We are working on completing the Highline Trail for some time and today we start on a different section. We have been to the Hatchery TH previously but today we are planning to complete the section in the opposite direction.
The first mile is going up first and then levels up which is great news. We are also finding caches along the way so we are not on a fast pace which is how we enjoy our hiking.
Of course we are also cataloging the plants and wildlife we are seeing. There is quite a variety around here and there are still flowers out this late in the season.
The views are nice on this section of the trail and we enjoy the great weather, easy section and views.
To our surprise after about a mile we reach a gate, there is a subdivision here. Quite unexpected. We pass it without issues and soon we are back in the wilderness. The trail continues mile after mile, crossing creeks, enjoying the views and finding the caches.
We do not see any actual animals but we see lizards and insects, some of the quite interesting.
The trail is going up and down quite a lot which makes our pace even slower. Even so we make good time and still plan on finishing the five miles one way that we have planned.
One of the best sections of the trail is when it passes a high altitude meadow with great views and lots of flowers.
We see the expected birds along the trail, bluebirds, woodpeckers and of course jays.
There are a few sections where the Highline Trail has been rerouted but the caches are on the old section. Those are quite adventurous and we see the differences between the maintained and unmaintained sections which can be quite stark.
On our way back it is getting dark and we do our best to pass the most problematic sections of the trail before it is dark completely. We manage that better than expected as we have only a mile left when the sun sets.
The sunset is beautiful and we enjoy the cooler temps as we hike the last mile to the car. We are the last car in the parking lot as expected and soon make our way back to Phoenix after a great jaunt out on the Highline Trail.
