Guidebook

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Segment 8: Santa Teresa Wilderness   37.9 miles

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Segment Length	from PHX	to ABQ	Segment Status	Season
37.9 mi.	141		finalized & accessible	spring & fall
Resources
OVERVIEW MAP ELEVATION PROFILE G.E.T. Topo Maps 21-28 Town Guide: Klondyke Water Chart Image Gallery: Album 3				Additional maps: Coronado N.F. Safford & Santa Catalina Ranger Districts (USFS) visit PLIC website Land management agency: Coronado National Forest Safford Ranger District (928) 428-4150

SEGMENT OVERVIEW

Jaw-dropping. This is the expression that came to mind (and face!) upon the author's first glimpse of Holdout Canyon in the Santa Teresa Wilderness. A wonderland of oddly shaped pinnacles, fins, and domes completely overwhelmed the scene before me, a vantage made all the more incredible by the unexpectedness of it all. Nothing I'd read about the area had quite prepared me for the wilderness of rock I was about to enter.

The Santa Teresa Mountains are comprised of an upthrusted and eroded granitic batholith similar in geology and appearance to the Wilderness of Rock area of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, though arguably on a grander scale. Like the Catalinas, the Santa Teresas are a Sky Island range, rising boldly from the surrounding desert and capped with an isolated montane community of flora and fauna. Yet the Santa Teresa Wilderness remains comparatively obscure and is seldom visited, partly owing to the sheer ruggedness of this range's splendor. (Legend has it that the name Holdout Canyon recalls Old West outlaws who once eluded justice among the maze of boulders here.) The other reason for the range's modern-day esoteria relates to trailhead access. Many of the forest roads that approach the Wilderness boundary cross private inholdings with locked gates and no public access, while the few remaining trailheads are accessible only by high-clearance 4WD. (2WD vehicles can access this segment near its end points, but foot travel is then required to reach the Forest and Wilderness boundaries.)

Perhaps not surprisingly, foot trails in the Santa Teresa Wilderness are little-used and run the gamut from rough-but-followable to abandoned and undiscernable. This segment of the GET attempts to navigate both the trail condition and access concerns, and the upshot is a fairly long, rugged and challenging walk with several options for travel available. If you're acclimated to hiking in the wilder reaches of southern Arizona's mountain ranges and are comfortable with the possibility of occasionally losing the trail in remote terrain, then by all means consider following this segment's main route through the Santa Teresa Wilderness. Otherwise you should consider following an easier, alternate route around the Wilderness (the Buford Hill alternate) in order to complete this segment. (Those prepared to meet this Wilderness area's challenges will be duly rewarded for their efforts, as veteran GET hikers will attest.)

Flowing surface water is sometimes in short supply in the modestly-sized Santa Teresas, though the community of Klondyke and nearby Fourmile Campground have water available year-round, and springs, stock ponds and troughs are encountered sporadically along the route. Most thru-hikers will probably also want to send a resupply parcel to Klondyke, which is located directly along a suggested alternate route. Thru-hikers should plan to budget about two and a half days' worth of food between Klondyke and segment's end if going through the Wilderness (not including any down time in Klondyke environs).

ROUTE DETAILS

In essence, there are two alternate routes in this segment - the Turkey Creek alternate near the beginning that offers a more adventurous way of hiking into Klondyke for those so inclined, and the Buford Hill alternate that detours around the Santa Teresa Wilderness and its sometimes rough, challenging trail conditions. Both alternate routes begin or end at Klondyke, which itself is 2.4 miles south of the main GET route. (Refer to the Overview Map in order to visualize this.) Some hikers will at least want to use the Buford Hill alternate. Using this alternate alone, the segment's total mileage is about 16 miles shorter than as stated at the head of this page.

ALTERNATE ROUTE: TURKEY CREEK

ELEVATION PROFILE

The Turkey Creek alternate begins 1.8 miles west of this segment's starting point (the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness east trailhead). Hikers planning to resupply in Klondyke, or who intend to make use of the Buford Hill alternate route, or who are simply looking for an adventurous route up a remote, water-sculpted canyon that harbors a cliff dwelling, all may find this alternate route preferable to the initial, roaded portion of the main route in this segment. The Turkey Creek alternate heads south up Turkey Creek, then turns east to follow 4WD roads over a bench, before joining 2WD road in Fourmile Canyon and terminating at Klondyke.

