Trip Date: March 15, 2019
2019 ARIZONA SPRING VACATION
Mesquite–Ford Trail Loop: Mesquite Canyon to Ford Canyon
Mesquite Canyon
Willow Canyon
Ford Canyon
Trip Report Summary
Region: Arizona
Sub-Region: Central Arizona
Sub-Sub-Region: White Tank Mountains
Area: White Tank Mountain Regional Park
Starting & Ending Point: Mesquite/Waddell Trailhead on Ramada Way (Elev. 1550 feet)
Way Points: Mesquite Canyon & Mesquite Trail / Ford Trail junction & Upper Willow Canyon & Ford Canyon & Ford Canyon Dam & Willow Canyon Flats & Ford Trail / Waddell Trail junction & Mesquite Canyon Flats (trail hike)
High Point: Mesquite Trail / Ford Trail junction vicinity (Elev. 2900 feet)
Approximate Stats: 10.7 miles traveled; 1700 feet gained & lost; 3.9 hours elapsed.
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Full Trip Report
Having a few hours of daylight available during our penultimate day in Phoenix, I headed over to White Tank Mountain Regional Park for a final hike. The White Tank Mountains are a small cluster of arid peaks reaching slightly over 4000 feet.
I parked at the Mesquite/Waddell Trailhead and started up the Mesquite Canyon Trail. The terrain along this trail epitomizes Arizona desert hiking: rocks, lizards, cacti, scrub bushes, and wildflowers galore—all within sight of the Phoenix metropolis.
- Upper Mesquite Canyon Trail
- Wildflowers On Mesquite Canyon Trail
After 4 miles, the Mesquite Canyon Trail ended at a junction (1.4 hours + 1350 feet from TH). I turned right on the Ford Canyon Trail.
- Mesquite-Ford Trail Junction
The trail dipped down to cross Willow Canyon, switch-backed up to cross a ridge, and then descended into Ford Canyon. In the canyon invert, trail tread became lost in the sandy and gravelly washes. However, scattered ducks, cairns, and trail markers clearly led the way down.
- Upper Ford Canyon Trail
The canyon gradually became a narrow channel with polished rock slabs and small pools of water. I passed an old rubble-and-mortar dam along the way (2.5 hours + 1650 feet from TH).
- Polished Slabs In Ford Canyon
- Old Dam In Ford Canyon
With further distance, the Ford Canyon Trail steadily improved until it intersected the Waddell Trail. I turned right onto the latter trail and followed it back to my starting point (3.9 hours + 1700 feet total loop), arriving just before dark.
- Lower Ford Canyon Trail
Route Map
- Mesquite-Ford Trail Loop Map (Parks Dept.)
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
