[te-wa]

Does anyone have reliable information about overnight backpacks into the Salome area? I have heard Cherry Creek has filterable water, so where can I hike and find a good 3-8 (or so) miles trail, with good water, and accessible by my Ranger pickup? and yes, I do have all terrain tires! I dont mind loading up on water to access higher ground. Although, I prefer camping near a stream or pool.

[Hoffmaster]

Hey MikeinFHAZ!
I was back in that area for the first time this past Saturday. Cherry Creek Road is in pretty good shape and fairly smooth. It turned into a 4WD road after the Ellison Ranch which is about 15-20 miles back. I don't know much about the trails out there though. I remember passing a marked TH near the Flying H Ranch which is about 2 miles before the Ellison Ranch. I went to Devils Chasm and hiked back the canyon to see the ruins which I did not find. Cherry Creek is flowing really good.
Now that I think about it, this info is totally useless because the area I just described is the Sierra Ancha Wilderness, not the Salome.
The Salome is accessible from SR288 and A Cross Road, both of which are 2WD in my opinion. I've driven both these roads in my super-cool Ford Tempo without a problem. The Tonto National Forest map shows most of the trails but it is not topographic. I'm going to shut-up now, cause I'm sure I've been no help!

Lost and Confused,
matt

[boxerjoey]

Check out the hike "Hell's Hole" in the Salome Wilderness. I did that hike in September and thought it was pretty scenic. It is about 10 miles R/T to Hell's Hole, a particularly nice section of Workman Creek. You can hike along the creek once in Hell's Hole to a nice waterfall as well.

[Nighthiker]

You can access Salome Widerness lower end from the A-Cross road. A-Cross road is accessed from AZ 288 or from Punkin Center. If you access from Punkin Center you will have to cross Tonto Creek which you should be able to do right now. If it rains on the drainage and rises you will have to exit by AZ 288 so be prepared to go the extra distance if you cannot cross Tonto Creek. I like to explore the area east of the Salome Wilderness, by the way Dutchwoman Butte is a great looking mtn.

[te-wa]

Thanks all for the info! I seem to have confused myself, so to clear this up I admit the Salome wilderness is nowhere near Cherry Creek! I was thinking of the neighboring Sierra Anches, which do have primitive trails and that undefinable beauty. I think Sierra Anches means "pretty mountains". Anyway, both areas are good and I guess this means I have to hike both..