From the junction of Aravaipa Canyon and Turkey Creek, the alternate route heads south up the canyon of Turkey Creek via rough 4WD track. The creek does not always flow, but the likelihood increases farther up the canyon. At 1.3 miles, a short trail leads to a cliff dwelling. Built by prehistoric Salado indians, the dwelling is over 700 years old and is among the best preserved structures of its kind in the Southwest.

At 2.6 (waypoint 07510) the rough, 4WD "Rug Road" leaves the canyon, climbing to the west. This road is part of the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness bypass route detailed in Segment 6.

Continue up Turkey Creek's canyon, veering left at a 4WD junction (the right fork heads toward a corral near the mouth of Oak Grove Canyon). Our track soon joins the sandy wash of Turkey Creek itself. Within a half mile the canyon narrows, with sheer and colorful cliffs on display. A carsonite post sometimes in place here indicates the way ahead is open to foot and equestrian use only. The cross-country hiking ahead is rugged, but the canyon winds pleasantly in the company of tall cottonwoods, willows, and ash, sometimes with pools or flowing water in spots. Using care to follow the main drainage of Turkey Creek as it branches, reach an area where the canyon floor is choked with massive boulders shorn from the cliffs, at 5.6 (waypoint 07525) - a fun little obstacle course.

Join a 4WD track beyond the corral near 6.3, which soon climbs away from Turkey Creek on the left (east). In a mile reach a junction on a ridge, and turn right (south). Enchanting scenery extends in every direction, and includes the Santa Teresa and Pinaleno ranges toward the east, Galiuros to the south, and the fantastically eroded forms in upper Turkey Creek nearby. The rough road bends northeast around the head of a drainage near 8.4 (waypoint 07560), then turns southeast to begin a descent into Fourmile Canyon. Reach graded, unpaved Fourmile Creek Road at 10.4 (waypoint 07570), and turn left (east), passing Fourmile Canyon Campground in 1.4 miles (with water and toilets - see Town Guide). The alternate route ends at the road junction in Klondyke, at 12.7. From here, the main GET route is 2.4 miles north via Aravaipa-Klondyke Road.

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To instead follow the main route from Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness east trailhead, proceed eastbound on dirt 2WD Aravaipa Canyon Road in Nature Conservancy land, where camping is not allowed. The pale cliffs of "The Chimney" rise prominently from the south bank of nearby Aravaipa Creek, while shady cottonwood branches arch over the road. At 0.3 miles, the road leaves Nature Conservancy land temporarily, and half a mile later passes the historic Salazar family church, with a "visitors welcome" sign out front. Just beyond, at 0.8, you may encounter a gate across Aravaipa Canyon Road. A landowner at the adjacent house has in the past claimed ownership of the road across her property, though as of this writing the matter appears to have been resolved. In any case, if the gate is closed but not locked, then open it, pass on through, and be sure to close it behind you. If it happens to be locked, this is intended to deter vehicles rather than pedestrians, so do proceed to climb over the (low, manageable) gate unless instructed otherwise.

Beyond the gate, re-enter Nature Conservancy land, fording a usually shallow Aravaipa Creek along the road at 1.5. The surrounding hillside vegetation consists of mesquite and juniper, a marked change from Aravaipa Canyon and evidence of the route's departure from the Sonoran desert, which here does not extend east of the Galiuro Mountains.

Pause to feed the Detroit Dinosaur at 2.9 - apparently he'll take scraps. A side wash just west of here offers easiest access to Aravaipa Creek and a final fill-up before the creek typically runs dry eastward. Leave signed Nature Conservancy property again at 3.9, (Cobra Ranch, which you now enter, was recently purchased by the Conservancy) then cross the now-dry creekbed at 4.3. Beyond the bend, an unmarked forest road heads north at 4.5 (waypoint 08080). Older Forest Service maps label this road as FR 277, but FR 277 is actually reached at 5.0 (waypoint 08090) along with a sign for "Landman Camp." Continue straight on what's now known as Aravaipa-Klondyke Road, with the pinnacled profile of the Santa Teresa Mountains now looming ahead.

