this trail looks a lot better once it moves away from the highway. A somewhat strenuous climb reveals a landscape of knuckle-and-joint, mica-imbedded boulders, deep gorges and a battalion of regal saguaro cactuses standing sentry. There’s even a mini-Stonehenge passage with naturally sculpted granite monoliths. Seasonal water doodling through the canyons adds a calming soundtrack to the impressive views.Courtesy of azcentral.com

This trail in its entirety is rarely done either as a shuttle or an out-and-back due to its overall length and the amount of driving required on FR143. This means that normally the upper (eastern) end of it (the best part) is the section that sees the least amount of traffic. This is one of several (but not too many) trails in AZ where a hiker will encounter both pine trees and saguaros. While it might be considered the easy way out, starting at the upper end of the trail and working your way west (and down, except for a short ascent at the start) has its advantages. The drive up and back down bumpy FR143 is left for later, but you'll still have to drive down later if you go the other direction. It's also an advantage to get an earlier start, which might be somewhat of an issue if you're attempting this one in late spring or early fall.Courtesy of hikearizona.com

The trailhead is located quite literally right off of the 87 Beeline Highway. There is a large sign indicating the Ballentine Trailhead with a right turn lane and is located about 20 miles northeast of Fountain Hills. The TH is never overly crowded and has enough room for about 20+ cars if people park correctly. From the trailhead there are two options; head to the north or head to the south. I chose to head north which runs parallel to the Beeline for about 1/2 a mile and then turns east and runs along Pine Creek. I would advise you to do the same as the northern trail is much easier with very little elevation gain. You'll need your endurance for the next 3 mile constant uphill challenge.Courtesy of arizonahikersguide.com