This hike is an approximately 5 mile easy counter-clockwise loop hike in San Tan Mountain Regional Park just south of Queen Creek, AZ. The hike loops around the unnamed central mountains of the park using the Moonlight, San Tan, Hedgehog, and Stargazer trails.
Goldmine Mountain dominates the northern part of San Tan Mountain Regional Park.
This hike makes a loop around these central mountains of the San Tan Mountain Regional Park as viewed from the lower creosote flats near the Moonlight trailhead.
The largest tree in the Sonoran Desert is the Ironwood (Olneya tesota) tree.
Trunk of the Ironwood (Olneya tesota) tree.
Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) is often found in Ironwood trees.
A large mass of Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) hanging in an Ironwood tree.
Leaves of the Ironwood (Olneya tesota).
Saguaro, Chain Fruit Cholla, and Creosote and the dominate plants in this view toward Goldmine Mountain.
Chain Fruit Cholla (Opuntia fulgida).
Two Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus) stand guard along the Moonlight Trail.
A Saguaro stump remains standing as it grips the granite rocks around it.
Interesting pleat patterns on this Saguaro.
A view of the central mountains from near the intersection of the Moonlight and San Tan trails.
Interesting weathering of this granite boulder...I call it Toadstool Rock.
Much of the area around the San Tans are characterized by granite and schist rock outcrops. Here's a closeup of a granite slab.
A large Teddy Bear Cholla (Opuntia bigelovii) alongside the San Tan Trail.
A view to the northwest toward Chandler Heights and the Phoenix Metro Area beyond.
Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) and an old wooden stem rise from a granite outcrop.
A wonderful large old Chain Fruit Cholla (Opuntia fulgida).
Chain Fruit Cholla (Opuntia fulgida) gets its name from the chain of fruit that develop year after year.
Left to right: Rock Peak, Yellow Peak, and the eastern edge of the San Tan Mountain escarpment.
The San Tan Mountain escarpment dominates the southern part of the San Tan Mountain Regional Park seen here from the San Tan Trail.
Fluffy clouds float over Rock Peak, Yellow Peak, and the San Tan Mountain escarpment. Here I leave the San Tan Trail and hop on the Hedgehog Trail (to the left) to continue the my loop.
A view over a Saguaro forest to the city and mountains beyond.
Old old stump (probably of an Ironwood tree) still reaches skyward.
The Hedgehog trail crosses a dry, sandy wash just before it reconnects with the San Tan Trail.
A large Saguaro Cactus (Cereus giganteus).
A Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) in bloom in late November!
A Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) closeup.
The remaining ribs of a long ago fallen and decayed away Saguaro.
Arm buds on a Saguaro Cactus.
A fallen Saguaro begins to decay back into the earth. A fallen it becomes an important ecosystem providing food, moisture, and habitat for insects and other creatures.
With my loop almost completed, this is a view across the desert floor toward Goldmine Mountain from the Stargazer Trail.
All images Copyright ©2010 Terry Wright. All rights reserved.