poses. 

I “discovered” a natural catchment, encircled by native flora, that provided wildlife with these essentials: ground water, food, shelter, and nesting sites. 

And I gazed out over a varied terrain of sprawling desert valleys and rugged hills and mountains—a landscape harsh and unforgiving yet breathtaking in its beauty.    

The Short Loop offered a glimpse into the grandeur of the Sonoran Desert, leaving me with a satisfying sense of wonder and awe.

Discovering Something New Along the Way

I’m curious by nature, eager to explore, and driven to learn. It is part of who I am—something that has shaped me for as long as I can remember—and will continue to guide me in the years to come.

My curiosity inspires discovery, even on the trail.
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I learned a thing or two from a couple of interpretive signs near the start of the Short Loop, including the crucial role cottonwood trees play in supporting native wildlife. Yet the most valuable lesson came later, after I left the trail, when I learned the fascinating story behind the North Mountain Preserve. 

Section of the original hitching rail

Back in the 1960s and 70s, Phoenix experienced rapid urban growth. As the city expanded, residential and commercial developments encroached on open spaces, natural habitats, and ecosystems that served as vital refuges for wildlife. Amid these changes, a group of individuals recognized that conservation and development could coexist—and that preserving the desert-mountain land was a cause worth fighting for.  

On the morning of April 17, 1971, a group of Phoenicians saddled up and rode into the mountains bordering the northern edge of Phoenix. Many of the invited guests were taking their first ride into the Phoenix Mountains.

It was an ordinary, albeit lovely, spring trail ride, yet it would turn out to be the most important trail ride ever held in Arizona. At stake was nothing less than the future of the rugged mountains through which the group rode.  

~ Kathleen Gilbert, a freelance writer

That morning’s ride galvanized concerned citizens, community advocates, and local and state politicians into action. Together, they worked tirelessly to preserve the untamed land. The process was challenging and took years of dedication, yet their efforts ultimately succeeded.

Michael Kiefer, in an article that appeared in Phoenix New Times in 1998, wrote the preserve was “inarguably one of the most remarkable amenities of life in Phoenix—mountains right in the city, a testament to a generation of horsemen and planners who envisioned the urban sprawl that lay ahead and moved to do something about it.”

It's moments like this that remind me of the joy of lifelong learning—not just about facts, but the stories that deepen my understanding of the world around me.

An Anecdote from the North Mountain Preserve Visitor Center

The Short Loop trail ended near the Visitor Center, and since I had time to spare, I stepped inside for a look-see at the exhibits, library, and gift shop. Though many fascinating things caught my eye, this tale is about one in particular—a vintage book titled The Covered Wagon.

Written by Emerson Hough and published in 1922, it turned out to be a first edition. As an historical novel, The Covered Wagon narrates the journey of pioneers traveling westward across the United States in covered wagons during the mid-19th century.

I’m a sucker for books, especially books about life in the West, and so naturally I was drawn to it. But I hesitated because I own so many books I’ve not yet read.

Would this one end up sitting on a shelf for months, even years, I wondered. Still...

Inside the front cover, there was a penciled inscription:

H.A. Weimberley
Xmas 1922
From Nell

I thought to myself—here was a book I know I would enjoy, one given as a Christmas gift over 100 years ago. Wow!

And then...an index card slipped out from between the pages. On it was a typewritten poem that began...

With mirth and good humor may Christmas be crowned.
Serve smoking plum pudding with sauce all around.

The remaining lines, charming rhyming couplets, turned out to be the recipe for the sauce...

One half cup of sugar, a few grains of salt,
One big spoon of cornstarch, stirred without fault,
One cup of hot water poured over all these,
Then cook ‘til transparent—don’t burn, if you please!
Two spoonfuls of butter now add to the lot,
And brandy or whiskey—to just the right dot.
Then served in the middle of plum pudding brown,
I hope that it won’t be hard to get down.

Imagine that—a vintage book more than 100 years old, plus a delightful recipe tucked inside. Needless to say, I bought it! Was there ever a doubt?

​Until next time, happy trails to you.