Big Park Loop - 100102

On 2 January 2010, thirteen Skyliners (Marvin Alt, Miriam Sterling, Donna Goodman, Betty Wolters, Bob Wakefield, Janet Wakefield, Daisy Williams, Dolly Yapp, Lila Wright, Virginia Driscoll, Ellis Price and two others) hiked Big Park Loop Trail.  From Cottonwood, we traveled north on 89A, turned right on Cornville Road and continued through Cornville to turn left on Beaverhead Flat Road.  When Beaverhead Flat Road ended at State 179, we turned left, continued through the Village of Oak Creek and then turned right into the South Bell Rock Pathway Trailhead parking area just after leaving the village.  This trailhead has a kiosk with maps on display and toilet facilities.  The toilet facilities were very messy and were not stocked with toilet paper at the time of our visit.

From the kiosk in the parking area, we headed east on a trail for about 0.14 miles to intersect with the western leg of Big Park Loop.  We then turned left (north) and hiked about 0.42 miles to intersect with Courthouse Butte Loop.  As we approached the western end of Big Park Loop at Courthouse Butte Loop, we were afforded good views of the butte as well as of Bell Rock.  Photographs of these two formations are included (see below and on the next page).

Bell Rock from the western leg of Big Loop Trail south of Courthouse Butte Loop Trail

Courthouse Butte from the western leg of Big Loop Trail

Turning right (east) on Courthouse Butte Loop, we hiked 0.6 miles to where the eastern end of Big Park Loop connects with Courthouse Butte Loop, just across a wash near the southeast corner of the butte. But it was now time for lunch and we decided to hike north on Courthouse Butte Loop, following the wash, until we found a suitable spot to eat.  After traveling for less than a tenth of a mile, we settled on a sunny spot with a good view part way up the eastern slope of Courthouse Butte. We could see the Rabbit Ears formation in the distance.

Looking toward Rabbit Ears from the eastern slope of courthouse Butte

After we descended from Courthouse Butte and crossed the wash to start our return journey, I paused to look back at the spot where we ate lunch high up on the slope of of the butte.

A red arrow indicates where we ate lunch on the eastern slope of Courthouse Butte

After lunch we descended the slope and followed Courthouse Butte Loop back the way we had come to the intersection with Big Park Loop.  From there we followed Big Park Loop back to where we had entered it and continued on to the parking area.  Actually, most of the group followed a different path by heading up a wash to connect with Courthouse Loop for the return.  Because I wanted a clean track for my GPS record, I stayed on the planned trail.

The total hiking distance, including the side excursion to find a spot for lunch, was only about 3.2 miles.  There was very little elevation change other than the climb up the east slope of the butte for lunch.