Woodchute - Martin Canyon Loop, AZ

The Woodchute-Martin Canyon Loop follows the Woodchute #102, Rick Tank Cutoff #104, and Martin Canyon #103 trails. This loop around upper Martin Canyon travels through some beautiful, quiet, mountain country on the south side of Woodchute Mountain. There may be water available at Woodchute and Turkey Tanks (definitely purify it!). Access to the Woodchute Trailhead itself requires a high clearance vehicle. However, those with cars can park at the large parking area along forest road 106, where the pavement ends, and hike the last 0.7 miles to the Woodchute Trailhead (add 1.4 miles to the length of this hike if you do that).


From the Woodchute Trailhead, begin hiking up the Woodchute Trail #102, as it gently climbs through the forest. At 0.4 miles, the trail passes a gnarled juniper overlooking highway 89A, which snakes through the Black Hills below. The trail soon arrives on a ridge that forms the connection between Mingus Mountain and Woodchute Mountain, where outstanding views on either side await hikers. The trail rolls along the ridgeline towards Woodchute Mountain until mile 1.75, where it enters a little valley at the head of Mescal Gulch. The Woodchute Trail crosses over to the north side of Mescal Gulch, a short distance above a 40 foot high, seasonal waterfall. A quarter-mile hike up the valley brings you to the junction (34.73894 N, 112.16734 W) with the Rick Tank Cutoff Trail #104 at mile 2, in a nice stand of ponderosa pines.Turn left onto the primitive Rick Tank Cutoff Trail, and follow it into a meadow. It soon crosses over the dam of upper Woodchute Tank, before making a u-turn to the south. The Rick Tank Cutoff Trail (more of a route, really) doesn't appear to see much use and can be a challenge to follow in some places. The trail soon passes through a saddle and starts to descend a nameless canyon to the west. The route can be a little confusing at the saddle's west end (there is a worn trail that follows the south side of the canyon, but it soon peters out). Look carefully for the Rick Tank Cutoff Trail, which descends along the canyon's north side (the south-facing slope). From here down to the Martin Canyon Trail at the bottom of the canyon, play connect the dots with the numerous rock cairns, as the trail descends through an oak and juniper woodland, dotted with grassy, hillside meadows. Near the bottom, the trail crosses over to the south side of the canyon. A quarter-mile later, the Rick Tank Cutoff Trail comes to an end at the bottom of Martin Canyon, where it meets the Martin Canyon Trail #103 (34.73736 N, 112.18596 W).

Turn southeast onto the Martin Canyon Trail, and follow this rough 4x4 road up the pleasant, forested bottom of Martin Canyon. The Martin Canyon Trail makes numerous crossings of the seasonal creek and passes some nice campsites. Vegetation along this stretch of trail includes plentiful Arizona wild roses, maidenhair ferns, locust, and large ponderosa pines, all of which are mixed in with a canopy of large Gambel Oaks that line the creek. After 1.4 miles in the bottom of Martin Canyon, the trail passes by Martin Canyon Tank (which was bone dry on my hike).

Now the trail curves to the west, leaves the confines of the canyon, and arrives at a large cattle pond named Turkey Tank. The trail continues west for a short distance to a road junction in a saddle overlooking Lonesome Valley, where the Martin Canyon Trail #103 officially ends and becomes road #9710 (an unmarked 4x4 road). Take the left fork and head due south for a half-mile, up the ridge to the top of the mesa, where road #9710 comes to a junction with unmarked road #106E. Turn left here, and head east on #106E for another 0.15 miles to the signed junction with road #106D. Stay left at the Y, and follow #106D for the next mile, as it travels through the pines along the northern edge of the mesa, and passes the large meadow at Hickey Tanks along the way. Shortly after passing through a gate, road #106D comes to an end where it meets road #106, back at the Woodchute Trailhead.

2007-04-25 PrestonSands