One-way Distance: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 1438 - 1782 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: 40th Street
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views
The Y. V. Yates trail is in the Piestewa Peak area of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. The trail begins at the 40th Street trailhead where it crosses a wash and follows a route that takes it over a small mountain pass, through another wash, and around a mountain to where it climbs up to a ridge to where it meets up with Trail 304, the Piestewa Peak Nature Trail, and comes to an end. Enroute it connects to Trail 100 and the Quartz Ridge trail as well as numerous unnamed routes.
The 40th Street trailhead, which includes a restroom and picnic area, is at 9200 N. 40th Street. The Y. V. Yates trail, aka Trail 8, begins at the northwest corner of the parking area.
The trail starts out by following the markers for Trail 8 as they lead it across Tatum Wash.
After crossing the wash the vegetation begins thinning out and the trail continues across a vast open area.
Near the half mile point from the trailhead the Y. V. Yates trail crosses Trail 100.
As the trail continues there are several unmarked trails that branch off on the right. These are alternate routes that mountain bikers usually take to avoid the very rough section of the Y. V. Yates trail where it crosses the pass up ahead.
While the rocky trail up the pass is sufferable for hikers it would be very difficult on a mountain bike. Especially for one going in the uphill direction.
Heading down the other side of the ridge the trail is very entrenched into the mountain. It ends up leveling off and after a short distance it makes a 90 degree turn where it continues down the side of the hill.
At the bottom the trail comes to a scenic wash where it is met on the left by the end of the Quartz Ridge trail. The trail goes to the right at this point and follows the wash for a short distance before climbing out the opposite side.
The trail travels along the west side of the wash for a ways and starts wrapping around the base of the mountain and turning up the drainage on the other side. There are several unmarked trails that branch off on the right along the way. Several of them are connectors that lead to the Piestewa Peak Nature trail.
For the last stretch of the trail it works its way up the east side of the drainage where the Nature trail can be seen traveling along the hills across the wash.
