Meet Me At the Crossroads
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Near Red Mountain & Salt River. Multi-use trails, but predomenantly used by mountain bikes. Combine with "Gruff Crossing" (GCT3CD) for a nice loop.
Cache is located in the Tonto National Forest, just off one of the multi-use paths. Free parking is available at N33 31.035 W 111 40.453 -- walk across the street to get to trail access. From parking lot to cache is about 1.5 miles if you stay on the trail. There's nothing realy too hard on this hike, I don't think. Though there are a few inclines, if you come at it the right way, it should be a pretty easy stroll through the desert. Cache is less than .1 mile off-trail.
I strongly recommend getting a map of Arizona trails as there are no signs on any of these trails. It'd be hard to get lost since you can always see Red Mountain, but it'll be easier if you grab a map. (Beartooth Publishing makes a great one that includes all the trails in greater Phoenix area. You can pick up it up at REI and it's worth every penny. I take mine every time I go caching.)
The path I took is as follows: from the parking lot, cross the street and go through the break in the fence. .1 miles up the trail it will fork, stay to the right. About .5 miles, another trail will intersect - continue forward, travelling south. After about .4 miles, the trail will T into another one: go left. It should be easy from here on. (See bottom of description for directions from "Gruff Crossing" cache. Done together, they make a nice loop.)
Mountain Bikers: These trails are listed as some of the best mountain biking trails in the Valley. They are almost entirely single-track, please help keep it that way: ride in control and don't skid.
Hikers: Keep in mind that mountain bikes can be very quiet on the sandy desert floor and your footsteps may cover any noise a rider might make. Be alert! (I've been surprised by riders on this trail before.)
There are also occasionally horses on these paths as well. Remember trail etiquette: bikes and hikers yield to horses.
As always, remember that this is the desert. Bring lots of water and watch out for prickly things. Also, it gets cold fast around here, especially in the winter with the wing coming off the Salt River. I recommend bringing a light sweater if there's any chance of getting caught out after nightfall.
From "Gruff Crossing": Continue past the cache and at the first fork, go right. About .5 miles is another fork - veer left. .2 miles will bring you close to this cache. Taking the NW path at the crossroads will get you headed back toward the parking area.
Additional Hints
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