Lace up your shoes, grab your pack, and let’s hit the trail! Without this book, Arizona’s Tonto National Forest, the fifth-largest national forest in the U.S., might overwhelm even intrepid hikers. But with the expert guidance of local author Tony Padegimas, you’ll easily explore Tonto’s three million acres of high peaks, deep gorges, babbling rivers, near-silent deserts, and thousand-year-old Native American settlements. Tony details the 34 best day and overnight hikes so you can save time and make the most of your hiking adventure, gaining the full experience of Tonto’s natural wonders. This guide includes: GPS-based trail maps and elevation profiles Detailed directions to trailheads - GPS trailhead coordinates Tony Padegimas is, among many other things, a freelance writer based alternately in Phoenix, Arizona, or in his hammock strung up in some random spot in the national forest. His wife, two children, and two dogs join him on occasion on the trail but report mixed feelings about whether these endeavors are really worthwhile. The cats have no doubts: they prefer to remain at home in Phoenix. In addition to wanderings in the wilderness, he also chronicles sports, fitness, historical curiosities, technical theatre (which is also his day job), and the inside guts of buildings. His work has appeared in numerous local and regional magazines and a handful of national publications. This is his first book. Four Peaks Loop Scenery: **** - Trail Condition: ** - Children: * - Difficulty: *** - Solitude: *** - Distance: 11.4 miles - Hiking Time: 7 hours - Outstanding Features: Outstanding vistas of the Four Peaks and surrounding area, several different climate zones, a chance to see what your legs and lungs are made ofThis car-shuttle hike takes Oak Flat Trail straight up the slopes of the Four Peaks range to meet Four Peaks Trail in the wilderness area. Following this trail south along the slopes reveals a series of stunning vistas. The route then takes Chillicut Trail down the mountain and across some high chaparral to the Rock Creek trailhead. An easy car shuttle is required. The Oak Flat trailhead, not to be confused with the one in the Superstition Wilderness, is, indeed, surrounded by a number of large oak trees. Oak Flat Trail 123 starts due west from the sign. Follow the cairns across the creek and then start climbing the ridge. After a couple of switchbacks, the trail goes straight up through the manzanitas, scrub oak, and beargrass. There are few trees, and none near the trail―nothing between the sun and the gravel path but you. To your left, Brown’s Peak, the tallest and most northern of the Four Peaks, glowers down at you. To your right, you can see FR 445 winding up the canyon to the trailhead, and beyond it, Roosevelt Lake stretches out to fill the Tonto Basin with this year’s collected snow runoff. Soon, you turn south to start climbing and climbing and climbing. The gravel trench heads roughly southwest. The unrelenting climb (1,700 feet in 1.7 miles) may cause you to doubt the overall recreational nature of this pursuit. When you pass the rain gauge, which looks like a sideways windmill, you’re about two thirds done. Oaks and pines shade small patches of the trail. The little sign announcing the wilderness boundary is your “almost there” mark. Shortly thereafter, the trail reaches a T-intersection with Four Peaks Trail 130. The sign might be confusing; turn left. Four Peaks Trail goes due south, climbing another 500 feet to level out at around the 5,800-foot line. The brown basalt glistens with pyrite, while towering ponderosa pine trees poke above the abundant scrub bushes. At the top of the climb, the trail winds southwest. There are a few ups and downs, but overall, the trail stays at the 5,800-foot line, with just enough hazard to keep you from getting lost in the vistas. At 3.3 miles, you cross a creek and come to the signed junction with Alder Saddle Trail. Alder Saddle is a steep climb to its namesake, where it dead-ends. Stay on Four Peaks Trail. As you wind around the slopes heading toward Buckhorn Mountain (that high point to the south) every view to your right (west) of the Four Peaks will be more stunning than the last. Ration camera memory accordingly. At 4.5 miles, you cross Black Bear Saddle, near springs of the same name. The fence line you might see on top of the ridgeline above you separates Gila County (east) from Maricopa County (west). Past this saddle, you encounter the first bit of real trail treachery as bushes conspire to shove you down the slope. If you take your time and plan your steps, their schemes will surely fail. A mile later, a stand of pine and oak shade the trail, growing upslope amid granite boulders. Past the stand of pines, you hit real overgrowth. Yes, the trail goes through those bushes. Really. Seep willow bush chokes off all but the bottom two feet of the trail, obliging any creatures taller than a rabbit to push their way through the thick shrubbery. Wh