Pass Mountain - Tonto National Forest

I hiked up Pass Mountain for my fifth time to the 3,304 foot summit. It's. my favorite hike near Mesa. My hike was 3.7 miles round trip, and it took me 2 hours and 12 minutes.

 

Sycamore Creek Trailhead - Tonto National Forest

I started hiking at the Sycamore Creek Trailhead off the Beeline Highway, where I followed an unnamed trail. It was a beautiful trail, but the highlight was seeing a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. My hike was 6.9 miles round trip, and it took me 4 hours and 27 minutes. My ascent was 1,444 feet.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

I started hiking at the Sycamore Creek Trailhead off the Beeline Highway, where I followed an unnamed trail. After a couple hours on the trail, I heard the buzzing of a rattlesnake. The snake was in the middle of the trail, and had been enjoying the warm sun. The rattler refused to move so I took the opportunity to photograph the snake. I spent almost an hour photographing it. Then I walked around it and continued my hike. After a short time, I turned around and headed back to my car. The rattlesnake was still there and refused to move. So I walked around it again. I spotted the rattlesnake at about 3,500 feet elevation, and at 12:25 PM.

Peak 3420 - Tortilla Creek Overlook

I hiked up Peak 3420 to the 3,420 foot summit overlooking Tortilla Creek in the Superstition Mountains. I started at the Tortilla Trailhead. However, first I took what I thought would be a short route, but it involved crossing a steep canyon so I turned back to the trail. Then I followed the jeep trail to another jeep trail heading west. After that I hiked off trail to the summit. My hike back to my car from the summit was 2.2 miles. The total miles round tip was 5.5 miles, and it took me 3 hours and 34 minutes.

Peak 3420

Peak 2420

Canyon Lake from the summit.

Looking down at Tortilla Creek.

My route.