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..No Hackberries but a nice Butte for 360 Views.. by Grasshopper Overview Only ~0.25 mile after the intersection of FR172/172A, a left turn (west) continuing on FR172, is the Park/TH Start for the "Millsite Canyon" hike at the intersection of FR172 and unsigned 4x4 mining road FR192B (FR1928). This partly off-trail hike to summit prominent "Hackberry Butte" at 4230 feet begins at the same TH location for the "Millsite Canyon" hike. For those qualified off trail day hikers, this hike can provide a relatively short, easy to navigate, scenic, and historical added day hike #2 before or after your out and back hike into Millsite Canyon to the old Maverick Camp location. With the drive in and out and with attempting these two hike options in one day, would make for a long day out, but is possible (with or without this 2 in 1 option, this Hackberry Butte Summit hike is a winner in its self). Warning Do not be tempted to drive further up unsigned 4x4 mining road FR192B in an attempt to shorten your hiking day on this old mining road. This is a very dangerous driving road and can easily result in serious damage to your vehicle and/or worse.. to you and those riding with you. Hike it..don't drive it! Hike This partly "off-trail" hike begins as described above on FR192B (FR1928) and continues mostly uphill for approximately 1.0 mile where in-route you will have some excellent near and distant views of our eastern Superstition Wilderness- west toward the Woodbury TH and north toward the Rogers Trough TH. At this 1.0 mile mark up FR192B (at N33.39756 W111.21138) you will exit FR192B left (just before old fence line) at the semi obvious, easy to navigate and mostly up hill ridge line to begin the off trail section to summit Hackberry Butte at 4230 feet. You will continue hiking, follow within sight of this old fence line which will be to your right. Following this ridgeline with some minimal up hill and down, you will reach an old fenced easy to miss (but don't miss it) "closed gate" (at N33.39142 W111.20741) approximately 1.5 miles in from your TH Start. Go through this crudely constructed wooden-wire gate and continue hiking up the ridge line with the old fence now to your left side sometimes in view and sometimes not. At approximately 1.8 miles in from your TH Start, you will top a rise to a most interesting location where some significant time and effort was devoted to building what this author believes is a long/wide rock fence the purpose of makes it difficult to figure.. why here?, but it was a most interesting and unexpected find. Some pictures in my pic set will better depict this area find. Now continuing up hill with the summit in sight, you begin your last 0.20 mile segment with some easy to moderate bushwhacking and rock scrambling on a few loose spree areas as you make your final way up this sometimes steep ridgeline to top Hackberry Butte Summit at 4230 feet. You will want to spend some time on this summit to take-in the really nice 360 degree short and long distance views. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Gate Policy: If a gate is closed upon arrival, leave it closed after you go through. If it is open, leave it open. Leaving a closed gate open may put cattle in danger. Closing an open gate may cut them off from water. Please be respectful, leave gates as found. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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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
Hackberry Butte Summit 4230
It's been on my list for a long time so I finally got it done.
Beautiful day, awesome scenery, couldn't have asked for better conditions.
I drove partway up into Millsite Canyon then hiked pretty much straight up to the summit, signed the log, took a few photos and a video and headed down to the south then looped west into Millsite and back along the trail/road.
I saw a Jeep group come through Millsite Canyon and stop for lunch near where I parked while I was on Hackberry. I caught up to them just after the last one closed the fence gate. Since they were going so slow (I mean turtle slow), they eventually moved over one-by-one and let me through. Thanks guys!
Beautiful day, awesome scenery, couldn't have asked for better conditions.
I drove partway up into Millsite Canyon then hiked pretty much straight up to the summit, signed the log, took a few photos and a video and headed down to the south then looped west into Millsite and back along the trail/road.
I saw a Jeep group come through Millsite Canyon and stop for lunch near where I parked while I was on Hackberry. I caught up to them just after the last one closed the fence gate. Since they were going so slow (I mean turtle slow), they eventually moved over one-by-one and let me through. Thanks guys!
2014-03-03 CannondaleKid
Hackberry Butte Summit 4230
.. CHRISTMAS EVE - 12/24/13 ..
For most Christmas and/or New Year holiday weeks between years 2005-2009 I much enjoyed camping and hiking within this FR172-Hewitt Canyon area at my "Camp Grasshopper" location under mighty Byous Butte-
http://hikearizona.com/photo=117282 . Since year 2010 to date and now a few years older with my seemingly thinning blood and less tolerance to winter cold, I've tried to keep a holiday tradition alive by at least enjoying one selected Christmas Eve Scenic Drive or Day Hike in this same general area.
This beautiful Christmas Eve Day with first a short drive in & around to pay my respects at my memorable FR172 "Camp Grasshopper" - Byous Butte location, Brian and I next chose this short and moderate off-trail hike to most enjoyable Hackberry Butte Summit at 4230ft. Not a Benchmark Peak, but one of the higher peaks in this area adjacent to Millsite Canyon, below the Woodbury and Rogers Trough THs with wonderful 360 degree summit near and distant views.
