Guidebook

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Segment 3: White Canyon Wilderness   28.3 miles

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Segment Length	from PHX	to ABQ	Segment Status	Season
28.3 mi.	46		finalized & accessible	fall, winter, spring
Resources
OVERVIEW MAP ELEVATION PROFILE G.E.T. Topo Maps 6-9 Town Guide: Superior Water Chart Image Gallery: Album 2				Additional maps: Tonto National Forest (USFS) Mesa 1:100K Quad (BLM) visit PLIC website Land managing agency: Tonto N.F. Globe Ranger District (928) 402-6200 BLM Tucson Field Office (520) 258-7200

SEGMENT OVERVIEW

Relatively small and little-known, yet big on solitude and Sonoran desert charm, the BLM White Canyon Wilderness is the centerpiece of this adventurous segment. Expect to be surprised and impressed with the Superstition-esque landscapes preserved in this parcel of wildland, but your inspiration here must first be earned. For the hiking is sometimes rugged and primitive, particularly in the Wilderness area itself. The terrain also offers up a healthy dose of elevation gain and loss, with limited access to reliable water.

In late 2011 the final miles of the Arizona Trail between Mexico and Utah were completed above the Gila River at the southern edge of the White Canyon area, where a small ceremony was held and a commemorative survey marker installed. The event was a significant milestone in the evolution of that trail, and tacitly for the GET as well. The GET has, and continues to, benefit from ongoing Arizona Trail construction, and so it does in this segment. However, the GET has never been beholden to the AZT, and sometimes the two routes might diverge if it's in the best interest of either route to do so. In fact, while much of GET Segment 3 follows the route of the Arizona Trail, a portion of it now goes its own way, in spite of the availability of newly-built AZT trail miles. A further explanation is probably in order.

Prior to the recent Arizona Trail completion, both the GET and the interim Arizona Trail in this area followed the same route throughout. Now, the two routes diverge partway through GET Segment 3, specifically between milepoint 10.1 and 18.4. Here, the suggested route of the GET remains with the former, "interim" AZ Trail route in this 8-mile stretch, despite it being considerably more primitive than the newly-completed AZ Trail and also involving some 2-track and drainage travel. (The new AZT is located entirely on singletrack trail, wide and clear.) The reasons for keeping the GET along the old route are several. One is that, as a matter of practicality, the old route offers access to the only sure-bet water source in this entire segment - an artesian well located in Walnut Canyon. (The new AZT is generally dry, save for the Gila River which is polluted by agricultural and mining runoff here.) Also, the old route is some 7 miles shorter in length, and while expediency is not the overaching goal of the GET's layout, the newly-built AZ Trail is both longer AND drier, compounding concerns that are avoided by taking the old route. Finally, from a purely philosophical standpoint, the old route runs through the BLM-administered White Canyon Wilderness area, which the new AZ Trail avoids in order to legally accommodate bicycle traffic. Both routes are very scenic, to be sure, but the GET would be remiss if it didn't avail itself of Congressionally-designated Wilderness wherever such an area remains so readily available and, in many ways, more accommodating than the alternative. In any event, both routes are shown on the mapset, and of course either route is available to suit one's particular interest. (The two routes together would make for an excellent loop trip in conjunction with some out-and-back miles between trailheads at either end of the segment.)

Elsewhere in this segment, the GET piggybacks enthusiastically onto the Arizona Trail, including many miles of supremely scenic, well-engineered singletrack that is, to be sure, a dream to travel, be it on foot, by horse, or on a bicycle. Together, the two routes pass the Arizona Trail completion marker set trustily into the desert dirt above the banks of the Gila River, a testament to progress. Just be sure to pack along plenty of water, whichever way you go to get here.

(As mentioned, potable water - of which the long-journeying Gila here is generally not - is scarce in Segment 3, but thankfully there is one excellent, perennial source at an artesian well approximately halfway along. As well, Wilson's Trailer Court in Kelvin, half a mile north of the route at the segment's eastern end, offers water from an outside spigot as a courtesy to hikers.)

ROUTE DETAILS

Picketpost Trailhead lacks water, and the nearest certain source is nearly 15 miles away in the middle of this segment. (See comments at the end of Chapter 2 for information on potential off-route sources within range of Picketpost Trailhead.)

