Cove Canyon Trail, AZ

Overview
This hike up Cove Canyon follows an old jeep trail into the southern half of the Pinaleno Mountains (also known as the Greasewoods). Cove Spring, located in a high, hidden valley below bouldered peaks, is this hike's destination. This old trail does not have a name or number, yet it follows Cove Canyon, hence the name "Cove Canyon Trail". Whether day hiking or backpacking, Cove Canyon's scenic, hidden valley offers a secluded destination.


Hike
The hike begins on the south side of state highway 266, where an unmarked jeep trail meets the highway, at milepost 111.5 (trailhead GPS coordinates: 32.55986 N, 109.78652 W). Proceed to follow this jeep trail, which heads west for a short distance, paralleling the highway. The jeep trail soon makes a sharp turn to the south to start climbing a grassy mountainside.The half-mile point finds the trail cresting a grassy saddle and entering oak-juniper woodland, scarred by a 2007 prescribed fire. The hike becomes decidedly steep at this point, as the jeep trail tackles a rocky ridge. The steeply inclined and deeply rutted road surface of decomposed granite seems to keep most vehicles from advancing beyond this stretch. Behind you, the grass and chaparral hills of the Stockton Wash area give way to the green mass of the Pinaleno range, and distant views of the San Simon Valley.

The trail reaches a high saddle at one and a quarter miles, near a large outcropping of milky white quartz. At this point you will cross through a green metal gate, and enter Cove Canyon's hidden valley.

One-tenth of a mile past the gate, a side trail branches off to the left; stay right on the increasingly primitive jeep trail.

As the hike progresses through the valley, granite boulders and shady oaks increase in number. There are ample opportunities for primitive, dispersed camping throughout the area. The rough, boulder-clad promontories of Kane Spring Mountain keep watch above, hemming the valley in on three sides.

As the trail continues west, it climbs over a low saddle, which offers a nice view out the mouth of the valley.

Now west of the saddle, in the western half of the hidden valley, the jeep trail deteriorates into a faint ATV trail. At this point, which is about 1.9 miles from the trailhead, there is a large meadow to the right, behind an opening in a barbed-wire fence.

A couple of hundred feet past the opening in the fence, the main trail bends to the left (32.55007 N, 109.80676 W), while a faint side trail goes straight ahead towards a creek bottom. Follow this side trail for a short distance. After crossing over a side creek, it will arrive at Cove Creek, where Cove Spring (32.54981 N, 109.80757 W) is located.

The Cove Spring area consists of a few ash trees, a small campsite, and a concrete water trough, which looks like it might hold water year-round. The water should be filtered and purified before drinking. Check with the Safford Ranger District Office for water availability.

Back at the side trail junction, the main trail heads south up a side drainage, and soon peters out among the trees.

Return the way you came.

2008-04-27 PrestonSands