Lake Pleasant lived up to its name with a satisfying experience walking and driving through contrasting landscapes in a remote location I need to spend more time exploring.
Joann has been inviting me on outings for months and I usually decline with some unworthy or stupid reason, like I just don’t feel like going out. I’m not a very spontaneous person unless it’s my decision and schedule. Also not the most willing morning person. However, if I know before hand I’m going somewhere and leaving at a specific time, I’m all over it and ready early with excitement. So when she texted me Monday evening about going for a drive to Lake Pleasant the next day and look for flowers, or whatever else we might find, it only took a few minutes for me to respond “Yes!” Picking me up at 10:30am might have been the clincher as mornings are frosty and cold right now.
Let me introduce Joann. Last winter I heard Berta talk about a new gal in town who I should meet, an artist, puppeteer, storyteller, and more. But you know me, not all that sociable, and I never got up to her recently opened store, Station of Imagination, where she displays her art and offers classes about story telling, puppetry, slop painting, and more. I finally met Joann shortly after Berta passed away and we clicked. She’s a hoot and lives for fun.
Our first photo-op stop out of many throughout the day, along US60 just south of Wickenburg for this railroad bridge over the Hassayampa River which still had some water flowing.
With all this winter’s rain the lichen are happy and colorful.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park is about an 1 1/2 hour drive south from Yarnell and only 30 miles north of Phoenix. We turned off State Route 74 and headed north on Castle Hot Springs Road on the west side of the lake, which of course is actually a reservoir. A $7 day use fee allowed access to the water along South Park Road. An annual Maricopa County regional park pass currently costs $85. Almost immediately we saw the first burros but far away.
We parked in a vacant site at Desert Tortoise campground with a water view of Sunset Cove. With reservations, the electric and water sites cost $32/night and no hookups $22/night. All offer shade covered picnic table and dump station nearby. I found it exciting just to be near water even though I never touched it. It was windy making the otherwise sunny day chilly. So glad I dressed in layers and brought a hat.
The landscape screams contrast with a full, blue lake lapping at the base of Sonoran Desert saguaros, cholla, and other desert plants. Plus a low patchy carpet of green grass and the tiniest of flowers thanks to recent rain.
Made a brief visit to the Discovery Center for a map, information, toilet, and of course a Junior Ranger badge. Looks like their Ranger activities happen mostly on weekends. I hadn’t thought about applying for county park ranger jobs.
Back on the paved Castle Hot Springs Road north moves away from the lake offering distant views. A delightfully cloudy day threw patches of light and shadow across the landscape, changing faster than we could take photos.
Flowers were few. Brittlebush wore a spotty crown of yellow daisy-like flowers. Clusters of lupine along the road got us talking about seeing some species only along the road. My theory on that: sometimes those are not native species I believe could have been brought in by our vehicles. I’ve often noticed invasive species growing along roads especially after a fire which means lots of traffic.
We followed good enough for a Toyota car gravel road towards the newly renovated Castle Hot Springs Resort, where we could not possibly afford to stay, before reluctantly turning around.
Seems to be a patchwork of land ownership, county, private, and federal out in the middle of nowhere. My kind of place.
Yet another gravel side road, Cow Creek Road, beckoned exploration taking us once again out of the park and onto BLM (Bureau of Land Management) where we found some accessible boondock sites.
Might have neighbors.
I believe we did as much stopping as driving with one of us spotting a worthy flower or view. We watched hawks surveying the land for hungry rodents taking advantage of the land’s bounty. A coyote crossed the road not far in front of us.
So much contrast, desert and mountains dusted with snow probably a whole lot whiter after the most recent Arizona snowstorm.
I’m thinking that’s what is called Table Mesa, Joann wants to paint the scene from a secret camp spot.
The road kept beckoning. Joann said I’ll turn around after that next hill, curve, mountain, cactus…
Eventually our growling stomachs told us snacks were not enough and once again, we reluctantly turned around.
Once back on pavement, movement caught my eye and sure enough more charming burros watched us pass by while contentedly grazing. Which is what we did for dinner at Anita’s Cocina in Wickenburg. I had a rather good chili rellenos casserole and margarita as I wasn’t driving.
I think we should return in a couple weeks for a camp-out, and maybe more flowers.
I’ve camped up there several times when attending the Cactus League ballgames. There are some great hiking trails that passed thru fields of brilliant poppies. I hope they are there for your next trip.
I too have heard of those fields of poppies and hope to see them.
Pretty shots. I love the Hassayampa bridge but have never found a good pull off place.
Thanks. It was wide shoulder just after the guard rail. Tight spot.
Should be a great year for desert flowers.
Anita’s Cocina is a must stop for me when in the area. Always packed and I always feel bad about taking a table as it is just me, so I tell the hostess that the other seats at the table are available to be shared, a community table. Standard procedure when I travel and often leads to an interesting meal and opportunities previously unavailable.
I’m hoping to get somewhere for desert flowers.
My policy too when eating out alone is to share a table, conversation, and perhaps create a new friendship.
You should do this more often Gaelyn. Thanks for sharing your superb photo’s and your friend.
Thanks. With winter waning I hope to get out more often.
Joann sounds a delightful character and I am glad that she got you out for a trip to somewhere as lovely as Lake Pleasant. How I wish I could have joined you, but having said that I went for a great walk through country tracks mid-day today with temperatures at 20C, strange February, but oh I am so enjoying it this year.
Take care Diane
This little jaunt is just what I needed, especially before being snowed in for almost a week. Glad you got out into spring like weather.
What a lovely trip! I’m feeling pretty unsociable these days. It was a great jaunt, though.
It was good to get out of the house.
Looks like a nice days outing.
Just what I needed before the snow storm.
Lake Pleasant is such a beautiful place. We lucked out and caught someone’s cancellation at the best site in the park for three nights. We were parked right at the highest point along the cliff overlooking the lake. We did do a great hike one day but otherwise we just soaked in the beautiful spot and surroundings. You certainly had a great day. Love changing colors. The burros sure are cute:)
Although I saw some nice sites in the park I’d be just fine with boondocking a little further away from the water.
What fun excursion, and love all your photos
Thanks George.
My kind of adventure, not starting too early, lots of good scenery to look at, an intriguing road, shots of a railroad bridge, burros, and saguaros topped off with Mexican food and a margarita. Sign me up!!
When you come to visit I’ll remember this.
I’ve seen some of the most amazing sunsets while boondocking at the shores of Lake Pleasant. We love the Maricopa Country Regional Parks. One of them might work for you.
I certainly need to explore Lake Pleasant more. Just hesitate to get too close to Phoenix. Where I see even you got some snow. I’m done with winter and looking forward to flowers.
Great to meet such a companionable neighbor! That’s a fabulous regional park and even more fab drive! wow. (And we’d love the later start too. I used to be an early riser, but this person I live with has finally corrupted me!) The burros are a delight. I wonder what it would be like to live there.
Has been nice to make a friend with similar interests. We’ve shot a lot of sunsets together. I will keep this, and county parks, in mind for next winter.
I meant to say I wonder what it would be like to work there.
Wonderful to see you having such a fun day with another fun person
Thanks. It was a fun day. I need to do that more often.
I love the saguaro! I like hiking among them when I visit Mary. I like the photo with the dark sky. Did you get any snow in Yarnell? Mary sent photos of snow in her yard and on her porch furniture in Rio Verde – that has never happened before!
I too like moving among the desert plants, especially saguaro. Was a crazy storm. In two days, Yarnell got 20 inches. I was well prepared, didn’t have to go anywhere, and it was beautiful. Now it can go away, and it is melting rapidly.