Begin from the trailhead following constructed Arizona Trail singletrack (the left-most option; waypoint 03010; not the dirt road). The trail dips to cross several branches of Alamo Canyon's wash, then begins a meandering contour along the bajada separating the wash and Picketpost Mountain. A remnant volcanic feature, Picketpost is comprised of thick deposits of tuff, or solidified ash. At 0.5 of a mile, the trail crosses an old jeep track. (The jeep track heads southeast toward a small mining adit and the start of a class 3 hiking route to Picketpost Mountain's summit, an adventurous side trip.) Arizona Trail tread continues to contour through several side drainages amidst lush Sonoran desert vegetation. Eventually the trail returns to the main wash, parallels it briefly, climbs somewhat away again, then returns. Here, at 2.4 (waypoint 03065) constructed trail heads sharply left. (A former "detour route" in use during trail construction once continued up Alamo Canyon's wash, passing a cement stock trough near defunct Alamo Windmill in 1.7 miles, as shown on the map. The trough sometimes holds water, with occasional pools in the drainage nearby, and is a worthwhile side-hike if you need water at this point, with camping prospects en route.)

Proceed southeast, following the trail up alongside a fork of Alamo Canyon. At 3.2, the trail bends south, climbing and contouring along a minor ridge. Dipping to cross a drainage at 4.2, a well-engineered climb then rounds a hillside flank. Here the trail resumes its southern tack on a secluded contour. Upon gaining a minor saddle, the trail traverses and switchbacks around the heads of several east-draining washes; in wetter times, a large pool or two might be visible upon approaching the drainage at 6.0, located within 100 yards or so below the trail crossing (and likewise for the next drainage crossing south - but don't count on either!). A meandering descent finally leads to dirt, 4WD Forest Route 4 at 7.1 (waypoint 03140). To reach more-reliable Trough Springs (waypoint 03130) head north along this road a short ways to the first drainage crossing and turn left down the rocky wash. Small pools are occasionally found near the road, or continue to a junction of drainages and head left up the other one in search of a pipe-fed spring that feeds into a large cement trough.

From 7.1, singletrack continues east, directly across FR 4. It follows alongside a wash initially, then just before a drainge fork the trail crosses the wash to remain on its eastern side. At 8.5 the trail climbs out of the canyon bottom, slabbing south and east to gain a scenic pass, before descending into another prominent drainage at 10.1. (The seep nearby to the west shown on the topo map is unreliable, though you may find a few small wet spots in the drainage here and there following recent rain.)

Constructed singletrack continues across the wash. This is the brand new section of Arizona Trail that circumvents the White Canyon Wilderness. The GET diverges from the AZT here by turning left down the wash. The two routes resume at GET milepoint 18.4, with the AZT taking 7 miles longer to reach that point (~15 miles all told instead of ~8 for the GET). Water along the new AZT is generally limited to the polluted Gila River, while the GET takes hikers by the reliable artesian well in Walnut Canyon about half-way along.

Following the GET route down the wash, reach a cairned junction with a larger wash (waypoint 03180) and turn right. (Westbound hikers look carefully for the cairn where you leave the larger wash to the left. A tenth of a mile later, turn right onto constructed Arizona Trail singletrack.) In 100 ft, by a wooden Arizona Trail sign marking the former interim route of that trail, turn left out of the wash onto foot trail. The primitive, little-used trail contours east among lush desert vegetation, dipping awkwardly into several brushy gullies, then climbs to a viewful saddle at 11.2. A good dry camp could be made here. Pass through a gate on the saddle and descend to the boundary of BLM White Canyon Wilderness, here leaving the Tonto National Forest. Grand views extend down the colorful canyon to the south, its striated walls looking very much like sandstone but composed primarily of welded volcanic tuff. The trail soon becomes vague as it approaches a brushy flat at 11.6. (waypoint 03200) (Westbounders: from the flat, note the prominent "Hole in the Rock" feature just north, toward which the trail climbs, passing immediately to the left of the outcrop.)

From the flat, follow cairns south into the canyon, first over bedrock a short distance, then on rough trail which traverses gradually downhill along the canyon's east side. Cross the canyon's wash at 12.3, then back again in a short ways. The trail now becomes an overgrown 2-track road. Follow it around the base of the prominent escarpment dividing our unnamed canyon and the Wilderness area's namesake White Canyon, then as it turns south, descending to a junction at the wilderness boundary at 14.0. (waypoint 03230) Turn left here onto a more improved dirt road. (Westbound: leave this road to the right at a carsonite post, heading over a low berm intended to deter motorized vehicles.) Reach a T-intersection at 14.2, and turn right. (A left would lead into White Canyon itself, offering perennial water in its secluded upper reaches.)

A sharp right off the main road at 14.8 leads a short distance to an artesian well in Walnut Canyon (waypoint 03240). Here a metal spigot pours forth year-round with fine-tasting, if tepid, water. Camping is possible in this impressive setting, but consider moving away from the road in the event of any late-night vehicle arrivals. (A small camp spot is located a short ways down Walnut Canyon from the well.)

