Moderate: Wild Burro Trail – out & back

About this event

REMINDER: If this is your first hike with the Sun Lakes Hiking Club, it is required to contact the hike leader before your first club hike.

Date: November 23, 2026 Trailhead: Wild Burro Day Use Area Description: Out and Back Hike Distance: 6 miles; Accumulated Elevation Gain: 630 Trailhead Elevation: 1520 feet Driving Distance: 66 miles one-way; approximately 75 minute drive Drivers Fee: $11 plus share of $10 per car park entrance fee

Meetup: 7:45 Cottonwood parking lot

Description: This is a new moderate club hike. A Maricopa County Day Use pass or a $10 per car park entrance fee is required. Nice restroom facilities are available at the trailhead.

The Wild Burro Trail is appropriately named. Along the trail many people-friendly burros will likely be seen. After the 3-mile “Out” portion of the hike we will take a break while enjoying the panoramic view of Lake Pleasant.

Total hike time is about 3.5 hours. Expect to get back to Sun Lakes around 2pm.

Driving Directions: If using a GPS device for driving directions enter “Wild Burro Day Use Area" into your device.

Leave the Cottonwood Parking and heads towards Riggs Rd. Turn left on Riggs and take I10 West towards Phoenix.

After about 18 miles use the right 3 lanes to merge onto I17. Stay on I17 for 30 miles and then take exit 223B for “AZ-74W/Carefree Hwy” and then turn right onto the Carefree Hwy. (Note: the exit is a little confusing because exit 223A is before 223B. Once you take 223B you will be heading West)

After 11 miles turn right onto N Castle Hot Springs Rd. After 2.3 miles turn right onto Lake Pleasant Access Rd. The park booth will be on this road.

Drive .8 miles then turn right onto S Park Rd. Drive .3 miles then turn left onto Desert Tortoise; drive .5 miles then turn left at Twisted Talon Dr which is the Wild Burro Day Use area.

From Sun Lakes Hiking Club