I don’t know about you, but I am wondering where the cooler temperatures went. What happened? They appeared briefly then disappeared. Ugh! Warmer weather limits the length of our hikes, and since we didn’t have the time to drive north this weekend, we opted for a flat, local option: The Apache Wash trail. Oh, I do the Apache Wash Sidewinder trail a lot, but we hadn’t done the actual Apache Wash hike in a long while.
Remember, the Apache Wash trail head is off the Sonoran Desert Parkway, which is getting built up, by the way. How sad to see all the cactus being knocked down and thousands of homes going in. Breaks my heart, but what can a Shiba Inu do? Our north end of town, it be a growing.
Anyway, parking is free, and there are human restrooms. Just as you walk past them, you will take a right for the Apache Wash trail (AW). Those familiar with the Sidewinder trail know you go straight onto the S trail. Off to the right we went on AW!
Because this trail is flatter with less rocks, it does tend to have more cyclists, especially on weekends. Daddy can only join us on weekends since he works, so we deal. Most of the riders were friendly, and we always appreciate the ringing of bells so we can hear them coming and get out of their way.
This trail is easy, coming in at 3 miles, and is a great alternative when short on time. Instead of being on the mountain or around it, this one goes down to the desert floor. You get a different view down here. You could do the outer loop and make it 5 miles, but if you want to do the shorter loop, you keep taking lefts at every intersection.
We met quite a few folks along the way, and I enjoyed a few breaks for pets. I’m always grateful that my daddy carries water for me as I needed it. I met a super cool Pit Bull. He was young but was already buff! He was very sweet and wanted to play. I’m older than him and was hot, so I showed no interest. No offense, dude. Mom and dad gave him pets, so that was good.
One of the left turns is easy to miss. Just keep your eye out for the AW signs. Should you miss it, you would go the longer loop, like I mentioned. We continued on until we came to the super-sized Saguaro. Again, you turn left here, and this brings you back to the parking lot. This section is part of the S trail, though.
I knew we were getting close to the car, so I picked up my pace. I had been dragging my butt along, but not now. Woof! Air conditioning awaited me. What can I say – I’ve become a creature who enjoys comforts. Don’t judge me.
All in all, it was about an hour hike. Just right for the time we had allotted and temperatures. By the restrooms are covered seats, so we sat for a spell to cool off. Oh, how wonderful the cool cement felt! I like people watching here. Some are coming and some are going. Everyone is getting fresh air, and that is a good thing. Hope you are getting outside, because you never know what you’ll find!
I wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving! I can’t wait to gobble til I wobble. Until next time…
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith, is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, executive recruiter, business consultant, coach, fitness expert, and author of nine published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/kumas-great-adventures/
and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog/ and Instagram: kumaitothedog
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
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