The main GET route passes signed FR 94 on the left at 5.6 (waypoint 08100) (re-signed in 2010 as '941' on a carsonite post by the junction). A fairly reliable stock trough is located half a mile north on this road. Continuing on Aravaipa-Klondyke Rd, in less than 50 ft reach a junction with an unsigned dirt 2-track on the left (east) (waypoint 08110). From this junction, the community of Klondyke is 2.4 miles south on Aravaipa-Klondyke Rd, with water, maildrop service (no outgoing mail), seasonal lodging, and a campground nearby. (See the Town Guide for more info on Klondyke.)

Beyond 5.6, the main GET route becomes somewhat challenging to follow within the Santa Teresa Wilderness, where an occasionally vague, cairned trail in Holdout Canyon demands decent navigational skills and a willingness to dedicate some extra time and effort here. For those so prepared, this Wilderness route can provide a rewarding and memorable experience. For those less inclined, refer to the description for the Buford Hill alternate route at the end of this chapter, which begins in Klondyke, follows a network of dirt roads, and in 13.9 miles ends back at the main route along Klondyke Road at the interface of segments 8 and 9.

At 5.6, the main GET turns left (east) onto the sandy 2-track. (This road is reportedly ok for pedestrian use, despite any indications to the contrary.) The road soon joins a wash. Proceed east up the wash, then where the wash branches, keep to the right side to 6.2 (waypoint 08115), where the now-well-defined 4WD road climbs away. The road provides a steady, moderate grade along the crest of a low ridge, with far-ranging views toward the Galiuro Mountains beyond Aravaipa Valley and to the Santa Teresa Mountains ahead. After a brief dip near 7.7, climbing resumes, with a switchback along the road. At 8.3 reach a 4-way junction and keep straight, continuing uphill along the ridge. (The left fork leads to an unreliable stock pond in 0.2.)

At 8.8, reach the Coronado National Forest boundary by a gate. A faded wooden sign indicates "Reef Basin Trail 68" along with mileages to Reef Tank and Holdout Creek. Fifty feet beyond the gate at a cairn, turn right off the road onto Trail 68. The bench-cut trail traverses northeast among prickly pear, agave, ocotillo and mesquite to reach the drainage of Laurel Canyon at 9.2 (waypoint 08140) (sometimes flowing in spring, or with pools). Trail tread briefly becomes obscure, but there are occasional cairns, as it crosses the drainage and heads up along its sandy east bank to enter a steep-walled box. Here, as the drainage bends left, look for the trail where it climbs away at right. The rough trail winds over a low ridge, then soon returns to the drainage (a right prong of Laurel Canyon). It proceeds directly across the rocky wash, then uphill along a ridge, passing through an open gate at 9.5. Again the trail returns to the drainage (another prong), continuing straight across it. Now it passes over a height-of-land, then proceeds north to enter an open flat. Cairns may mark where it soon crosses a wash. Beyond, Trail 68 enters a forested pinyon pine environment, then ends back in the open at Reef Tank, a large, seasonal stock pond that may harbor waterfowl when wet (10.2, elev. 4980'). (Westbounders, leaving Reef Tank, watch for where the trail soon splits and take the right fork, avoiding the stock path that continues straight and becomes increasingly vague.)

Alternate route within the Santa Teresa Wilderness: All trails within this Wilderness area can be considered primitive in character and may be difficult to follow for brief stretches at a time, and this may be particularly true of Holdout Canyon. Despite being intensely scenic, this canyon nonetheless can be bypassed by following the dashed blue line on the mapset from Reef Tank, via 4WD roads north and east into Black Rock Canyon. From the Wilderness boundary at a fenceline, a rough but obvious swath descends steeply into this canyon. Trail 292 then heads east down the canyon's main, sandy drainage without tread or signage, but also without any routefinding concerns. (Westbound, just be careful to choose the correct fork heading up the wash.) The total distance is comparable to that through Holdout Canyon. Normally we'd recommend this Black Rock Canyon alternate only as a contingecy if Holdout Canyon proves problematic enough that you feel compelled to backtrack.

