Passage #17 - Alamo Canyon

Location:  Tonto National Forest Boundary to Picketpost Trailhead

Length:  12.2 miles

Southern Trailhead:  Tonto National Forest Boundary
- GPS Coordinates: 33.18052° N, 111.11893° W

Northern Trailhead:  Picketpost Trailhead - FR 231
- GPS Coordinates:  33.27184° N, 111.17643° W

Trail Route Description:  This passage begins at a point west of the White Canyon Wilderness on the Tonto National Forest boundary about 0.6 miles due east of Ajax Peak. From here the trail heads west and north for about 1.5 miles, eventually dropping into a two-track road and drainage. Follow the drainage north for a very short distance until it turns left/west and continue to follow this rocky two-track for another 1.5 miles to the junction of Telegraph Wash. At this point there is new signage installed. Exit the two-track and follow the signage, which veers off to the right for about 0.1 miles in the wash; then exit the drainage to the right at a newly constructed cairn and carsonite.
From here new singletrack heads 1.7 miles up to FR 4. After crossing the road, the trail turns to the north and works its way up to Alamo Canyon (about 5 miles). It now parallels to the west of Picketpost Mountain, crosses the Alamo Canyon drainage, and reaches the Picketpost Trailhead.

See the map on the right for an overview of the recommended route (click on it for a larger version).

Difficulty:  Moderate

Season(s):  Fall, Winter and Spring

Water:  There is seasonal water at Trough Springs, about a tenth of a mile north of where the trail crosses FR 4.

Notes/Warnings:

• All water along this passage should be purified prior to use.

Resources:

• USGS Topographic Maps: Teapot Mountain, Mineral Mountain and Picketpost Mountain.
• Tonto National Forest map.

• BLM Information Center maps.

For more information, contact:

• The Passage Steward
• Tonto National Forest, Globe Ranger District, 7680 S. Six Shooter Canyon Road, Globe, AZ 88501   (928) 425-7189.
• Bureau of Land Management, San Pedro Field Office, 1763 Paseo San Luis, Sierra Vista, AZ 85634   (520) 439-6402.
• BLM Information Center  (602) 417-9300.

Current Trail Information:
4/2009 - The Tonto National Forest is in the process of moving much of the route of this passage from two-track roads and washes to single-track trail.