Buckskin Mountain State Park is tucked in a bight of the Colorado River on the Arizona side about 11 miles north of Parker on Highway 95; to the east stretches the Buckskin Mountain Range for which the park is named.
Near the ranger station, just inside the park gates, you'll find the trailhead for a series of short, well-groomed hiking trails leading east into the Buckskins. Although the price list given out with park admission gave a fee of $3 per person for trail use, when I checked at the ranger station I was told that there was no charge.
For the most part, I found these trails well-constructed, with good attention to grade and drainage. Some sections are so well groomed as to be almost like sidewalks, making for easy walking, and people were out in runners and even sandals. However, sturdy shoes are highly recommended, especially for Interruption Point and the Abandoned Mines.
Lightning Bolt Trail
Constructed by the Arizona Boys Ranch, according to the sign at the trailhead, this is a short (half mile, 800 m) but steep and winding trail up a promontory to a viewpoint overlooking the Buckskin Mountain State Park RV campground and the Colorado river. Take your time and it's an easy walk for all ages. It seems that most visitors to the park do this one!
Buckskin Trail
Stop at the trailhead sign for a brochure for the self-guided nature walk "A Look at Desert Vegetation". If the box at the sign is empty, go back and get one from the ranger station. The numbered signs may be hard to find (missing?) but the pictures help with identification and the information is interesting.
A short connector of about 0.4 miles (600 m) from the campground leads to a concrete pedestrian footbridge over Hwy 95, a fun trip in itself. This bridge links the Lightning Bolt Trail to the Buckskin Trail Loop. Since it's a loop, start in either direction; you'll end up back at the footbridge. I chose to go left. A couple of cheerful birds accompanied me up the trail, but I could never get close enough to identify them.
The loop is about 0.6 miles (1 km), giving about a 1 mile (1.6 km) hike round trip from the campground. This trail has some steep stretches but is well groomed and easy to follow.
Be sure to check out each of the numerous short spurs that lead to spectacular views in different directions.
Interruption Point Trail
At the far end of the Buckskin Trail loop, about 0.7 miles (1.2 km) from the campground, a sign marks the trail leading to Interruption Point. I haven't yet done this stretch, but the map shows the trail heading south and then west for views overlooking the highway and the river.
According to a couple I met who were coming down from Interruption Point, this stretch has some steep sections and is not quite as well groomed as the Buckskin Trail, but the view is worth the walk.
Abandoned Mine Trail
This was my favorite stretch. A one-way trail leads about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) into an area with some abandoned vertical mine shafts and short adits (horizontal excavations). The trail peters out into a web of ungroomed and poorly marked paths around the old mines. The old shafts are fenced for safety, and there's actually not all that much to see, but it was fun exploring the area and poking into the adits.
One path leads to some quad trails which in turn head out into the desert, so it is possible to wander about for hours and there is a distinct possibility of becoming lost.
Buckskin Mountain Trail Tips
This is a desert habitat; appropriate precautions are required.
- Stay on the trail – fragile desert ecosystems are easily damaged.
- Carry water.
- Dress appropriately for the weather and trail conditions.
- Use sunscreen.
- Let someone know where you are going and about when you'll be back.
Keep these things in mind, take some care around the abandoned mines, watch for desert wildlife, and enjoy hiking in Buckskin Mountain State Park.
Sources
- The Buckskin Trail: A Look at Desert Vegetation. Phoenix: Arizona State Parks, 2003. Brochure.
- Buckskin Mountain State Park. Phoenix: Arizona State Parks, no date. Brochure.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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