Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) - Mexico

I camped Sunday and Monday night at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and drove to Puerto Peñasco, on Monday morning. The afternoon temperature was 85 degrees, and the Sea of Cortez was 82 degrees. October usually brings perfect temperatures to Rocky Point.

The Sonoran Desert merges directly with the Sea of Cortez. Here arid sand dunes and volcanic rock drop straight into the warm, biodiverse, turquois waters.

Site #193

Low tide at Playa Hermosa

South Mountain Park and Preserve

At 12:30 PM, I began hiking the Lost Ranch, National, and Gila Trail Loop from the Bursera Trailhead. It took me 1 hour and 11 minutes to reach the National Trail. That was 2.1 miles. Then after hiking the National and Gila Trail I reconnected with the Lost Ranch Trail at 5.4 miles. It had taken me 2 hours and 55 minutes. Then it was a 1 mile hike back to the trailhead. My 6.4 mile loop hike took me 3 hours and 18 minutes.

Ittindi Rock - Canyon Lake

It took me 25 minutes to reach the high point of Ittindi Rock. My hike was 1.9 miles round-trip, and it took me 1 hour and 2 minutes.

Lower First Water Creek - Superstition Mountains

I began my hike at 3:37 PM. It was 1.9 miles round trip, and it took me 1 hour and 13 minutes. Canyon Lake is currently lowered by 54 feet as part of a 16-week maintenance and inspection project of Mormon Flat Dam and Horse Mesa Dam.

First Water Creek forms one of the major drainages entering Canyon Lake from the Superstition Mountains. The lower canyon offers an unusual combination of desert scrambling, seasonal swimming, lake influenced canyon exploration, and rugged volcanic scenery.

Fish Creek Vista - Superstition Mountains

I began my 1.9 mile round-trip hike at 2:36 PM. It took me 50 minutes to reach the end of Fish Creek Vista. The entire hike took me 2 hours and 15 minutes.