The Arboretum at Flagstaff

Sniffing out a new trail in CAMP VERDE

Verde Vista Trail a challenging 5.5-mile experience

SAM MCMANIS

It is unfortunate that there is no such thing as a “new-trail smell,” akin to the new-car smell that’s so alluring they make cologne and air-freshener based on the fragrance.

Alas, the brand-spanking-new Verde Vista Loop in Camp Verde does not exude any particular scent. And, I fear, on days when gusty winds come from the east, the nearby equestrian center and Wastewater Division might excrete a wafting presence.

I’m not sure what I expected, olfactory-speaking, from this hilly and challenging 5.5-mile loop that’s part of the ongoing construction of what will be the Camp Verde Sports Complex. Maybe an aromatic blend of sage and mesquite, or the loamy scent of freshly overturned and packed down soil?

No, let’s appreciate this new trail for its rewards to other senses—sight and touch (as in, how it looks and how it feels under your feet).

On that score, the Vista Verde Loop rates highly. Located 4.5 miles o Interstate 17, this is an easy detour for Flagsta an hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers wanting a quick nature experience on their way to the Valley.

The new trail is a joint project of the city of Camp Verde and the Coconino National Forest, and the loop is only the start of a more elaborate trail system in the White Hills east of town. Teaming with the forest service, the Flagsta -based nonprofi t American Conservation Experience carved out a challenging route of singletrack twisting up and down the hillside, combined with improved old service and fi re roads.

My trusty Garmin GPS measured the loop* at 5.7 miles with an elevation gain of 621 feet, a good workout for even experienced trail folks.

Why the asterisk, though?