On our hike up the mostly easy to navigate ridge line we roused a large and very healthy pack of Javelina with tiny, little ones in tow
We mostly missed the photo ops for this large family group, but the surprise viewing was very memorable.
This 4230ft butte summit also provided Brian another opportunity to snag some club points for his hobby and club membership in the worldwide SOTA (Summits On The Air) Ham Radio Organization. It was kind-of cool watching him unfold from his daypack, a major antenna
and Ham Radio battery setup which also included his Morse Code (CW) equipment. Like a kid in a candy store he was as I watched him score contacts all over the USA (20+ in total) but Brian will share that detail in his triplog. I did get some cool pics of him in action on the summit
I also carried-up for those after, a new, larger summit log container with a new pen and extra summit sign-in paper. My Christmas Gift for Hackberry Butte 4230ft.
a relaxing and most enjoyable way for me to spend Christmas Eve Day 2013
For most Christmas and/or New Year holiday weeks between years 2005-2009 I much enjoyed camping and hiking within this FR172-Hewitt Canyon area at my "Camp Grasshopper" location under mighty Byous Butte-
http://hikearizona.com/photo=117282 . Since year 2010 to date and now a few years older with my seemingly thinning blood and less tolerance to winter cold, I've tried to keep a holiday tradition alive by at least enjoying one selected Christmas Eve Scenic Drive or Day Hike in this same general area.
This beautiful Christmas Eve Day with first a short drive in & around to pay my respects at my memorable FR172 "Camp Grasshopper" - Byous Butte location, Brian and I next chose this short and moderate off-trail hike to most enjoyable Hackberry Butte Summit at 4230ft. Not a Benchmark Peak, but one of the higher peaks in this area adjacent to Millsite Canyon, below the Woodbury and Rogers Trough THs with wonderful 360 degree summit near and distant views.
On our hike up the mostly easy to navigate ridge line we roused a large and very healthy pack of Javelina with tiny, little ones in tow
We mostly missed the photo ops for this large family group, but the surprise viewing was very memorable.
This 4230ft butte summit also provided Brian another opportunity to snag some club points for his hobby and club membership in the worldwide SOTA (Summits On The Air) Ham Radio Organization. It was kind-of cool watching him unfold from his daypack, a major antenna
and Ham Radio battery setup which also included his Morse Code (CW) equipment. Like a kid in a candy store he was as I watched him score contacts all over the USA (20+ in total) but Brian will share that detail in his triplog. I did get some cool pics of him in action on the summit
I also carried-up for those after, a new, larger summit log container with a new pen and extra summit sign-in paper. My Christmas Gift for Hackberry Butte 4230ft.
a relaxing and most enjoyable way for me to spend Christmas Eve Day 2013 2013-12-24 Grasshopper
Hackberry Butte Summit 4230
Third time's the charm: 1st time- Christmas week'09 I was camping under Byous Butte. Nonot and I had planned for Christmas Day, a variation of my loop hike "Byous Butte Loop w/Hewitt Ridge Cyn Hike" with a side trip along the way to summit Hackberry Butte if time permitted, but time did not permit. 2nd time- On 4/15/10 I was again camping under Byous Butte this week. Johnr1 and I had a plan#1 for a remote off trail day hike back in from Byous Butte Saddle#1 to try and gain the summit of Hewitt Ridge. We had a plan#2 to summit Hackberry Butte. After further assessing the risks for me to proceed with a summit of Hewitt Ridge based on my previous planned approach.. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=133102 , I chickened-out and we proceeded with plan#2. By the time we reached what I thought was Hackberry Butte and its ridge line approach, it was just too daunting a ridge hike for that late in the day.. http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=133108 (only after discussing my interest in another summit attempt with ssk44 did I realize that this previous ridge line and summit was really not Hackberry Butte at all, but rather a ridge and summit a distance south.. 
). 3rd time- I turned the trip planning over to ssk44 and he easily found the best off trail hike approach for my allusive Hackberry Butte Summit 4230 and I was off again to give it a go and this time successfully 
This moderate two mile one way hike with a relatively easy to navigate off trail segment was a real winner and worth the wait. I enjoyed it enough to issue a new HAZ hike description with posted GPS Hiking and Driving Tracks, and my pic set to further document with captions the fun, scenic, and historic interest of it all. I do hope that others with consider giving it a try.
). 3rd time- I turned the trip planning over to ssk44 and he easily found the best off trail hike approach for my allusive Hackberry Butte Summit 4230 and I was off again to give it a go and this time successfully This moderate two mile one way hike with a relatively easy to navigate off trail segment was a real winner and worth the wait. I enjoyed it enough to issue a new HAZ hike description with posted GPS Hiking and Driving Tracks, and my pic set to further document with captions the fun, scenic, and historic interest of it all. I do hope that others with consider giving it a try.
2011-02-19 Grasshopper
