If you enjoy either running lots of miles on scenic desert trails in moderate fall temperatures or just want to watch costumed runners doing all the work, go run or volunteer at this year's Javelina Jundred ("JJ") on November 15-16 at McDowell Mountain Regional Park! The link is above for information and photos of the popular Phoenix-area event begun by Geri Kilgariff in 2003. Jamil Coury is directing the race this year, continuing some of the fun traditions of previous years while adding his own signature touches.

Jim and I first ran the Pemberton Trail in February, 2004. I had fun doing the Pemberton 50K, two CCW loops of the 15.4-mile trail. Neither of us has run "JJ" but we think it would be fun to participate as runners or volunteers.

LET'S TOUR THE PEMBERTON TRAIL

We love this trail, which is the focus of the photos in this entry. In the first draft of this entry, I included almost fifty photos -- which would about max out some readers' computers or internet connections! I've whittled it down to just over thirty pictures because I've shown quite a few from this trail in previous entries. There are mostly new ones here. (You can see even more of the photos in a "virtual tour" slide show on our Picasa site. The album is entitled "McDowell Mtn. Park Trails.")

Most of our runs the last two-plus weeks have included part or all of the Pemberton Trail. I'd rank the entire trail as "moderately easy" for its undulating terrain and mostly-smooth footing. There are some rocky areas on the south and west sides but even this rock-challenged klutz (me, not Jim!) can run over them fairly comfortably. This trail is also a dream to ride -- either on a mountain bike or horse.

Our biggest regret this entire trip has been that we didn't bring our bikes with us. We considered it but in our rush to leave in December (after finally deciding what our plan would be) we forgot them. Next time . . .

There are no water sources along this trail unless you're in one of the races mentioned above, so be sure to carry plenty. Even in cooler months it's easy to get dehydrated quickly in the very dry, warm air. Ditto sunscreen; we've been using it even in January. When I'm running alone I also carry a cell phone here. We have a decent Verizon signal in the park.

Here's the park map again for easy reference so you can follow the photos clockwise from the main trailhead staging area (middle right of photo at about the 3 o'clock position):

The Pemberton Trail is the largest loop around the park. The photos that follow are from various days in January. Some are heading CW and some CCW, but they will be in the general order in which they are located along the trail. I'll use the clock analogy so you can more easily see where we are on the loop. I'm repeating some photos I've already shown you to give a more complete tour around the loop. At least half the pictures are new, however.

Here's the pdf. version of the map again so you can read the trail names and distances better: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/mcdowell/pdf/2006%20maps/mcdowell-11x17-2d.pdf  

MAIN TRAILHEAD TO DIXIE MINE TRAIL INTERSECTION: ~ 3.5 miles

The trail begins at the main staging area, crosses McDowell Mountain Road (black line through right side of map) and proceeds south and west to the Dixie Mine Trail. It passes the trailheads for Stoneman Wash, Bluff Trail, and Tonto Trail. This is the low end of the park so either direction on the Pemberton Trail from here is uphill. This part of the trail is fairly sandy, through and across various washes, then gets progressively rocky as it approaches Goldmine Trailhead.

Parking at the Trailhead Staging Area

 

The Pemberton Trail is sandy through this section on the SE part of the loop
near the trailheads to Stoneman Wash and the Bluff Trail

 

The old ranch house was made of Saguaro Cactus ribs and mud!

 

"Marathon" sign at intersection with dirt road to competitive track on January 12.
Not sure if it was for a race on feet, bikes, or horses.

 

One of the few places next to the Pemberton Trail with Prickly Pear Cactus

 

I love all the Teddy Bear Cholla cacti in the park (see cropped panorama here)

 

Equestrians ride near the Dixie Mine Trail intersection

 

DIXIE MINE TRAILHEAD TO GRANITE TANK:  ~ 5.6 miles  

Now we're near the 7-oclock position on the loop and heading in a northwesterly direction in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. This segment ends in the upper left corner of the map (let's call it the 11 o'clock position). Elevations range from about 2,000 to 3,000 feet in this area of the park, although the Pemberton Trail never gets as high as 3,000 feet. The views are magnificent since you're looking down over most of the 21,000-acre park and beyond to Fountain Hills, the Verde River valley, and Asher Hills. If the fountain is flowing, you can see it clearly from much of this section (see photo in January 17 entry)..

