Tellurium Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 8.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9,920 - 10,653 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 5 hrs.
Trailhead: Tellurium Lake
Fee: none
Attractions: Subalpine lake, fishing

Tellurium Lake is located in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest east of Basalt, Colorado. The picturesque subalpine lake, that offers a distant view of Savage Peak (13,139 ft.), is a good backpacking destination that also has good fishing for Brook and Lake Trout. The lake can be accessed from the south through Henderson Park as well as from the west beginning off of the Burnt Mountain Road which was the route taken for this post.

Western Vista

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 1747 - 2051 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Desert Vista
Fee: none
Attractions: View

Western Vista is located in the Southern Area of the Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. Beginning off of the Dixie Mountain Loop the trail makes a moderate climb that takes it to an overlook above the western edge of the Sonoran Preserve.

Dixie Summit

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.4 - 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 2009 - 2228 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Desert Vista
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic overlook

The Dixie Summit trail is located in the Southern Area of the Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. Branching off at the 0.9 mile point of the Dixie Loop trail, 1.3 miles from the trailhead, the Dixie Summit trail climbs moderately for just under a quarter mile to one of the highest peaks in the Sonoran Preserve.

Apache Vista

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.7 - 2.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 1827 - 1986 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Apache Wash
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic overlook

The Apache Vista trail is located in the northern area of the Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. The trail begins off of the Sidewinder trail a little less than a mile from the trailhead. From there it begins a climb that loops over the summit of the hill overlooking the trailhead where there are views in all directions of the Sonoran Preserve and extending well into the Phoenix Basin to the south.