April 5, 2022 Prehike to Butcher Jones Trail- Saguaro Lake

 Tim and Nancy pre-hiked the Butcher Jones Trail. We drove up the I-10 to Exit 161 B to 202 east. We  took the 101 off the 50 B exit. Then we took exit 50 A onto the 202. We turned at exit 13 to 87 North. This highway goes past Fountain Hills to exit 199 to N Bush Highway. Turn left off N Bush Highway to Butcher Jones Trailhead. 

Click on the pictures to enlarge

Tim had the American Seniors Pass so we didn't have to pay the $12.00 fee to get into the park. 

We could have purchased a pass for $8.00 from Chevron Gass station on Highway 87 and Fort McDowell Roads, at CVS Pharmacy at Ellsworth and Brown or at All Circle K Stations. 

There were pit toilets and ample parking at the trailhead. 

Saguaro Lake's beautiful scenery and sandy beach make it a popular destination for canoeists, fishermen, paddlers, kayakers, and hikers.

The trail begins on the left side of the beach, just past the Butcher Jones Trailhead sign. 

The trail is in the shade at the beginning of the hike until it starts to wind its way up the bank of  Saguaro Lake. It becomes rocky and a little steep around a cove. 

A cormorant in the cove

A cardinal in the tree.

There is a slight elevation that allows for great views of the lake and the inlet to the Salt River. 

The trail is shown on this map 

The trail then winds up through to the other side of the peninsula. It goes down into washes and rocky terrain. 

The other side of the peninsula is a scenic place for lunch. 

This is a short hike of only 5 miles, so it is good to take advantage of the beautiful scenery and stop often. It is important to stop because hikers need to pay attention to the path because of the rocky terrain and may miss the landscapes of the mountains in the distance, the lake, the flowers and birds along the way.  

The way back provides another view. 

It is important not to go on this hike in extremely hot temperatures because there are rattlesnakes on the trail. We encountered one that rattled its tail and was coiled up. 

There is a scenic drive on the way back to Casa Grande by turning left onto N. Bush Highway to Usery Road toward Phoenix. This turns into Ellsworth Drive. Turn right on University Drive and then right onto 202.