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It's always a good idea to take a photo of the trail map--just in case there's any confusion along the way.

The trail starts off straight uphill!

And then levels off to a lovely ramble into the forest.

I wish you could hear the variety of bird calls.

Not long into the hike, we start paralleling a stream.

Arizona Honeysuckle.

After crossing the stream a steep climb.

And a look back.  The first mile of the trail is simply beautiful with wildflowers and ferns.

Seep Monkeyflower grows all along the creek.

Follow Stan for more uphill.

After a while, we emerge into an open area which was burned by the Aspen Fire some years ago.  These trees are some of the survivors.  

Finally at the top of the rise, we come to a junction of several trails; Mint Spring, AZ Trail, and the Aspen Loop.  We'll take the Aspen Loop trail after having lunch on this convenient log.

The birds here are very comfortable around people and they're probably accustomed to gleaning crumbs from lunches.  Here, a little white-breasted nuthatch inspects our poles.

On our way to a very different portion of the trail.  From here, we get some long views all the way to the Santa Ritas.

And long hills, too.  Along the dry, seeming inhospitable margins of this trail were some of the sweetest, determined wildflowers.

Bluets

Richardson's geranium. 

The trail bends toward shady forest again as we start heading downhill back to the car.

The final stretch.

Stan was ahead of me a good deal of the time because I dawdle taking photos.  The lot was empty when we arrived early this morning.  I didn't mention that the road to the trailhead was closed and we needed to take a very twisty and hilly detour through Summerhaven's residential area.  On our way back through, we came upon just the perfect stop--

Two little girls, Grace and Ruthie, were selling chocolate chip cookies.  I bought two and we had the most delightful conversation.  A perfect end to a perfectly fun hike!