Walker Basin Trail #136, AZ

This is a little-used trail that offers access to the more remote southeastern slopes and foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains. It climbs out of cool, green Walker Basin to a junction with the Gardner Trail about a quarter of the distance between that trail's inception and its intersection with the Super Trail high on the slopes of Mt. Wrightson. Along the way, the Walker Basin Trail offers views off to the east down Big Casa Blanca Canyon and west to the summits of Mt. Josephine and Mt. Wrightson. Part of the Trail in this area follows an old ditch, so the walkway is about as level as you will find.

Hikers and people on horseback use the Walker Basin Trail to provide alternate access into Gardner Canyon. It is also used as part of a couple of long and interesting trail loops. One of those loops starts out on the Walker Basin Trail, then follows portions of the Gardner Trail and the Super Trail to get to Josephine Saddle. It then follows the Temporal Gulch Trail and the road between the Temporal Gulch and Walker Basin Trailheads back to the starting point. For an extremely long day hike, or even a two or three day backpack, you might consider a route up and out of Madera Canyon via the Old Baldy Trail and the loop described above. Another interesting loop that tours several old water developments used when this area was heavily mined incorporates the Walker Basin Trail, Forest Road 785, the Chinaman Trail, and part of Big Casa Blanca Canyon.

1.6 miles of this trail are within the Mt. Wrightson Wilderness. Mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes, are not permitted in Wilderness areas.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

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2008-02-20 HAZ_Hikebot