Hiking | SCW Sportsman's Club

There are two season’s for Sportsman’s Club Hiking Group: Snowbird Season from October 1st to April 30 and Firebird Season from May 1 to September 30.

During Snowbird Season there is a C hike or B hike every Thursday. During the season there will be approximately 40% B hikes and 60% C hikes. Sometimes the hikes might be scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday due to Hike Leader’s personal scheduling issues The weekly correspondence will designate the Hike Level/Type and departure times. Departure times do change during the season for weather and daylight preferences.

During Firebird Season there is a hike every Thursday which departs from Sun City West at 6 AM to try to beat the heat. To get pre-hike emails for the Firebird Season (Summer Hikes), send an email to hike Coordinator/Communicator Michael at manenen@sbcglobal.net.

Hikes are classified according to the degree of difficulty, and each individual must gauge his/her ability and stamina for each event. Hikes are scheduled each month for all levels of ability.

To help you determine which hike-level is within your ability, the following hike descriptions will be used:

C-Hike – Easy to moderate (some inclines/rocky trails), =>3 miles but <6miles.

B-Hike – Moderate (some steep inclines/challenging terrain), =>6 miles but =<8miles.

C &B Hikes

Hiking is great exercise. Join us! Remember to always think of hiking safety; boots, poles and plenty of water.

Please note that hike details are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen situations. The hike Coordinator/Communicator will notify those hikers on the email list of such changes, when necessary. Also, more details about the hike will be sent to the email list a few days before each hike.

If anyone wants to be on the Hiker email list, send an email to Michael at manenen@sbcglobal.net or text to 312-213-9538.

For other local hiking information, go to www.maricopacountyparks.net.

C &B Hikes

Hiking is great exercise. Join us! Remember to always think of hiking safety; boots, poles and plenty of water.

Please note that hike details are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen situations. The hike Coordinator/Communicator will notify those hikers on the email list of such changes, when necessary. Also, more details about the hike will be sent to the email list a few days before each hike.

If anyone wants to be on the Hiker email list, send an email to Michael at manenen@sbcglobal.net or text to 312-213-9538.

For other local hiking information, go to www.maricopacountyparks.net.

July 2024 Hikes

6:00 AM Thursday, July 4, 2024. C – Hike at Lake Pleasant Regional Park – Wild Burro Trailhead. This is an Out & Back hike of Wild Burro & Canyon Pipeline Trails. The hike is 4.5 Miles with 445’ Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, July 11, 2024. C – Hike at McDowell Sonoran Preserve – Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. This is a loop hike of Marcus Landside Trail Loop. The hike is 4.8 Miles with 585’ Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, July 18, 2024. C – Hike Sunrise Mountain Preserve – Sunrise Mountain Trail Loop Trail. Sunrise loop trail includes Sunrise/Ridgeline with two loops around the peaks. The hike is 4.0 Miles with 720’ Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, July 25, 2024. C – Hike Skyline Regional Park-Turnbuckle Trailhead. Lollipop hike of Turnbuckle Trail to Granite Falls trail back to Turnbuckle trail and back to parking lot. The hike is 3.9 Miles with 490’ Gain.

August 2024 Hikes

6:00 AM Thursday, August 1, 2024. C – Hike Estrella Mountain Regional Park – Toothaker Trailhead. This is a loop hike of Toothaker Trail to Butterfield Trail to Dysart Trail to Toothaker trail and back to parking lot. The hike is 4.3 Miles with 400’ Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, August 8, 2024. C – Hike at Calderwood Butte in Peoria. The close by trail is a loop hike with some in and out spurs (optional but hike would be too short). The hike is 4.1 Miles with 866’ of Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, August 15, 2024. C – Hike at White Tank Mountain Regional Park – Sonoran Competitive Track Trailhead. This is a loop hike of the Sonoran Competitive trail mostly a 10 feet wide track that goes up and down washes as it meanders through the desert. This is 4.8 Miles with 318’ Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, August 22, 2024. C – Hike at Deem Hills Trailhead at 39^th Ave. This is a loop hike of the Circumference Trail to Ridgeline Trail back to Circumference Trail to parking lot. This is 3.8 Miles with 606’ Gain.

6:00 AM Thursday, August 29, 2024. C – Hike at McDowell Sonoran Preserve – Fraesfield Trailhead. This is a loop hike of Black Hill Trail to Turpentine Trail to Whiskey Bottle Trail and back to Parking Lot. This is 4.9 Miles with 715’ Gain.

September 2024 Hikes

6:30 AM Thursday, September 5, 2024. C – Hike at Phoenix Sonoran Desert Preserve, Apache Wash Trailhead. This is a loop hike starting at Ocotillo Trail to Ridgeback Trail to Ridgeback Overlook to Ridgeback Trail to Sidewinder Trail to Apache Wash to Parking Lot. The hike is 4.5 Miles with 550’ Gain.

6:30 AM Thursday, September 12, 2024. C – Hike of the Beardsley Trail by Lake Pleasant Bypass Road. This is an out & back hike at the Aqua Fria Trailhead by Beardsley By-Pass Road. We will take Beardsley Trail and turn Rt, (North) towards Morgan City Wash and reverse route back to Parking Lot. This hike is 5.4 miles with 400’ Gain.

6:30 AM Thursday, September 19, 2024. C – Hike at Cave Creek Regional Park, Go John Trail. This is a loop hike starting at Go John Trail to Quartz Trail to Slate Trail to Jasper Trail to Go John Trail to Parking Lot. This hike is 4.0 Miles with 440’ Gain.

6:30 AM Thursday, September 26, 2024. C – Hike at White Tank Mountain Regional Park. This is an out & back Hike starting at South Trail to Goat Trail to Bajada Trail to Mule Deer Trail and reverse back to Bajada Trail to Goat Trail to South Trail to Parking Lot. This is a 5.2 Miles with 385’ Gain.