To follow the main GET route toward Holdout Canyon from Reef Tank, walk clockwise around the tank to its north side. (Westbounders, unsigned Trail 68 leaves the tank on its south side.) Camping is possible here, and a 4WD road that ends nearby is little-used by vehicles. A small cairn may indicate where unsigned Holdout Canyon Trail 69 climbs away to the northeast (waypoint 08190). Follow the trail over a minor north-south ridge, then down along its east side to cross a shallow, brushy drainage. The trail climbs and contours to another low ridge, then again across a drainage. It repeats the theme one more time, then at 10.8 (waypoint 08200) enters the (unsigned) Santa Teresa Wilderness and heads southeast up a more prominent drainage among pinyons and manzanita to crest a broad saddle at 11.4 (waypoint 08210, elev. 5180'). Views begin to open toward the higher terrain beyond, while Holdout Canyon remains tantalizingly just out of sight. Descend gradually east from the saddle, where the trail joins another drainage. Look carefully for where the trail then leaves the rocky drainage on the left, contouring east away from it to reach Holdout Overlook at 11.8. The view down Holdout Canyon and of Pinnacle Ridge beyond is truly awe-inspiring, the myriad rock formations a testament to the uncanny forces of geology and weathering.

Now Trail 69 contours southeast with the help of occasional small cairns, descending gradually, often over bedrock, to reach a dry, rockbound tributary of Holdout Creek at 12.2. Cairns guide the way across it, then soon back again to its north side. Ahead, the amply-cairned trail passes through a gate then crosses a broad area of bedrock among a haphazard array of boulders. The prominent rock face to the east is called Holdout Tower, with other area features known (among the rock climbing community) by such whimsical names as Zorro, Great Wide Face, and The Shmoo.

The trail descends to a minor drainage at 12.7 (waypoint 08213), just north of its confluence with Holdout Creek. The trail continues across the side drainage and then reaches Holdout Creek (waypoint 08214), which often flows in this vicinity. (Beyond in this description, the word "creek" will be used to refer to this, the main drainage of Holdout Canyon, whether flowing or not. From here to its end in Black Rock Canyon, Trail 69 becomes more challenging to follow consistently, though it never strays more than a quarter-mile from the creek.)

Proceed down the left (north) side of the drainage, watching for where the trail heads away from the creek again. The trail climbs above the drainage to contour along a hillside, generally paralleling the drainage eastward. Here it enters a potentially confusing area where the route is sometimes defined only by small cairns. Avoid the temptation to return to the creek, which has pour-offs ahead. Instead, look carefully for cairns as the brushy trail undulates across several minor side drainages. In particular, be on the lookout for a cairned metal survey marker on the left, where the trail turns sharply left (north) to circumvent an area of impassable domes and gullies to the east.

Now the trail, cairned and flagged, descends into a forested side drainage. It leaves the drainage at right to climb through a little notch, then down the bouldery drainage on its opposite side. The trail leaves this drainage on the left, then rejoins it farther down. It then makes a somewhat obscure right turn (south) into another drainage, which it soon leaves at left. Finally the trail exits the maze of rock and returns to Holdout Creek, reaching it by a cairn at 13.8 (waypoint 08215). (Westbounders, walking up the creek, watch for the cairn on the right.)

Walk cross-country down the creek to where the drainage forks at 13.9 (waypoint 08216) and take the left fork, northward. As the drainage bends east, remain on its left (north) side. From here to 14.6 you'll encounter some semblance of a paralleling trail back in the woods alongside the creek, interspersed with sections of drainage walking; keep an eye out for cairns wherever the trail meets the creek. Initially it returns to the drainage again in only 100 yards. Fifty yards beyond, the trail leaves the drainage once more on the left, at a cairn atop a rock (14.1, waypoint 08217). Still the trail remains near the creek and returns to it again, crossing it here to its south side, which it follows briefly. It comes back to the drainage at a bend, hopping the creek while remaining on the south bank, then returns and crosses the creek to its north bank. From here to 14.6 the trail is either on the north bank or, where obliterated by deadfall, just head down the drainage. The trail leaves the creek decisively at 14.6 (waypoint 08219) on its north side.

Trail 69 is better established now, turning north to enter a brushy, rocky flat, with expansive views toward Pinnacle Ridge and Cottonwood Mountain. It bends northeast across bedrock, with cairns, rising and dipping across a few minor drainages, before descending to intersect riparian Holdout Creek again at 15.1 (waypoint 08220). A north-south side drainage joins here on the left. Walk up the side drainage 20 feet to find a resumption of trail on the right. (Westbounders, walk down the drainage to Holdout Creek and look for trail heading up the bank at the 2 o'clock position.)