From 14.8, the goal is to rejoin the finalized Arizona Trail layout near the Gila River beyond 18.5, which you'll accomplish via a combination of cross-country drainage travel and 4WD roads, again following the former route of the AZ Trail as you do so. From the artesian well, proceed south, bushwhacking in or alongside the drainage of Walnut Canyon, soon passing a potential shady campsite on the left. The well often flows for a distance, with possible pools ahead in the drainage, which becomes rockbound, more open and impressive. Near 15.1 a use trail climbs out of the wash at right, circumventing an awkward pour-over, then returns to the drainage within 100 yards. A narrow 4WD track crosses the wash at 15.6. Head left (east) here on the road, which soon turns south along a bench above the main drainage. A roadside campsite might prove appropriate for hikers, and offers fine views. The rocky 4WD now climbs roughly with switchbacks to a height-of-land junction at 16.3, where we follow it (the most prominent road) left. Passing over another height-of-land the road commences a steep descent among lush Sonoran desert vegetation to a wide sandy wash at 17.3. A left in the wash goes to "Section 30" spring in a mile, a few potential pools in a side drainage. Our route instead turns right, following the wash south.

At 18.4 (waypoint 03247) ignore a road that leaves the wash at right (west). You may find Arizona Trail markers and cairns in this area. (Westbounders, turn right up the wide wash to remain with the GET, or continue west to adhere to the finalized Arizona Trail layout which avoids the White Canyon Wilderness and the reliable artesian well en route.) At 18.5, now following the finalized AZ Trail layout once again, pick up a fenceline 2-track that exits the wash at left (east). (Or to visit the Gila River continue down the wash another 0.1 of a mile to the river's north bank.) At the second minor drainage crossing, at 18.8 (waypoint 03250), foot trail leaves the fenceline at left, heading northeast, soon passing a large cairn. The trail meanders along a scenic south-facing slope above the river, which soon enters a "narrows" that may have been created by the river's downcutting into a rising granite intrusion. In any case, the terrain soon becomes exceptionally bouldery, yet the trail has been built to a very high standard, a pleasure to walk.

The trail crosses several steep side drainages of The Spine (as shown on the map), generally on a well-graded contour. It then crosses a wide sandy wash via cairns at 21.9. (The tree-lined banks of the Gila River lie 150 yards south in this wash, perhaps the only good shade for several miles in either direction.) The trail then contours over to a powerline service 2-track road, reaching it at 22.7 (waypoint 03270) and turning right onto it just briefly before climbing away at left, again as singletrack. After gaining the crest of a minor ridge, the trail descends eastward to cross a prominent wash at 23.1 (waypoint 03350), then turns southeast, undulating in and out of minor drainages amidst lush Sonoran desert vegetation. At 24.2 (waypoint 03400), the trail reaches the northwest side of a fence corner and turns east. The terrain soon steepens as the contouring trail nears the Gila River, paralleling its north bank above it, then descending into the flood plain, where the fence line comes in again. Follow the narrow, mesquite-lined corridor east to another fence corner, passing through a gate at 24.5 (waypoint 03410). The sheltering mesquite and tamarisk forest in this area would offer rather attractive camping prospects (especially since the nearby train track and "Copper Basin railroad," servicing the Ray mine to the east, operates only a few times per day).

Recently-completed singletrack continues east, eventually switchbacking uphill along south-facing slopes granting the now-familiar, though never-tiresome, Gila River view. The trail then arcs north, traversing a complex of minor washes, and finally turns south to reach a dirt road and parking area at 27.7. (The trailhead parking area is slated for completion in 2012, at least in an official capacity.) Proceed east down the dirt road, passing a residence or two and crossing the often-dry (and, due to mining runoff, always non-potable) Mineral Creek, to reach paved Florence-Kelvin Highway at 28.3, just north of the Kelvin-Riverside Bridge (waypoint 04010, elev. 1781'). The tiny community of Kelvin is spread out along this 2-lane paved road immediately north of here. There are no services in Kelvin, but the owners of Wilson's Trailer Court - half a mile north - do allow hikers to obtain water from a spigot by a chain link fence along the side of their house. (No loitering please.) If the spigot is off for some reason, you might try at the nearby highway department building/yard, which reportedly has a water spigot accessible outside. The next potential water on route is about 8 miles ahead at a spring-fed trough in Ripsey Wash, reached in Segment 4.

Segment 2

Segment 4