The trail through the western part of McDowell Park roller-coasters through the foothills and gullies for the next five or six miles. Parts of it are rocky but most is fairly smooth and very runnable. We'll pass three trail intersections at Tonto Tank, Bluff Trail, and Stoneman Wash, go by Geri Kilgariff's commemorative bench at Tonto Tank, and wind through the interesting rock formations at Rock Knob.

Close-up view of the McDowell Mountains between the Dixie Mine and Tonto Tank trails

 

Cody follows Jim up the trail through the scenic Rock Knob area.
This is about the 9 o'clock position in the loop.

 

View of rock formations farther up the trail, looking back to the south
(it's always good to turn around sometimes to see what you're missing!)

 

Running or riding the ridge near Rock Knob

 

Looking back (south) to the Rock Knob area after dropping down near Bluff Trail intersection

We've gone 6.5 miles so far and are in about the 9 o'clock position on the loop. Let's continue north on the Pemberton Trail.

Another look back south to Rock Knob and the McDowell Mtn. ridges

 

Nice, smooth trail here

 

Limb art.  Jim and Cody stand near a dead ironwood tree.

 

Nice couple we saw riding on several different days

 

Oops! I captured Jim and the cool Barrel Cactus but Cody was too fast for me.

 

GRANITE TANK TO TRAILHEAD STAGING AREA:  ~ 7.6 miles

Granite Tank is near the 10 o'clock position on the Pemberton Loop. After crossing (unmarked) Stoneman Wash, you know you're there when you see a livestock pond and begin following fence lines that mark private ranch property for about a mile. The trail is still single-track here.

Fence line, a little creek, and a stand of Prickly Pear Cacti

 

The NW corner of the park is another good area to find Teddy Bear Chollas (and sand)

Then the Pemberton Trail takes a sharp right turn and heads east along the northern boundary of the park to Cedar Tank on a fairly smooth dirt service road for about four miles. This section is fast in the clockwise (CW) direction because you're heading downhill gradually. This segment isn't a roller-coaster like the last one along the western part of the park; it's either predominantly uphill or downhill, depending on the direction you're going. (The Pemberton 50K went CW both loops when I ran it four years ago The Javelina Jundred alternates directions each loop for more variety.)

Looking north and east, you'll see ranch property, a few houses, the Archer Hills, and the valley where the town of Rio Verde lies. I showed a couple photos of that in the January 18 entry. To the west are the McDowell Mountains. 
 

This is the only place I saw any Yuccas along the Pemberton Trail.

 

These stately desert sentinels are frequently seen along the trails.

 

Great running/riding AND views along the service road (photos above and below)

If you reel them in with your camera, the McDowell Mountains look closer than they really are from the 12 o'clock position on the map near Cedar Tank:

I could also see the fountain from the far side of the park one day:

Fountain at far right of the sawtooth-ridges near Fountain Hills

 

Horses graze at Cedar Tank near the 158th Street Spur.

Now we are just 3.2 miles from the end at the Main Trailhead Staging Area. A little bit past Cedar Tank the Pemberton Trail veers to the southeast (about the 1 o'clock position on the big loop) away from the service road and becomes single-track again. The trail is smooth and fast, still a net downhill in the CW direction we're going. I've shown photos from this section several times previously.

The trail crosses McDowell Mountain Park Road the second time (in the 2 o'clock position) and passes both intersections to the Scenic Loop Trail before returning to the Trailhead Staging Area (3 o'clock position).

 

Jim and Tater are heading the opposite way (CCW) in this photo

 

Now they're going CW again -- nice downhill finish to the staging area!

 

And we're done with our tour of the Pemberton Trail.
This is the ramada at the Trailhead Staging Area.

Whew. Hope that vicarious run, hike, or ride didn't wear you out too much!

Next entry: photos and stories about some of the critters at McDowell Mountain Regional Park

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, Cody, and Tater

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© 2008 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil