Hike #12 - Estrella Mountain Park (Toothaker/Dysart/Rainbow Valley) - Goodyear AZ

Hike #12

Date: March 7th
Hikers: Me, Jim & Tina

Location: Goodyear AZ
Distance 5.5 miles - Loop
Rating: Easy
Time: 1 3/4 hour


Link:http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/estrella/

Never been to Estrella Mountain Park.  This is a Maricopa Park.  Our yearly pass expired so we are paying the $6 a carload price.  Bring your cash if the attendant is not there.  You will need to self pay.

I saw this hike in the newspaper that my Mom gave me. It said it was a moderate 4 miler.  They lied!

The plan was to hike Toothaker to Dysart to Rainbow Valley.  On the website map the route added up to 4.5 miles.  We parked on the east side of the Rodeo Arena.  That was a mistake. We could have parked next to the trail head.  That added about a mile total to this hike.  .5 to trailhead and back.  There were nice restrooms at the entrance to the Rodeo Arena.

We started the hike chatting with the man that managed the campground.  He told us the wildflowers were in bloom and it would be beautiful.  Not sure where he is from but we did not see anything special.  Unless that guy with the New York Yankees hat was the flower he was talking about.  Joking!  I was wearing a Red Sox hat and Tina her Canyon shirt so this guy was chatty Charlie and we bumped into him twice cuz he did the loop the opposite way.  No Matter. We are friendly hikers.

The area is pretty but a little boring.  The start of the hike is a little rolling but nothing more than an easy hike.

Once we hit Dysart is was much of the same, although we did cross quite a few washes that are probably very busy in the rain storms.  We saw few people.  No bikers.  To the North West we could see the White Tanks.  The Rainbow Valley Trail was nicer.  Went more up hill terrain changed and there were some flowers.  The wind was breezy and we were all sniffing.

Golf Course next to the Park

We chatted about our FitBit challenge that Megan won!!  We talked Jim into getting a Fit Bit.  The plan was to order it after the hike using Amazon Prime.  It is an amazing service.  Living in Phoenix is a benefit because of the distribution center.  (After hike info - Ordered online at 11:35 am.  Had it at my door at 5:25 pm that day) Now that is customer service!!







Lots of horse use at the start of Toothaker and then on Rainbow Valley.

Stay on Rainbow Valley. Baseline take you to Nature Center. 

We finally rounded the corner from traveling around the mountain and headed back to the parking lot.  We passed a lot of hikers now since it was about 10:00.  Started with beautiful 55 degrees and ended in the 70's.  This is hiking weather.

Not going to run back to the Estrella's since it is a little out of the way but only a 35 minute drive.  There are more exciting hikes that I would look for.

Hike #12!

Done!