City-Ridge-Zacatecas Canyon Loop

View from the Ridge Trail

I needed a quick hike today as a warmup for a rather daunting hike tomorrow, something short—no use blowing out a knee or an ankle—but nothing too pedestrian, either; I can walk to my heart’s content   in Des Moines. I decided to string together a few connected and adjacent trails and came up with a little 6+ mile loop: The City Trail, just down the road and behind where we are currently living; the Ridge Trail that climbs steeply up from the eastern section of the City Trail; and the Zacatecas Canyon Trail, which connects to the Ridge trail with a half-mile spur. Then Tombstone Canyon Road back home. Tore up the legs a bit from the unkempt, thistle ridden Zacatecas spur (not the first time), but other than that, a nice enjoyable 2 hours of hiking. Mostly overcast, with blue skies peeking through occasionally, and temps near 70°. 

City Trail.

Another city Trail view.

The steep, talus strewn scamper up to the Ridge Trail.

B Hill.

View of Mural Hill and The Shrine (see close-up in next frame..

The Ridge Trail, looking north.

Hundred-Year-old water catchment in Zacatecas Canyon.

Scars from today's hike. Superficial and not nearly so bad as the souvenirs from this hike in January, 2017.