About us
The Sun Lakes Hiking Club is a fun and social oriented group that is open to individuals who either 1) reside, rent or lease in Sun Lakes or Sunbird or 2) are former residents who maintain their annual membership in The Club.
The Sun Lakes Hiking Club began in 1985. By 1987 the group was official with by-laws, prescheduled weekly hikes, designated hike leaders, and rules designed to make group hiking fun, challenging, and safe.
Group hikes are scheduled from November through April. Hikers meetup at Cottonwood Country Club parking lot at 7:45 am from November through February. In March and April, hikers assemble at 6:45 am. Members may or may not carpool to the hikes and share expenses based on distance to the trailhead. Detailed descriptions of hikes are on this website.
Motivated hikes are more rigorous, faster paced and stop less frequently; Moderate Monday and Wednesday hikes are less strenuous and more "social"; Mellow Monday hikes are the easiest basic hikes or walks.
*1st TIME HIKERS TO THE CLUB MUST CALL THE HIKE LEADER BY SATURDAY BEFORE THE HIKE. New hikers must sign a "Release from Liability" Form at your first hike. You must successfully complete two hikes and have the hike leader sign-off. You are then eligible to complete a Membership Application, and pay a one-time $10 initiation and the $5 annual club dues. Signing in on the Club website does not make you a Sun Lakes Hiking Club member.
Equipment recommended for hiking includes 1) good hiking boots and socks, 2) a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses, 3) a backpack or fanny pack capable of carrying adequate water for the hike, 4) a snack or lunch, and 5) basic first aid supplies. Other useful items include one or two hiking poles, a comb or tweezers for removing cacti stickers, and a jacket.
HIKE RATING CODES used by the Sun Lakes Hiking Club are:
• Motivated Hikes = Intermediate - Moderately Difficult: 7 - 10 miles and/or 1000 to 2000+ feet elevation gain
• Moderate Hikes = Somewhat Easy: Less than 7 miles and less than 1000 feet elevation gain
• Mellow Hikes = Leisurely pace: Less than 5 miles and less than 500 feet elevation change
• Hike leaders determine variables affecting the hike and may add (+) or (-) to the rating.
President: Paul Feeney (feeneyp@rocketmail.com)
Vice President: Warren Wasescha
Secretary: Diane Alessi
Treasurers: Vince LeBlanc & Fritz Neufeld
Communications: Warren Wasescha
Web Coordinator: Barb Smith
Hike Coordinator: Scott Downey
- Mellow Hikes: Ginny & Al Metz
- Moderate Hikes: Jim Bauer
- Motivated Hikes: Marilyn Harkins
Social Coordinator: Tim Donovan
If you have questions or need information about the club please email the president. If you have comments about or corrections to the information about current hikes on this site please email the hike coordinators. If you have questions or comments about this website please email the web coordinator.
Upcoming events
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Moderate & Moderate Plus: Canyon of the Waterfalls
Cottonwood Country Club off Riggs Road, 25630 S Brentwood Dr,, Sun Lakes, AZ, US***After the hike there will be an optional lunch the Dutchman Country BBQ which is on the left side of Old Apache road as we are heading back to Sun Lakes. Here is a link the the restaurant -Dutchman Country BBQ
MODERATE & Moderate Plus : Canyon of the Waterfalls out and back
Hike leaders: Scott Downey 503-936-7239
Date: Feb 9, 2026
Trailhead: Jacobs Crosscut off First Water Road – about .6 miles on the right after turning off Apache Trail Road (Hwy 88)
Description: out and back
Hike Distance & AEG:
Moderate: 5.0 miles & 920 ft
Moaderate plus: 5.6 miles & 1300 Ft
Trailhead Elevation: 1289 feet
Driving Distance: 76 miles R/T; approximately 45 minutes
Drivers Fee: $6 + $2 dirt road fee. (no dirt road fee if we park at the top of First Water Road)
Meetup: 7:45 Cottonwood parking lotHike Description:
***1-28-2026 Update: Prehiked our route Tuesday (1/27). Beginning of the hike through the Cholla forest is scenic. Like other areas around Phoenix, the desert is very green. So much growth this season, the trail looked different. Although this is an in and out hike, we do make a small loop on the way back.Canyon of the Waterfalls has been a hidden gem until recent years, but it has increased in popularity as the word has gotten out about it. It is a hike through a spectacular canyon drainage on the North Side of the Superstition Mountains, and if we’re lucky enough to catch it with a little bit of flow, it is a truly special Superstitions experience. The hike starts with a gradual climb. AEG over this 2.4-mile stretch is about 900 feet. At this point, there will be an optional additional .35 miles and ~300 ft of additional AEG to go a bit farther up the canyon to get a better view where the waterfalls occur during the rainy season.
Total hike time is about 3.5 hours. Expect to get back to Sun Lakes around 1:30pm. If you are stopping for lunch, it will be a bit later Hiking poles are strongly recommended. If you planning on doing the moderate plus hike there will be some scrabbling going up the wash. Long pants are a good idea too because parts of the trail are narrow due to growth.
There are no restroom facilities available, so we will be stopping by the QT gas station as we drive through Apache Junction.
Here are two web pages with more information and pictures about this
hike: http://wildpathsaz.com/canyon-of-the-waterfallsInformation & photos about Canyon of the WaterfallsInformation about Canyon of the Waterfalls
https://soulsummittravel.com/2025/02/20/canyon-of-the-waterfalls-hike/
If using a GPS device for driving directions enter “Crosscut Trailhead” into your device.
**Note** - The trailhead is off of First Water Road. It is not marked, but it will be the first parking turnout on your right. We will go Jacob Crosscut Trailhead which is .6 miles down First Water Road only if the first parking area is full.
Driving Directions:
Leave Cottonwood parking lot and turn right onto Riggs Road. Take a left turn at McQueen Road. Continue North then go right onto Loop 202 East. Follow Loop 202 East to US-60 East (exit 30A) towards Apache Junction. From US-60 East take exit 196 for Hwy88 (Idaho Rd) in Apache Junction. Turn left at the end of the off-ramp. Stay on Hwy 88. After apx. 2.4 miles, then turn right at the traffic light to stay on Hwy88. This section of Hwy88 is called “Apache Trail Road”. After the lost Dutchman Park sign, turn right onto First Water Road. FYI…it is the second dirt road on the right. The trailhead is .6miles down the road on the right.
78 miles R/T; Driver contribution is $6 (maybe $2 dirt road fee)
Call Hike leaders: Scott Downey 503-936-7239 iif you need assistance.12 attendees
Past events
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