Maricopa Trail: Pass Mountain Trail Connector

This connector portion branches from the Pass Mountain Trail on its northwest side and runs up to the Bulldog parking area. From there, the Maricopa Trail continues along Usery Pass Road on the east side until it meets up with the Wild Horse Trail on the other side of the road. This stretch is lightly trafficked (and mostly by mountain bikers), although it seems to be gaining popularity with hikers who don't want to pay the fee to park in Usery Mountain Regional Park. This trail goes through some wash areas and is a pretty smooth trail--mostly downhill from east to west. There are periodic "Maricopa Trail" logo signs to assure you that you're on the right track. It is a pleasant hike in open desert and then parallels the road for a bit while along a ridge before descending to the parking area.