Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs – Origins and Thoughts

The 6th annual Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs are upon us. I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. Not just the time this year, these first two months of 2015 but even the last 5 years! Just 5 years ago I was preparing to direct my first ever 50K that I created from scratch at a mountain park that I’ve been hiking, camping and mountain biking in since I was a kid. This would prove to be not just your ordinary 50K either. I was sending runners through two “hazardous” sections of trail, deemed the “most extreme” by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation department. So much so that they highlight the Goat Camp and Ford Canyon Trail on their park maps with a very appropriate “double black diamond”.

The Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs take place in the White Tank Mountains which run North / South along the western edge of metropolitan Phoenix. The great thing about the trails at this regional park are that they actually climb up to the top of the mountain range. They rise sharply out of the saguaro studded desert floor through several named canyons riddled with boulders, rocks, differing species of vegetation and plenty of wildlife. I’ve seen families of Javelina, lizards and snakes in these mountains and I remember seeing a photo posted at the front of gate of a wildlife camera in the high reaches of the park capture a mountain lion on film.

I’ve always loved the White Tank Mountains and the ability to share their beauty and ruggedness with others really gives me great joy. I like hard, tough and adventurous places to explore and the White Tank Mountains offer that all on marked trails (ok and the occasional creek bed).

Mesquite Canyon also marks the conclusion of Aravaipa Running’s annual Desert Runner Trail Series which I created to highlight the best of trail running across the Maricopa County Regional Park system. I wanted to get people out to the parks and on to the trails. I’ve been given so much by them that I wanted to share that with others. We offer an opportunity for participants of all abilities from hikers to elite mountain runners to test themselves on these amazing trails and locations on the edge of our city.

If you haven’t yet checked out any of the Maricopa County Regional Parks, I encourage you to give this one a try. Come camp with us, run, hike, or heck even volunteer. Get outdoors and experience what nature has to offer. Getting away from the city for a night or even a few hours can be a restorative experience for the soul.

If you are serious about getting involved here is our schedule leading up to the 6th edition of the Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs which is sure to be an amazing day of trail running:

March 6-9 – Hauling water up to Mesquite Canyon Aid Station (required hiking a 50 pound pack up 1.8 miles)
March 7 – Mesquite Canyon Training Run #2 (Goat Camp Trail)
March 11-13 – Course Marking
March 13 – Race Setup & Camping Pre-Race
March 14 – Race Day & Camping Post-Race
March 15 – Final Cleanup

You can still Register or Volunteer.

If you’d like to help haul water or course mark I’d be glad to exchange volunteer credits for this or a future race.