G.E.T. Guidebook

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Segment 8: Santa Teresa Wilderness   34.0 miles

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Segment Length	from PHX	to ABQ	Segment Status	Season
34.0 mi.	136		finalized & accessible	spring and fall
Resources
OVERVIEW MAP ELEVATION PROFILE 4 G.E.T. Topo Maps 21-28 4 Town Guide: Klondyke 4 Water Chart 4 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 adjective 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, but on a much grander scale. Like the Catalinas, the Santa Teresas are a Sky Island range, rising dramatically from the surrounding desert and capped with an isolated montane community of flora and fauna. Yet the Santa Teresas remain obscure by comparison and seldom visited, partly because of the sheer ruggedness of their 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. Unless you are comfortable with the possibility of occasionally losing the trail in remote terrain, you should instead 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, let it be said.)

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.

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 12 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. In a half mile the canyon narrows, with sheer and colorful cliffs on display. A carsonite post 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, often 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, including 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) (also mislabelled on older FS maps). 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 (and initially vague) dirt 2-track on the left (east) (waypoint 08110), possibly with a "Private Property" sign in view. From this junction, the community of Klondyke is 2.4 miles south on Aravaipa-Klondyke Rd, with water, mail service, seasonal lodging, and a campground nearby. (See the Town Guide for more info on Klondyke.)

Beyond 5.6, the main GET route becomes challenging to follow within the Santa Teresa Wilderness, where a somewhat vague, cairned trail in Holdout Canyon demands strong 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, which soon joins a wash. (Access through a deeded parcel by the junction is currently allowed.) Proceed east up the wash. 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, and mesquite to reach the drainage of Laurel Canyon at 9.2 (waypoint 08140) (sometimes flowing in spring, or with pools). The trail briefly becomes obscure 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').

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 cairn may indicate where unsigned Holdout 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 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 and never crosses it to the opposite side.)

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 confusing, treadless area of hard-to-spot 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 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 may find some semblance of a paralleling trail on the left. 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. At 14.3, the trail leaves the creek on the left near a prominent north-south side drainage. Again back at the creek, walk down its left side, leaving it decisively at 14.6.

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 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 improvise a way up to the gate at 15.7.)

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 (waypoint 08240), find an easy way around a fence across the wash, which must mark the boundary between National Forest Wilderness and the BLM's companion North Santa Teresa Wilderness, which we now enter. Eventually the prominent volcanic monolith of Black Rock appears, drawing closer. A junction with Gardner Trail 67 on the right side of the drainage, at 18.6 (waypoint 08250), 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.

At 18.8 (waypoint 08300) old Forest Route 94 crosses the wash in Black Rock Canyon. This road is now gated and locked to the north, with no vehicle access into the Wilderness. Here the road passes through Black Rock Ranch, a working guest ranch. The ranch owners do allow non-motorized thru-access to the Wilderness trails on either side of the property, but please respect their wishes for privacy by remaining in the wash and by not following the dirt road here. As well, please do not camp or linger between here and the entrance to Preacher Canyon ahead. Continue east in the wash, noting a prominent outcrop to the southeast, a strikingly human-like form that may well be the Preacher himself. Just before the canyon boxes up, before Preacher Canyon joins Black Rock Canyon, look for a gate in the fenceline up on the south bank of the drainage, at 19.5 (waypoint 08310). You may well find flowing water in this vicinity, even if Black Rock Canyon has so far been dry. Pass through the gate, making sure to close it behind you, and turn left.

Now back in BLM Wilderness, pick up a de facto trail that heads south along the west side of Preacher Canyon, with evidence of a water pipeline nearby. The topography is intriguing as ever, with nearby sheer-sided fins of rock echoing the towering form of Black Rock behind you, a remnant volcanic core, perhaps composed of andesite. The trail, probably Trail 66 but unsigned, soon crosses the drainage to its east side, then near 19.9 returns to it again, where it fades out. Walk up the drainage itself to waypoint 08315, where some semblance of trail is followable along its left side, again in the vicinity of the water line. Finally, leave the pipeline for good at waypoint 08317, at a swtichback, where vague trail heads up along the eastern side of the canyon. The trail becomes rough and steep, actually several tracks that follow the same general line. After the initial steep climb, though, the trail fades out altogether. Thankfully the terrain is open and the way ahead should be straightforward. The goal is to reach the crest of the broad ridge southeast of here. Proceed cross-country the rest of the way up the grassy slope, then walk south along the crest of the main ridge to find an east-west fenceline at 20.5 (waypoint 08320) (the fenceline also runs north along the east end of the ridge). Cross the fence, with or without a gate, and look for a trail paralleling it. To the north, this trail leads in a couple of miles to a private ranch ("T Hinton" on maps, no trespassing). Instead, follow the trail south, now in National Forest Wilderness once more. (Westbounders be sure to leave the trail at the fenceline, cross the fence, and head north down the ridge.)

The trail, which we'll again call Trail 66, 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 21.2. Ahead the trail reaches a junction (look for the wooden signpost by a tree) at 21.5. Here a side trail heads east into a corral, with a pair of troughs not far north along a 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 23.0, 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 24.3. 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. 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 or right - and turn left, contouring along the slope.)

Cross a right fork of the drainage at 24.6 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 as Trail 66 climbs west between the two main forks here at the head of Fourmile Canyon. Eventually the trail initiates a sidehill traverse, (beyond waypoint 08370) where good benched tread works its way gradually up to a ridge crest at 25.6.

Atop the ridge, (at waypoint 08380) find an old wooden signboard on the ground by a cairn, 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 26.3 (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.)

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 (26.4, 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, 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 26.5 (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. (A possible spring is located up-canyon by the corral shown on maps.) After crossing back and forth via cairns, at 28.8 the trail climbs around a 30-foot-high pour-off, impressive after a good rainstorm. Dabble with the creek 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 29.5, 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 camping. Follow it to the Coronado National Forest boundary at a brown metal gate (30.1, 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 30.5. 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 - opposite a side drainage on the right - crosses back to the east side, where it heads directly away from the drainage in an area of willows (32.0, waypoint 08525). After another brief climb-around, the 2-track comes back to the drainage by a short bedrock pour-off. Water often flows or forms pools in this vicinity and briefly beyond, although the tanks and springs specified on the map aren't really obvious. The track remains generally near the drainage, passing through an open gate at 32.7. Camping prospects are numerous among the tall sycamores in the wide sandy flood plain, albeit with likely cattle activity here. 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.) Now 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 33.3 (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 34.0, 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 (working as of fall '06), 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 9.4 (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. 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 white, ranch-type metal signs labelled "MC" (or perhaps "JM") a lesser dirt track heads north, along with the main route westbound in Segment 8.)

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3Segment 7

Segment 94