Location

  • Oak Tree Canyon to Lakes Road

Length

  • 13.1 miles

Southern Access Point: Oak Tree Canyon

  • GPS Coordinates: 31.81072° N, 110.72330° W
  • NOTE: This trailhead is not directly accessible by vehicles. The trailhead is approximately 0.7 miles west of the access point (31.80926° N, 110.71026° W) along a two-track road.

Access

From the intersection of I-10 and AZ 83, drive south on AZ 83 to 0.8 miles past milepost 44. Pull off on the right (west) at an unmarked road (FR 4072). A gate prevents vehicles from proceeding very far. Park in this area and walk along the fence about 0.8 miles west to an AZT trailhead sign.

Northern Access Point: Lakes Road

  • GPS Coordinates: 31.90910° N, 110.67151° W
  • NOTE: This trailhead is not directly accessible by vehicles. The trailhead is approximately 0.6 miles west of the access point (31.90857° N, 110.66196° W) along a two-track road.

Access

From the intersection of I-10 and AZ 83, drive south for 7.2 miles on AZ 83 to milepost 51.4. Turn right (west) and go through a gate on an unmarked, rough dirt road about 0.6 miles to the AZT. This road requires a 4WD high-clearance vehicle, or park near AZ 83 and walk in (recommended).

Trail Route Description

This passage begins in Oak Tree Canyon (3/4 mile west of Highway 83) on FR 4072. The trail climbs slightly up to a gate and then begins a long, gradual descent. It crosses FR 4064, passes through another gate, works its way around a small hill, and then descends into Barrel Canyon. After crossing FR 231 the trail climbs up to a gate on a pass and then drops down into Scholefield Canyon. There is another gate and a climb up past FR 4062 and on to Papago Canyon. There is a short stretch on an old two-track road and then it goes through Mulberry Canyon and heads due north, contouring up and down for several miles. After one last gate, the route is a gradual downhill for the last few miles until the end of the passage at Lakes Road.

Difficulty

  • Moderate

Season(s)

Water

The trail near Hidden Valley Ranch Water: Water is intermittent and scarce. Plan to bring your own water.

Notes/Warnings

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

Resources

  • USGS Topographic Maps: Empire Ranch and Mount Fagan.
  • BLM Information Center maps.

For more information

Current Passage Info

 

Flickr Photos

Photos from the Arizona Trail Association’s Flickr galleries, for this specific passage. View the entire Flickr account.

[AFG_gallery id=’6′]

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