Our trail soon turns northeast, winding up alongside a little gully and over a height-of-land. Beyond, low live oak scrub forms little corridors down the eroded hillside; be careful to determine which one is the trail, which turns northeast here and descends a bit. It then climbs north to a rockbound perch, and turns east along it, with more good outlooks. Now the trail works its way north again, undulating toward a fenceline on the right, which it follows, climbing to a gate at 15.7. It then descends awkwardly beyond the gate over a gravelly surface of eroded granite, passes over another minor height-of-land, then follows a network of steep, eroded gullies north. Flagging may indicate which gully to follow, though it doesn't really matter, as all of them soon reach the same destination: a prominent east-west drainage. Join this drainage and follow it east a short ways to its intersection with Holdout Creek (waypoint 08228). Turn left and walk cross-country down the creek to its confluence with Black Rock Canyon, at 16.0 (waypoint 08230). (Westbounders turn left up Holdout Canyon and walk along the right side of the wash 150 yards to an obvious side drainage on the right, possibly marked with a cairn. Turn into the side drainage and look for trail which climbs out at left.)

An old corral and pasture in Black Rock Canyon across from the confluence would make for a scenic rest break or campsite, with fine views in a pretty, open area. The way ahead is much more obvious now, as our route joins the wide wash in Black Rock Canyon, following it eastbound, cross-country. This is so-called Trail 292, as shown on the Forest Service map. If the wash isn't flowing you may still find pools ahead. Keep to the drainage, following the path of least resistance among the sand and cobbles, and watching for coues whitetail deer and the tracks of black bear, coyote, and mountain lion. Near 17.3, find an easy way around a fence across the wash, which marks the boundary between National Forest Wilderness and the BLM's companion North Santa Teresa Wilderness, which we now enter. Pay close attention now, as the suggested GET route soon leaves Black Rock Canyon's wash at the 2nd side wash junction on the left (north) beyond the fenceline (17.5, waypoint 08240). (Note that Trail 292 continues down Black Rock Wash, eventually reaching private land, no trespassing allowed. However, en route it leads to a junction with Gardner Trail 67 on the right side of the drainage (waypoint 08250), which is hard to locate, but offers a possible side trip to Sycamore Spring and a pair of spring-fed tanks beyond scenic Mud Spring Mesa. Trail 67 becomes unfollowable beyond there and is not a practical thru-route across the Santa Teresas.)

From 17.5 to 22.9 the suggested GET route represents a relocation due to the concerns of private landowners bordering on the North Santa Teresa Wilderness. This relo is located entirely on public land within the North Santa Teresa Wilderness and adjacent BLM parcels. Although portions of the route are less than ideal, nevertheless if you follow the map (and this description) you will walk a legal right-of-way. From 17.5 walk north up the sandy side wash for about a half mile, with occasional easy pour-offs then a more prominent one which can be safely skirted on its east side. Just above, the wash splits (32 56.191  110 12.905). Leave the wash here and head cross-country up the intervening ridge to a junction with a 2-track road at 18.1 (waypoint 08300 or thereabouts). Here the road, also called Fisher Basin Trail 64, bends north; follow it to a t-junction of roads at 18.9 (waypoint 08310) and turn left (west), passing near a stock pond of unknown reliability (as usual on public land, no camping is allowed within 1/4 mile of developed water). From the pond head north, cross-country, in hummocky terrain, to intersect an obvious wash (such as at waypoint 08315). Walk down-drainage, east and northeast, negotiating a fenceline (westbounders note a split in the wash about halfway along and take the left fork), to where the wash crosses a dirt track - FR 284 - at 20.1 (waypoint 08317). (From here, South Fork Spring is about a mile away to the northwest, off-route, and as-yet unvisited.)

