Goldfield Classics

NOTE: Only people who have already registered via the link below may attend. Just hitting 'Attend' on this Meetup page doesn't register you for this class.

With summer coming soon to Phoenix, we're excited to present 3 early morning navigation courses in the Salt River area. On Sunday, May 24, we're offering three Classic courses and a Motala at the Goldfield Recreation Site. In Classic courses, participants visit destination markers 1,2,3,etc. in the order printed on the map. Participants can do one or more of the Classic courses separately, with breaks in between, or can combine the three by doing the Motala, where participants do all three courses with no breaks.
The orienteering courses at the Goldfield Recreation Site will open at 5:30 AM. Some of you may ask why start so early? Just in case you didn't know, Phoenix is located in a desert. Summer temperatures can reach 120F during the hotter parts of the summer. In late May, the humidity is still low, so morning temperatures can still be in the low to mid 70's. We strongly suggest you get out early, get some navigation under your belt, and get out of the sun before it gets too hot.
The Goldfield Recreation Site is a popular area for enjoying the Lower Salt River in the summer. The Salt River Recreation Center, located just over a mile away, is hugely popular for visitors wanting to float inner tubes down the river. The Goldfield Recreation Site is one of the points where visitors exit after a day on the river. The terrain surrounding the Goldfield site is flat. A number of small drainages criss-cross the area. Participants in our navigation events are challenged by the subtle terrain. Pace count and correct orientation between points are vital.
We hope you'll consider joining us for this year's events at the Goldfield Recreation Site.

Note: A Tonto Day-Pass (or equivalent) is required. Events take place in Tonto National Forest. There is a permit fee to park at the Goldfield Recreation Site. While you can pay on-site, the fees on-site are 50% higher than if you pay beforehand. Refer to the Tonto website for more information concerning the park pass. Note that America the Beautiful passes are valid for the recreation area. The park pass is not part of the registration fee.

Schedule:
Check-in, Registration, Course Opens.........................................5:50am
Course Closes....................................................................................10:00am

PRE-REGISTER HERE:
Pre-Registration is open until Thursday, May 21st at 11:59 PM. Pre-registration/Pre-pay is required. Our permit does not allow us to take money on-site. The event fee pays for the map printing fee and insurance for the event.
Click here to pre-register: https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/register/start/goldfield-2026-05-24

(NOTE: Clicking "Attend" on Meetup does not register you for this event. Registration must be made at the above link.)

Fees:
Pre-Registered (member/non-member):
Adult Individual.....................................................................................$10/$15
Teen (13-19)............................................................................................$5
NOTE: Registration fees are per participant. You're welcome to group together as a team onsite, but there is no team registration.

Parental Consent:
Parental Consent is Required for Participants Under Age 18 (Click here for more information: http://gphxo.org/Business/Forms/ParentalConsent.htm

What to bring:

• Whistle (Mandatory for all. Available for $1)
• Compass (Mandatory for all. Available to rent for $1)
• Water (We will not provide water on the course. We strongly encourage you to bring your own water bottles or a camelback.)
• Long pants are recommended (scrub brush and cactus)
• Sun screen (While there is shade on all the courses, we encourage you to protect yourself from sunburn.)
• Sturdy hiking shoes

For more information and directions visit the Greater Phoenix Orienteering Club's event website: https://gphxo.org/Events/2026/20260524_Goldfield.htm