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Author Full Detail Guide Overview: As described in Dave Wilson's "Hiking Ruins Seldom Seen". There is no trailhead, the ruins are at the top of the rocky hill on the right of the trail. There is no trail, just bushwack for 0.5miles along the east (left) side of the barbed wire fence. Some rock scrambling is necessary to get to the top, probably easiest on the South side, but possible from the North too. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community. 2008-04-29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
New River Ruins
Was not sure how to post this hike as it was in the New River area, but does not sound like some of the other posts. There are numerous ruins sites in this general area. I joined 8 others from the Desert Awareness Committee. We turned North off of Carefree Hwy on to New River Rd and then right on Circle Mountain Rd and finally a left or N on 12th St. At dead end of the road we followed a jeep road to 20th Street dead end and followed the road as it turned N/E toward a small hill. No housing ruins at the top of this hill but loads of Petroglyph's. Thinking now that I should have noted the GPS coordinates for others....next time. Interesting for me to see Elephant Butte in the Spur Cross area from the North or backside.
2010-12-09 Sun_Ray
New River Ruins
My Murano wasn't doing so well on this road, so I parked about 2.5 miles in and added some milage to the hike. The trip is decribed very well in Dave Wilson's, "Hiking Ruins Seldom Seen" book. Following the road to the cattle guard and corral, it's basically a free bushwack up the side of the prominant rocky hill on the side of the trail. DEFINITELY wear pants for this one. I actually tried to continue on FR 41 to the southeast side of the hill a few days ago- not recommended, the bushwack is much worse (the Teddy Bear Cholla is very thick). The best route is following the barbed wire fence (start on the left of the corral) to the top. The footing is a bit sketchy at times, be especially careful on the way down! I have a good-sized bruise on my rear to prove it. 
There is a neat spiral petroglyph about 15 feet to the left at the end of the first barbed wire fence. There are a few more petroglyphs on the north side of the base of the rock, and a couple that I saw on the south side near the top. The easiest rock scramble to the top is probably on the south side of the rock, but you will need to do more bushwacking to get there. I didn't have any trouble climbing up the north side, but think the south side is probably the easiest way down. On top there are multiple obvious rooms, 1 especially well preserved. There are mutiple piles of potsherds at the top, and I saw quite a few around the base as well. A word of caution, there is a sign that warns that ATV's and sport shooting is prohibited, but I saw several groups of both this weekend, and there are spent shells everywhere along the road.
There is a neat spiral petroglyph about 15 feet to the left at the end of the first barbed wire fence. There are a few more petroglyphs on the north side of the base of the rock, and a couple that I saw on the south side near the top. The easiest rock scramble to the top is probably on the south side of the rock, but you will need to do more bushwacking to get there. I didn't have any trouble climbing up the north side, but think the south side is probably the easiest way down. On top there are multiple obvious rooms, 1 especially well preserved. There are mutiple piles of potsherds at the top, and I saw quite a few around the base as well. A word of caution, there is a sign that warns that ATV's and sport shooting is prohibited, but I saw several groups of both this weekend, and there are spent shells everywhere along the road.2008-04-29 hhwolf14
