After so many years now, it’s nice that one can still find new hiking trails here in Arizona that blow me away with the beautiful scenery along the way. This was the case with the Butcher Jones trail that winds along the backside of Saguaro Lake.

I took work off on a Monday, which was Veteran’s day I believe, which meant that it was free to park at the trailhead with it being a State Park. Much less crowded too, with only a couple other people that I saw throughout the entire hike.
I had the four peaks wilderness and mountain range as my backdrop for most of the hike, as well as Saguaro Lake and canyon. The morning birds provide music as I hike along the lakeshore, changing to utter stillness as the trail moves upward away from the water.

I spot a lone javelina high up on a hillside, paying no attention to me as it grazes in the early morning light. The canyon views and the sun rising and shimmering off Saguaro Lake truly show off the wonder of this area. I find the hike immensely satisfying, and not too difficult. The clouds are something else as well.
It is definitely a picture perfect Arizona morning.

