Our exploration of hiking trails northwest of Phoenix continues. Last week we hiked to the saddle of Governor’s Peak, located just up the road from the historic Castle Hot Springs Resort in the Hell’s Canyon Wilderness. The trail begins just beyond a cattle guard—five miles past Lake Pleasant on Castle Creek Hot Springs Road.
We pulled over here.
It was the morning following the BCS championship game, and LSU’s epic win had yet to sink in. The need to burn off some guacamole was in order. Nothing too strenuous, mind you, just something a little different.
Crumbly rocks abound.
And different it was—lots of crumbly rocks, canyons, and peaks, along with some pretty spectacular views.
The trail was kind of overgrown, but thankfully marked by cairns along the way.
Lake Pleasant from the trail.
We found the overgrown trail a little hard to follow. Cairns built along the way helped guide us. Our biggest mistake was taking a wrong turn near the beginning of the hike. At a junction with cairns on both sides— we chose Door Number One—WRONG. It was the trail to the right. After cutting across a steep canyon wash full of cholla and prickly pear, we made it back on track.
Suddenly, a large snort came from somewhere in the great beyond—it sounded relatively close. Braying followed our every footstep. As we reached a small summit, a wild, curious burro came into view. The little fellow just stood there looking at us, unimpressed.
Loudmouth.
“Prospectors imported burros to Arizona in the 1860s, then abandoned them after a mining bust. Having evolved in the deserts of North Africa, the burros did just fine in the arid Southwest, and their population in Arizona is now about 4,800.” —The Washington Post
Dave and I continued towards the saddle and occasionally stopped to admire how vast this wilderness was.
One could get lost out here. Our elevation gain was moderate (800 ft or so)—the bulk of it saved for those who chose to summit. A heard of noisy burros on a distant peak welcomed our arrival.
Mountainside burro.
On our way back down we noticed that lone crazy burro had barely moved. He was feasting on a large patch of something green.
After the hike, we drove about two miles through a beautiful canyon to take a peek at the newly renovated Castle Hot Springs Resort.
Vintage Castle Hot Springs Resort.
Built back in 1896, it is home to the hottest nonvolcanic natural spring in the world. In the early days, many traveled to this remote location to experience the spring’s purported healing powers. Recently restored, guests can once again enjoy the hot springs, along with gourmet dining and luxury accommodations.
This is as close as we got to the entrance. The resort is definitely an exclusive hide-away.
The Arizona desert is full of hidden treasures—just waiting to be discovered.