You'll probably see wild burros on this part of the Black Canyon Trail. Here's where to go
Registering somewhere between a honk and a howl, the vocalizations of the feral burros that roam around Lake Pleasant are as gritty and unbridled as the beasts themselves.
Sturdily built and resilient, the desert-adapted, North African imports first arrived in Arizona in the 1600s carrying supplies with Jesuit priests.
Valued for their strong backs and hardy work ethic, the burros soon found additional employment with prospectors. They hauled ore during boom times and when the mines went bust, they either wandered off or were released into the wild where they thrived in the arid territory.
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Make no mistake, these docile-looking vegetarians are not to be messed with. Unlike their cousin the horse, these rough-around-the edges members of genus Equus are hardly the type to stride elegantly before spectators wearing feathered fascinators at a racetrack. They can be scrappy, so it’s smart to observe them from a distance.
Hikers can almost bet on seeing the free-roaming wild donkeys that average about 350 pounds when full grown in the Bureau of Land Management’s Lake Pleasant Herd Management Area. It's 25 miles north of Phoenix, west of Interstate 17, north of Carefree Highway (State Route 74) and northeast of the lake.
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Much of the Black Canyon National Recreation Trail passes through this swath of upper Sonoran Desert in the hilly backcountry of the Agua Fria River watershed.
The 3.5-mile Windmill Valley segment of the trail, which is just a few miles east of Lake Pleasant, is a scenic trek that winds through prime burro habitat.
The hike begins across the road from the Table Mesa trailhead with an easy walk among huge saguaros with majestic views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the north and a flank of flat-topped mesas near the north coves of Lake Pleasant.
The trail quickly descends into a wash area and fire scar. Torched trees and ashen cactus stumps belie an understory of resurgent shrubs and wildflowers. It’s in this short section of trail where the most species are found.
Look for desert marigold, chia, owl clover, desert snow, scorpion weed, globemallow, woolly daisy, white ratany and frilly American carrot.
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Beyond the fire damage, the trail traces a network of washes, bouncing between ridges and drainages as it gradually climbs 500 feet. High points showcase vistas of the New River Mountains, Table Mesa and acres of scrubland where springtime color breaks in colorful cactus blooms, golden brittlebush, buckwheat and rare specimens of bladder sage.
The remainder of the route twists around stone pinnacles, rolling hills and rangeland. It ends at the Doe Springs Segment 7.7 trail miles north of the Emery Henderson trailhead on New River Road.
While the Doe Springs junction makes for a good turnaround point, hikers can opt to customize the hike length by way of a car shuttle or tying in with the popular Boy Scout Loop for a more rigorous out-and-back trek through burro land.
Black Canyon Trail hike: Windmill Valley
Length: 3.5 miles one way.
Rating: Moderate.
Elevation: 1,921-2,450 feet.
Getting there: Use the Table Mesa trailhead. From Interstate 17, take Table Mesa Road (Exit 236). It's 36 miles north of central Phoenix. At the end of the off ramp, turn left, go a few yards, and then veer right onto Frontage Road (the unsigned west end of Table Mesa Road). Continue to the large Table Mesa West sign, turn left and go to the Table Mesa trailhead at kiosk No. 5 on the right, 3.1 miles from I-17. To reach the start of the hike, walk a few yards farther down Table Mesa Road to the BCT sign on the left. Roads are maintained dirt/gravel, suitable for all vehicles.
Note: The Black Canyon National Recreation Trail is closed to motorized travel and shooting, but the surrounding area is popular with OHV riders and recreational shooters. Dust and noise may be noticeable.
Details: Black Canyon Trail Coalition, https://bctaz.org.
Read more of Mare Czinar's hikes at http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com.
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