Limestone Trail Loop - Tonto National Forest

I hiked a 7 mile loop trail that consisted of the Metate Trail, Limestone Trail, Elephant Mountain Trail, and Spur Cross Trail. It took me 3 hours and 51 minutes. I started my hike at the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, and followed the Metate Trail to the Limestone Trail. It was 2 miles to the junction. From there I hiked to the Limestone Spring. The spring was 2.7 miles from the trailhead, and it took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there. After the spring I continued to the other trails, and finished the loop at 1:25 PM.

Elephant Mountain - Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

I hiked 6.6 miles round trip up to the 3,926 foot summit of Elephant Mountain. The ascent was 1,936 feet. This was my second time up the mountain. The first time was on November 18, 2020. It's a steep hike and climb. Lots of loose rock and cactus to avoid. I fell 3 times on the way down, but not even a scrape. The entire hike took me 5 hours, and 54 minutes. First, it was 2.8 miles to the saddle. Then a half mile to the summit. Since the steep and faint trail has lots of loose rock it took me about 1.5 hours to go that short distance.

Elephant Mountain

Elephant Mountain

It was 2.8 miles to the saddle, which took 1.5 hours.

Looking back at the saddle.

Me on the summit.

Looking east from the summit.

My 6.6 mile route.

The Limestone Trail Loop - Tonto National Forest

I hiked a 6.1 mile loop on the Limestone Trail. I had done it once before, but this time I wanted to hike it in the late afternoon. So I started at the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area at 4pm, and finished shortly after sunset. It took me 3 hours and 11 minutes.

Skull Mesa

View from the Limestone Trail.

 

Limestone Spring

My 6.1 mile route.

Elephant Mountain - Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area

I hiked up to the summit of Elephant Mountian by following the ridgeline from the Elephant Mountain Loop Trail. After 3.75 miles I reached the 3,926 foot summit in 3 hours. The most difficult part of the hike was all the loose rock. As I was coming down the mountain I slipped and put my hand out on a saguaro, and that really hurt. I thought my hand was going to be impaled by 2 inch needles. Thankfully that didn't happen, and only a little blood. But there was one needle that broke off under my flesh that I need to pry out with my tweezers. After several attempts I had managed to remove it. Even after getting stabbed by cactus, it was a great day on this mountain because I was happy, and my depression was gone, and it was a day off of work from Walmart.

There are ruins of a Hohokam fortress on this mesa.

Looking back at my route.

 

My route.