Follow FR 284 east to a t-junction of roads, and here turn right (south) on signed FR 679. At 20.8 reach another road junction and turn left (east). Leave this road at 20.9 and head southeast, negotiating a wire fence (easiest at around 32 57.314  110 11.639) then walk east, cross-country up an open slope, admiring the impressive views all around. Round the south-facing side of the ridge crest until a stock pond becomes visible and approachable to the south among some rocks (waypoint 08322), then make your way downhill to reach that location. A dirt access road leads south from the ponds to the wider, graded track of FR 94, reached at 21.6 (waypoint 08324). Turn left (east) on this road, here in BLM land as usual in spite of any signs to the contrary. (Don't camp along this road; wait until you're back in the Wilderness again just ahead.) Follow FR 94 until the main, paralleling wash crosses it, then turn right (south), reentering the North Santa Teresa Wilderness, and proceed cross-country for about one quarter mile, as dictated by the terrain, to waypoint 08326. Turn due east - either at this waypoint or slightly to the south, per the terrain. Cross over the wide drainage of Black Rock Wash again, (often dry here) and continue east up the opposite slope until intersecting a lesser side drainage. Follow the drainage southeast a short distance to intersect an obvious pack trail at 22.9 (waypoint 08328). This is an extension of Cottonwood Mountain Trail 66. Turn right (south) and follow the trail as it continues up the canyon bottom. (Westbounders, leave the trail at waypoint 08328 and walk cross-country down the drainage.)

Trail 66 is somewhat rough but should be followable as it remains generally alongside the drainage to its head, where it bends right (west). (En route pass near an old rock-and-mortar dam in the drainage, where you may find pools in wetter times.) The trail then meanders and switchbacks up to the open crest of a north-south ridge. It heads south along the ridge, which broadens into something of a mesa. The trail follows alongside a fenceline, passing through a gate in a fence corner at 24.4 (waypoint 08330). Now in the Coronado National Forest / Santa Teresa Wilderness once more, the trail soon becomes better defined as it descends south, switchbacking along a steep hillside, then across a riparian drainage. Next it climbs to pass an old metal tank and smaller trough (both likely dry) at 25.1. Ahead the trail reaches a junction (look for the wooden signpost by a tree) at 25.4. Here a side trail (better defined than the main trail) heads east into a corral, with several circular troughs located 50 yards north, downhill along the back fenceline, by the drainage. This is generally known as Kane Spring, although the map shows the spring farther north. Camping is possible in the corral, or by the shady drainage. Trail 66 continues right at the signed junction, south, the less obvious of the two forks. (Westbounders, turn right to visit the troughs, left for Trail 66.)

Climb steadily along the rocky but well-engineered trail, with occasional switchbacks. Reach a gate at 26.9, where the trail emerges from shady pinyon and live oak cover to cross over a ridge. To the east, a vantage exends to the broad Gila Valley far below near Safford, with the desert Gila Mountains beyond. The trail now enters the watershed of Fourmile Canyon, contouring southward along an east-facing slope. Here and beyond the Santa Teresa Mountains burned sporadically in the late 1980's, the vegetation now well into regeneration but with many old pinyon snags still standing in places. After crossing a few side drainages, the trail - recently cleared of blowdown in one area (and otherwise fine) - reaches a potentially confusing junction at 28.2. Here a side trail heads east downhill to the main drainage, then is lost where it must head down the drainage to Fourmile Spring and corral. Our Trail 66 instead turns right, south, and heads through some obscuring manzanita over a height-of-land (brushed-out and obvious in 2010). It then slabs west, downhill, to follow alongside the main drainage of Fourmile Canyon, which flows seasonally and often has pools. (Westbounders reach a junction beyond the height-of-land - options left, right or (seemingly) straight - and turn left, contouring along the slope.)

Cross a right fork of the drainage at 28.5 and turn right. (A side trail turns left down the drainage, reaching an attractive camping area among ponderosas near a confluence of drainages.) (Westbounders note that Trail 66 turns left to cross the drainage before the confluence.) Proceed up alongside the drainage, leaving it at a switchback above a cairn, the first of several switchbacks as Trail 66 climbs west between the two main forks here at the head of Fourmile Canyon. Look for flagging indicating the correct turns along the ill-maintained switchbacks. Eventually the trail initiates a sidehill traverse, (beyond waypoint 08370) where benched, though somewhat eroded, tread works its way gradually up to a ridge crest at 29.5.

