Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Salt River Ramble Day Hike
| when |
Trip Report :
December 22, 2007
|
| where |
Goldfield Mountains |
| the hike |
Long ago, somebody built a horse trail from the Salt River to the ridge
overlooking the junction of Gateway Canyon and Rhyodacite Canyon. The trail,
long abandoned, is one of the most scenic routes in the northern Goldfields.
We’ll walk along the river, cross the bajada west of Sky Island, and
return on the easy part of the Gateway Canyon Trail. There will be towering
cliffs, volcanic rock formations, dense forest by the river, and the river
rock mystery.
|
| distance |
6 miles |
| time |
4-5 hours |
| EC |
+400' elevation change |
| elevations |
1380' (Salt River) to 1610' (trail junction) |
| type |
figure-6 |
| starting at |
| Blue Point Trailhead |
33° 33.054' N, 111° 34.847' W [NAD27]
|
|
| on trail |
100% —
Horse Trail, Jeep Trail, Gateway Canyon Trail |
| rating |
"C"
Rate yourself as a hiker. |
| dogs? |
no |
| cost |
Sharing gas expenses with the driver.
The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member. |
| weather |
Apache Junction |
| meet |
8:00 AM at
Blue Point Trailhead by the Salt River.
|
| drive |
| • |
Go east on the Superstition Freeway (US 60) to Ellsworth Road, exit 191.
|
| • |
Take that exit, turn left and go north 11.3 miles, past Usery Mountain Park
to the Bush Highway.
|
| • |
Turn right on the Bush Highway and go 1.8 miles east
to Blue Point Trailhead, which is on the right.
|
| • |
If you reach the bridge over the Salt River, turn around and go back 1/3 mile.
|
|