White Tank Moutain Regional Park (March 4, 2024) When it came to outdoor activities, I thought, it didn’t get any better than this. At that moment, I was hiking the scenic Waterfall Trail, and the weather was picture-perfect. The temperature was in the upper 50s, there was a slight breeze, and a blue sky stretched to the horizon in all directions. I was in God’s country—a desert landscape that was beautiful and serene—and I was in my glory!
That morning, I ventured into the largest regional park in Maricopa County, with more than 30,000 acres of rugged desert landscape, scenic vistas, diverse plant and animal life, and over 30 miles of hiking trails. This park—White Tank Moutain Regional Park—was a hiker’s paradise, and the trails I hiked were two of the most popular ones there.
The White Tank Mountains were named after the white granite rock formations found there—formations which created natural water tanks that collected water. One of the tanks was at the end of Waterfall Trail; when it rained, the waterfall flowed and filled the tank.
Unfortunately, there’s been scant rain in Phoenix of late. In fact, this region of Arizona has had less than a quarter inch of rain over the last four months. Still, there was some water in the tank because of the trace amounts of rain a few days back.
Unfortunately, there’s been scant rain in Phoenix of late. In fact, this region of Arizona has had less than a quarter inch of rain over the last four months. Still, there was some water in the tank because of the trace amounts of rain a few days back.
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Waterfall Trail
This well-maintained trail was “out-and-back,” about one mile in each direction. The first half mile was paved and barrier free, while the terrain for the second half was mostly dirt with scattered rocks and a few gentle inclines. Waterfall Trail was rated “easy,” and it was. |
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What I loved about this trail (and Black Rock Trail, too) was the Sonoran Desert vegetation—creosote and brittlebush, cholla and ocotillo, and the iconic saguaro, which towered over all the other plants. I never tire of seeing—or being in—a natural desert landscape!
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The trail ended at the waterfall—well, it ended at a tall granite wall (right-hand photo below) over which water would fall after a good rain. Perhaps another time, I thought as I stood near the edge of the tank that was only inches deep in water. It must be breathtaking to see.
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I crossed paths with 40 to 50 fellow hikers, mostly on the Waterfall Trail…and mostly women. To a person, my fellow hikers were quick with a smile and a “good morning”—proof positive, I felt, that hiking (like other physical activities) improved one’s mood and sense of well-being. It certainly did mine!
Black Rock Trail
About one-third of a mile back from the waterfall, I turned right onto the Black Rock Trail. It consisted of two loops: the Short Loop was one-half mile, while the Long Loop was 1.3 miles. I hiked the Long Loop, which was also rated "easy."
About one-third of a mile back from the waterfall, I turned right onto the Black Rock Trail. It consisted of two loops: the Short Loop was one-half mile, while the Long Loop was 1.3 miles. I hiked the Long Loop, which was also rated "easy."
The trail—four feet or so across—was mostly flat with mild grades, and the terrain was mostly dirt with a few rocky sections. Like Waterfall Trail, Black Rock was well-kept.
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I didn’t mention this earlier, but I hiked with a friend. His name is Copilot, and in a sense, he’s imaginary. Copilot, as you may know, is Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant. Recently, I began to use Copilot to browse the web, and that was what I did as I hiked Black Rock Trail. You see, I wanted to know why this trail was called Black Rock. Here’s what Copilot told me:
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Black Rock Trail was named for the dark, volcanic rocks that naturally stand out in the area—remnants of ancient lava flows— creating a striking contrast against the surrounding landscape.
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I’ll be honest—I didn’t fact-check Copilot, so I cannot say with certainty his information was correct. But it sounded good to me…and I had to have faith in my friend!
I loved the scenic views along this trail, especially views of the mountains both near and far. Along the trail, I spotted small birds as they flitted from bush to bush—I must have startled them with the sound of my feet as I hiked the trail—and rock squirrels who scurried around the ground in search of food. I had hoped to see some lizards but didn’t; perhaps they hadn’t yet emerged from their winter hibernation.
I stopped at two education panels, the first on mule deer and the second on petroglyphs.
I stopped at two education panels, the first on mule deer and the second on petroglyphs.
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From the first panel I learned that mule deer, which can weigh more than 200 pounds, were named for their large, mule-like ears...and there were small herds in the White Tank Mountains. Here’s a photo of one deer. Well...actually, it’s a photo of a photo that was on the panel.
From the second panel I discovered there were eleven archaeological sites located within the boundaries of the park—who knew?—with hundreds of ancient petroglyphs. I peered at mountains of rocks along the trail, but did not spot any figures or symbols other than a few that were clearly defacements made by modern man. |
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From start to finish, I hiked 3.3 miles in 1 hour 40 minutes—a pace of about 2.5 miles per hour. Not bad, I thought, considering the number of stops I made to snap photos and talk with a few hikers along the way.
I’ll end my story with this.
I’ll end my story with this.
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There were many benches on the sides of both trails, and each bench had an “in the memory of” memorial plaque. There was a plaque on a stone bench that touched me above the rest. These words followed a name (his first name was Scott), date of birth and date of death:
HE LOVED GOD’S BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
While Scott was 13 years my junior, and I have no idea who he was, I felt certain we would have been best friends had I known him.
God bless. |