With the temperatures lower than usual we decide to take short hike after work in Phon D Sutton Recreation Area. It is a site that can be entered for free if you have a National Park pass and we enjoy the fact that it is quiet here during the week. It is also probably the only site along this stretch of the Salt River to have a maintained nature trail that we can hike on.
The trail is quite empty today, in fact over the 4 miles we hiked we didn’t meet anyone.
The desert is in full bloom this afternoon from trees to flowers along the trail and cacti, everything is blooming.
After some time we approach the Salt River and there is a mystery fence preventing us to get to the trail on the other side. As we learn later that is the other section of our trail as our path leads us soon away from the fence.
We continue enjoying the many blooming cacti, mostly hedgehog and cholla and of course the ubiquitous brittlebush.
The area we are passing is quite scenic with many saguaros and creosote bushes all around.
As we start on the return section of the loop it passes the flood plain of the Salt River. It is quite a different experience with more trees and cooler and darker.
We see quite a few desert cottontails along the way and a multitude of desert birds like phainopeplas, flickers, woodpeckers and more unexpectedly swallows.
As we exit the flood plain the sun starts setting bathing the area in beautiful light. With the moon out we have chances for some nice photos of the desert in the waning minutes of the day.
After the sun sets we arrive at the section we passed the other way but now we are on the other side of the fence. Even so it is difficult to get to the river and as it is getting dark we walk fast towards the car ignoring any detours. We arrive in the parking lot right when it gets really dark after a great hike close to home, really glad we decided to go out for the evening.