Atop the ridge, (at waypoint 08380) find an old wooden signboard on the ground by a cairn, cryptically labelled "Black Canyon Trail 66." (Westbounders leave the ridge on its left soon beyond the signboard.) Now the trail heads west rather vaguely along the brushy, partially-burned ridge, assisted by cairns initially. It stays generally within sight of the canyon to the north, passing an old fire ring along a forested swale on the ridge. Our ridge merges with another from the left, where the trail meets a wire fence (waypoint 08390). The trail continues up the ridge, with the fence on its left (disregard how the map shows otherwise). After two-tenths of a mile, the ridgecrest trail leaves the fenceline, and with the help of cairns tops out on the open crest of Cottonwood Mountain, at 30.2 (GPS: 32 53.068' N  110 11.299' W, elev. 7250'). (Westbounders look for an important cairn here indicating where to leave the main ridge, east-southeast. The trail hops little buttressing ridges several times before each peters out, then settles on a more prominent, forested one for a while.)

Marked with occasional cairns and flagging, the vague trail proceeds southwest along the obvious height-of-land, affording restricted views north. Be sure to head cross-country the short distance over to the edge (30.3, waypoint 08395) for one of the most spectacular outlooks along the entire GET. Here, beyond the rugged reef of rock comprising the upper flanks of Cottonwood Mountain, the range drops dramatically away to Mud Spring Mesa and Black Rock Canyon. To the left rises the serrated profile of Pinnacle Ridge, framing the rockbound chaos of Holdout Canyon, partially hidden from view, while away to the north stands Cobre Grande (Big Copper) Peak. A memorable, albeit possibly windswept, camp could be made here at the overlook.

Trail 66 keeps left of a little gully, avoiding the prominent knoll to the northwest. Now, at 30.4 (waypoint 08400) it leaves the crest and its scattered semi-burned stand of ponderosas, and heads southwest on good, obvious tread toward Cottonwood Canyon. (The junction with defunct Trail 67 is generally unfindable and of no concern.) Our trail descends via a sidehill traverse with occasional switchbacks. Campfire rocks have been arranged to form a windbreak by the final switchback, a small flat area offering good views out to the Galiuro Mountains and ahead along the GET toward the Pinalenos. Continue downhill on the rocky trail, as the grade now steepens a bit.

Approaching the main drainage of Cottonwood Canyon the trail heads left around a brushy knoll, then turns sharply right by a cairn, briefly climbing along the knoll then descending. The Wilderness boundary is undefined, if it is reached at waypoint 08500 as the map set indicates. Trail 66 now joins the attractive riparian drainage, which flows seasonally. After crossing back and forth via cairns, at 32.7 the trail climbs around a 30-foot-high pour-off, impressive after a good rainstorm. Head toward the base of the "falls" to find a pool or two in the drainage, unless conditions are droughty. Dabble with the drainage again for a short ways, noting where a potential camp could be made among the cottonwoods and sycamores, just before the trail crosses the drainage to climb away up the north bank. The trail now generally parallels the drainage southwest, ending by a turnout at 33.4, where a sign indicates our definitive exit from the Santa Teresa Wilderness. A rough 4WD track - FR 677 - continues south along the drainage, with good level ground about for pleasant camping. Follow it to the Coronado National Forest boundary at a brown metal gate (34.0, waypoint 08510). (Sand Tank must be dry or was not noted.)

Now in state land, the eroded 4WD track undulates south among a lush high-desert chaparral community, away from Cottonwood Canyon, to a junction at 34.4. Here at a fork, the somewhat wider track of FR 677 turns right (west), while our route stays straight, now essentially a quad track. (Westbounders continue north from the junction.) Our route forks again momentarily - take the right fork here (the two tracks meet up again in a short ways). Now the track turns northeast and climbs to reach some interesting outcrops, with sweeping views south of the expansive low country separating the Santa Teresas and Pinalenos.

