About us
The Sun Lakes Hiking Club is a fun and social oriented group that is open to individuals who either 1) reside, rent or lease in Sun Lakes or Sunbird or 2) are former residents who maintain their annual membership in The Club.
The Sun Lakes Hiking Club began in 1985. By 1987 the group was official with by-laws, prescheduled weekly hikes, designated hike leaders, and rules designed to make group hiking fun, challenging, and safe.
Group hikes are scheduled from November through April. Hikers meetup at Cottonwood Country Club parking lot at 7:45 am from November through February. In March and April, hikers assemble at 6:45 am. Members may or may not carpool to the hikes and share expenses based on distance to the trailhead. Detailed descriptions of hikes are on this website.
Motivated hikes are more rigorous, faster paced and stop less frequently; Moderate Monday and Wednesday hikes are less strenuous and more "social"; Mellow Monday hikes are the easiest basic hikes or walks.
*1st TIME HIKERS TO THE CLUB MUST CALL THE HIKE LEADER BY SATURDAY BEFORE THE HIKE. New hikers must sign a "Release from Liability" Form at your first hike. You must successfully complete two hikes and have the hike leader sign-off. You are then eligible to complete a Membership Application, and pay a one-time $10 initiation and the $5 annual club dues. Signing in on the Club website does not make you a Sun Lakes Hiking Club member.
Equipment recommended for hiking includes 1) good hiking boots and socks, 2) a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses, 3) a backpack or fanny pack capable of carrying adequate water for the hike, 4) a snack or lunch, and 5) basic first aid supplies. Other useful items include one or two hiking poles, a comb or tweezers for removing cacti stickers, and a jacket.
HIKE RATING CODES used by the Sun Lakes Hiking Club are:
• Motivated Hikes = Intermediate - Moderately Difficult: 7 - 10 miles and/or 1000 to 2000+ feet elevation gain
• Moderate Hikes = Somewhat Easy: Less than 7 miles and less than 1000 feet elevation gain
• Mellow Hikes = Leisurely pace: Less than 5 miles and less than 500 feet elevation change
• Hike leaders determine variables affecting the hike and may add (+) or (-) to the rating.
President: Paul Feeney (feeneyp@rocketmail.com)
Vice President: Warren Wasescha
Secretary: Diane Alessi
Treasurers: Vince LeBlanc & Fritz Neufeld
Communications: Warren Wasescha
Web Coordinator: Barb Smith
Hike Coordinator: Scott Downey
- Mellow Hikes: Ginny & Al Metz
- Moderate Hikes: Jim Bauer
- Motivated Hikes: Marilyn Harkins
Social Coordinator: Tim Donovan
If you have questions or need information about the club please email the president. If you have comments about or corrections to the information about current hikes on this site please email the hike coordinators. If you have questions or comments about this website please email the web coordinator.
Upcoming events
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MODERATE: Goldmine and Dynamite Loop at San Tan Mountain Regional Park
Cottonwood - East of Tennis Courts, Cottonwood Country Club, Sun Lakes, AZ, USMODERATE: Goldmine and Dynamite Loop at San Tan Mountain Regional Park
Hike leader: David Coffman 425-330-2183
Trailhead: Wagon Wheel parking lot at San Tan Mountain Regional Park which has multiple trails
Description: Loop*** After the hike there will be an optional brunch at San Tan Flat 6185 Hunt Hwy Queen Creek
Great hike with typical Sonoran Desert Flora. This is a loop hike that starts out of the parking lot on level terrain to the Goldmine trail which goes past the miner’s gravesite and starts climbing to the top. There is about a 1-mile climb that is steep! The AEG for this 1-mile segment is over 500 feet. The climb is on the North side of the mountain so some of it is in the shade.
At the top there are nice views of Queen Creek and the valley below.
After we come go down the other side of Goldmine we will go left to the junction of the Littleleaf trail. This section is about .6 miles one-way and has been added to make the hike greater than 5 miles. We will then backtrack the same section and proceed to the Dynamite trail. When we reach the peak of Dynamite, we will have a snack break and then proceed back to the Wagon Wheel trailhead.Here is an AllTrails hyperlink to the hike - Explore Dynamite & Goldmine Trail Loop with LittleLeaf Spur | AllTrails
Hike Distance: 6.0-mile loop
Accumulated Elevation Gain: 890 feet
Trailhead Elevation: 1581 feet
Driving Distance: 40 miles R/T approximately 20 minutes
Drivers Fee: $3 plus a share of the $7 park entry fee
Temporary restrooms at parking lot
Meetup: 6:45 Cottonwood parking lotIf using a GPS device for driving directions enter Goldmine Trailhead in Google Maps.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE WAGON WHEEL PARKING LOT AT SAN TAN REGIONAL PARK
From the Cottonwood parking lot proceed to Riggs Road and turn right.
Continue on Riggs Road for approximately 11 miles to Sossaman.
Turn right at Sossaman to where road ends at Hunt Highway.
Turn left on Hunt Highway and drive ¾ of a mile to Wagon Wheel Road.
Turn right at Wagon Wheel Road and follow Wagon Wheel Road to where the road ends which is the public parking lot area.
Park the car then deposit the $7 park fee in the envelope which is provided at a post at the trailhead entrance.
Leave a portion of the parking ticket on your dash which should be in clear view should a park ranger check.
Carpool fee $3 + share of $7 park fee
Hike leader – David Coffman 425-330-218312 attendees
Past events
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