G.E.T.
Guidebook
Segment 23: South Diamond Creek 10.8
miles
 Guidebook
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Segment
Length
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from
PHX
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to
ABQ
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Segment
Status
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Season
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10.8
mi.
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409
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finalized
& accessible
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spring,
summer, fall
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| Resources |
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OVERVIEW
MAP
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 |
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ELEVATION
PROFILE
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G.E.T. Topo Maps 62-64
Water Chart
Image Gallery: Album
7 |
Additional
maps:
Gila
National Forest (USFS)
visit
PLIC website
Land management agencies:
Gila
NF Wilderness Ranger District: (575) 536-2250
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| Beginning
access point |
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Ending
access point |
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FR 150 at Trail 707 trailhead. Join NM 35 north per Seg 22 Beginning Access Point "asterisked" directions. Follow NM 35 past community of Mimbres to Mimbres Ranger Station and continue ~5 miles to signed turnoff for FR 150 on right. Follow graded dirt FR 150 approx. 25 miles and turn right on signed 2WD FR 61 to Me Own fire/helitack site. Follow road clockwise around admin. site building and pass through gate by corral (toilet and water spigot nearby). Continue via 2-track 0.25 mi. to small turnout by Aldo Leopold Wilderness boundary at Trail 707.
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Trail 69 at CDT (Trail 74). This
segment ends within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness atop the Black Range Crest (Continental Divide), at a remote location
accessible only on foot or horseback. For the nearest vehicle
access to the east (north), see the Ending Access Point for Segment
24.
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PLEASE NOTE: THIS CHAPTER REMAINS UNFINISHED. SEGMENT OVERVIEW AND ROUTE DETAILS INFO BELOW ARE IN DRAFT FORM AND HIGHLIGHT ONLY THE ESSENTIALS NEEDED FOR NAVIGATING THIS SEGMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOPO MAP SET.
SEGMENT
OVERVIEW
Mellow tour of middle Gila country concludes in this segment with final push to the Continental Divide atop the Black Range, preceded by extended walk up perennial South Diamond Creek. Trail actually drops a sharp ~500 feet from pinyon-juniper-ponderosa mesa at first, into canyon of South Diamond Creek, then heads up the gentle canyon grade to regain lost elevation. Canyon harbors mixed riparian and conifer forest, with stately Douglas fir and Englemann spruce farther up-canyon, and beautiful wildflower meadows by mid-summer. Occasional fords of minor creek - often dry in places. Per usual in such canyons, occasionally vague trail due to limited use and sporadic flooding, or divergent trails in open meadows, but trail remains generally in flat-floored drainage and terrain is relatively open so navigation and progress come easily. However, marked contrast upon entering Burnt Canyon farther east, which is currently living up to its name, having burned quite severely within the past decade along with large swaths of the Black Range Crest and surrounding canyons. (We'll see more of this in Segment 24 - for worse and, in some respects, for the better.) Although navigation is no more challenging than elsewhere in the segment, and the trail has seen a work crew in recent years, nevertheless some timber continues to drop across the corridor, and rose thorn / New Mexico locust can make for unpleasant going at times. Thankfully this trail leaves the burn behind as it climbs in earnest the final mile to the Continental Divide.
ROUTE
DETAILS
Me Own Trail
707 begins as several parallel tracks, proceeds east in pinyon-juniper.
(Unsigned jct at 1.8 potentially confusing for westbounders,
who should continue straight, avoiding left fork.) East of
Me Own Hill, Tr 707 bends more northeast, but another trail -
less obvious at first but possible to take by mistake - goes to
Me Own Tank (stock pond). If so, head north from tank to rejoin
Tr 707 above mesa drop. Well graded descent via short switchbacks
reaches Tr 68 along south side of South Diamond Creek at 3.7.
(Westbounders, watch carefully for junction with Tr 707, marked
by low wooden signpost on left. Get water before starting ascent.)
Straightforward navigation east along Trail 68. Usually close to creek on one side or the other, but occasionally climbs above briefly to shortcut bends or narrows in first half of canyon walk. A few good established campsites en route, but possibilities are many. Don't despair if drainage dry at a particular crossing; some further ford likely to be wet, or in Burnt Canyon. (Don't camp in Burnt Canyon due to hazards from falling trees.)
Entrance to
Burnt Canyon / Trail 69 obvious due to severe burn terminating
literally right at confluence with South Diamond Creek Canyon
& Tr 68. Trail sign, nailed to nearby tree, less obvious.
In any case, head up Burnt Canyon to find trail within a few hundred
yards. Navigation again straightforward, though canyon narrower,
v-shaped, with some awkward fords of small creeklet (good water
despite burn), and increasing numbers of small and medium-sized
blowdowns to negotiate since last trail maintenance. Sometimes
a bit tedious, but not yet an intolerable ordeal at last check.
(Continuation of Tr 68 toward Divide not explored, but likely
also burnt, with similar challenges, especially approaching Divide
via Tr 67.) UPDATE: Trail 69 maintained / cleared of blowdowns
in fall 2009 - easy to follow all the way to the Divide.
Burn mostly ends where trail leaves Burnt Canyon per base map, begins easterly climb to Divide. (last water before Diamond Peak spring) Ascent is well graded through mixed conifer forest with just a few blowdowns across trail. Last 30 yards to Divide and junction with CDT rather obscure, overgrown. (Westbounders, immediately upon reaching low point / flat saddle south of Diamond Peak at waypoint 732, hopefully note old trail sign/post on right by cut / hollowed out logs. Turn right (west) to find good Trail 69 within 30 yards or so.)
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