March 2015 Skyliner Hikes

Meet at 0800 in Cottonwood Safeway Parking lot, outer perimeter, across from OfficeMax for all hikes

March 07: Jail Trail and Along the River in Cottonwood

Distance: About 7 miles round trip

Difficulty: Very little climbing; essentially, we will follow along the river north from Cottonwood.

Description: Some of the trail is well-developed but we do expect some bushwhacking.

Meet: 0800 in Cottonwood Safeway Parking Lot, outer perimeter, across from OfficeMax.

Information: Call Lila Wright at 928-634-4504

March 14: Twin Buttes Loop

Distance: 5 miles

Difficulty: Trailhead elev: 4350 feet; total ascent: 900 feet, but with additional ups and downs.

Description: Start at Mystic Trailhead on Chapel Road, hike around Twin Buttes using the following trails: Mystic, Piglet, High on the Hog, Hog Heaven, Broken Arrow and Little Horse to return to the starting point. Some may choose to make a short side trip to Battlement Mesa.

Meet: 0800 in Cottonwood Safeway Parking Lot, outer perimeter, across from OfficeMax.

Information: Call Lila Wright at 928-634-4504

March 21: Azurite Bend to Yavapai College.

Distance: 6.8 miles (one way hike)

Difficulty: Maximum elev: 5548 feet, Total descent: 1956 feet (est).

Description: We will drop a car off at Haskell Springs Road just east of Yavapai College, drive to the sharp bend in FR 493 at Azurite Peak, hike north along an old mine road below Allen Spring Road to its end, bushwhack for 0.5 miles to the gap above Verde Combination Shaft Mine, follow a rough old road down to the mine and then return down Mescal Gulch to Yavapai College.

Meet: 0800 in Cottonwood Safeway Parking Lot, outer perimeter, across from OfficeMax.

Information: Call Jim Manning at 219-508-4158 or Lila at 928-634-4504

March 28: Sombert Lane to Hwy 179 at Little Horse

Distance: 6.3 miles total

Difficulty: Maximum elev: 4629 feet; Total ascent: 832 feet

Description: Park cars at Hwy 179/Indian Cliffs Road, drive on to Sombert Lane and hike back by way of Marg's Draw, Broken Arrow and Little Horse Trails, stopping at Devil's Dining Room, Submarine Rock and Chicken Point.

Meet: 0800 in Cottonwood Safeway Parking Lot, outer perimeter, across from OfficeMax.

Information: Call Lila at 928-634-4504