December 28, 2025.
5.7 mi. | 1310′ ele. gain | 5:10 hr.
I was tasked with finding a fun hike to do while camping with a friend near Apache Lake. Much of the developed recreation there is geared towards water activities: fishing, boating, paddling, etc. But I noticed a trailhead that accesses the Arizona Trail, plus an added bonus: a highpoint not far from the trail. I assured my friend we’d go slow to look at plants and could turn back at any time. She agreed. Let’s go!
We arrived at the Vineyard Trailhead on a sunny morning. I was excited to see what kind of vegetation we’d find and if anything would be blooming. And, of course, I was thrilled at the chance to get a peak in there too. We met through an online art group, so we also planned to do some painting along the trail.
This short section of trail was quite lovely. As we ascended the route, we got nice views looking back at the lake, dam and river. Zooming in at our feet, we delighted in all the little plants we found. I was surprised to find bright red paintbrush and some happy little phlox flowers. And I would be remiss to not mention the majestic, unusual, charismatic saguaro cactus boldly dotting the landscape.
It’s always fun to take a hike with someone else who’s just as interested in investigating all the weird plants and bugs and rocks. We stopped frequently to indulge our curiosity about the natural and man-made features in the hills. She knew the area much better than I did, so I was able to learn a bit more about the human history from her.
As we approached the top of Vineyard Mountain, we had to leave the trail and walk cross-country up a gentle hill that was thick with grasses, cacti and other plants. We walked slowly to avoid all the sharp thorns and ankle-turning rocks. When walking slowly, it’s easier to find things. Up there, we found brightly colored purple owl’s clover and red maids.
The summit area provided an incredible spot to sit and eat some lunch while overlooking the sprawling Salt River. The water sparkled in the strong sunlight. We each found a spot to take it all in. And after lunch, we got straight to painting. The scene was a bit overwhelming, and as usual, the hardest part about painting the scene was figuring out what to leave out. We enjoyed a good long break there, but eventually packed up to leave.
We hiked back the way we came. By the time we returned to camp, the temperature was dropping and the wind picked up. It dashed any hopes of kayaking the next day. But, we got to watch a magnificent sunset from camp, which was far better than any show on TV.