Descend to cross the drainage of Cottonwood Creek once more. The little-used track briefly climbs away on the east side of the drainage, then returns to cross it again. It follows along its west side, somewhat obscurely, then crosses back to the east side, where it heads laterally away from the main drainage in an area of willows (35.9, waypoint 08525). After another brief climb-around, the 2-track comes back to the drainage by a short bedrock pour-off, unreliable in drier times. However, there are often pools below the pour-off among sculpted granite boulders, although the tanks and springs specified on the map aren't really obvious per se. Unfortunately the pools here tend to be heavily polluted by stock animals. The track remains generally near the drainage, passing through an open gate at 36.6. Despite the frequent cattle activity in the area, okay camping prospects can be found among the tall sycamores in the wide sandy flood plain. After several more crossings of the drainage a white metal gate comes into view on the west bank, with another on the opposite side. Here a better road crosses the drainage, entering private property to the east. (Don't camp near here.) Instead, head over to the west bank and look for an opening in the fenceline less than 100 feet south of the gate, by a corral, at 37.2 (waypoint 08530). Pass on through and return to the road you just crossed, now beyond the drainage of Cottonwood Canyon. (Westbounders reach the posted white gate along the road and head right to find the unposted opening in the fence.)

The 2WD dirt road heads southwest up a wide wash, then in 0.2 climbs away toward the south, reaching a junction with 2-lane, graded dirt Klondyke Road at 37.9, the end of Segment 8 (waypoint 09010, elev. 4800'). This junction is also the end of the Buford Hill alternate route, which begins in Klondyke and ultimately follows Klondyke Road eastbound.

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ALTERNATE ROUTE: BUFORD HILL

ELEVATION PROFILE

This route detours around the Santa Teresa Wilderness. Beginning in the village of Klondyke, 2.4 mi south of the main GET at mile 5.6, it follows a network of dirt roads, and in 13.9 miles ends back at the main route along Klondyke Road at the interface of segments 8 and 9.

From the junction of Klondyke Rd and Fourmile Creek Rd in Klondyke (2.4 miles south of the main GET at milepoint 0.0 on the Buford Hill alternate route), proceed southeast on wide, graded 2WD Klondyke Rd to 3.2 (waypoint 08720). Turn left (east) here onto a gated access road through private property (note the sign-in register and requirement to sign in before proceeding). Pass through another gate at 3.4, now in state land, where camping is allowed away from developed water sources.

Our 4WD road follows Buford Canyon intially, then turns obviously into Road Canyon at their confluence. At 5.5, it climbs left out of this canyon's wash to gain a viewful ridge. (Avoid remaining in the wash on the no-go road shown on the Topo Map Set.) Pass near a couple of stock troughs on the right, then reach a junction with a more primitive road forking left (north) at 6.6 (waypoint 08770). (This road leads to a potential camping area in a quarter mile or so, with far-ranging views.) Our route keeps right on the main 4WD road, and passes through a metal gate at 7.1. Note the prominent hulk of Buford Hill rising to the north, framed by the serrated profile of Pinnacle Ridge in the Santa Teresa Wilderness. If only a trail ran along that ridge!

Ignore a lesser road on the left at 7.7 and another at 8.0, the latter of which descends into South Fork Buford Canyon. Our 4WD road now commences an extended counter-clockwise bend (another side road heads right at 8.6). At 9.1 it reaches a windmill with two large cisterns and a trough, which is now served by a solar array and was full and clear during recent observations. (A little pipe-fed spring pool alongside one of the tanks is a nice touch, presumably thanks to the rancher.) At 9.4 (waypoint 08820) cross the small drainage containing Cherry Tree Spring, a few potential pools of water in the drainage bedrock down-canyon. The little riparian canyon shows no signs of vehicle use, and would allow camping in places.

At the next junction - milepoint 9.7 - turn right by a lone juniper in the road. Reach a t-intersection with signed, graded FR 677 at 10.5 (waypoint 08840) and turn right. (A left on FR 677 would lead to the main GET route in 1.1 miles and an option for accessing Trail 66 into the Santa Teresa Wilderness or potential water in lower Cottonwood Canyon.)

FR 677 proceeds southeast around prominent Oak Butte. En route, pass through a metal gate, take the left fork at 11.1, and continue on FR 677 to its end at Klondyke Road (12.7). (Westbounders note that FR 677 is signed "Sand Tank/Trail 66 4 miles.") Here turn left (east) and follow wide, graded Klondyke Road 1.2 easy (though shadeless) miles to a rejoining of the main route at the end of Segment 8 (13.9, waypoint 09010). (Here, marked by a white, ranch-type metal sign labelled "MC" (or perhaps "JM") a lesser dirt track heads north, along with the main route westbound in Segment 8.)

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Segment 7

Segment 9