Route Editor
Route Scout
Overview This lollipop loop hike starts at the corrals near Clay Spring at the end of FR346 and follows an ATV track and cow trails north east to Yankee Joe Canyon. It then proceeds down the bottom of YJ Canyon to the Salt River. The return hike goes up the west side of YJ Canyon and then follows a steep ridgeline south to it's peak where the White Ledges cross the ridge. At that point it drops down to a saddle where it rejoins the in-bound route and retraces the route back to the trail head. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Note This is a moderately difficult hike. 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 Review
Lower Yankee Joe Canyon Loop
Having the opportunity to explore and hike this remote section of Lower Yankee Joe Canyon within our SRC Wilderness was my primary reason to schedule my latest 3/20 to 3/25 (5nt/6day) 4WD Vehicle Camping Trip to this area, the scenic end of FR346 at the perennial Clay Spring area.
Oregon Hiker and I first became interested in locating a non-canyoneering access route into this intriguing and very long S to N to NW canyon ending at the Salt River after our first visit to this general area on 11/20/12 to unsuccessfully hike "Hess Canyon to the Salt River". After a few hours of my Topo Map overlays analysis and Google Earth views mostly analyzed by Oregon Hiker- Larry (thank you), and with a couple of successful documented winter 2012-13 visits by RedRoxx44- Letty, I was more than ready to give this one a go and it did pay-off nicely
.
As documented in the new HAZ overview hike description, and via our posted GPS Routes, and geocoded Picsets with captions, we do suggest that if interested in hiking this off trail canyon that you do consider a route similar to our posted loop hike. Unless you are more versed at canyoneering techniques going up canyon, we found it much easier to locate bypass routes hiking down canyon to the Salt River, then on return up canyon soon exiting at WP pic location http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=329252 to begin a very scenic off trail uphill ridgeline route with very manageable high desert vegetation.
The hiking elevation range of his high desert area is from a low of 2631 feet at the Salt River to a high of 3800 feet with little shade available, so winter to mid spring hiking and camping in this area is recommended.
Oregon Hiker and I first became interested in locating a non-canyoneering access route into this intriguing and very long S to N to NW canyon ending at the Salt River after our first visit to this general area on 11/20/12 to unsuccessfully hike "Hess Canyon to the Salt River". After a few hours of my Topo Map overlays analysis and Google Earth views mostly analyzed by Oregon Hiker- Larry (thank you), and with a couple of successful documented winter 2012-13 visits by RedRoxx44- Letty, I was more than ready to give this one a go and it did pay-off nicely
.
As documented in the new HAZ overview hike description, and via our posted GPS Routes, and geocoded Picsets with captions, we do suggest that if interested in hiking this off trail canyon that you do consider a route similar to our posted loop hike. Unless you are more versed at canyoneering techniques going up canyon, we found it much easier to locate bypass routes hiking down canyon to the Salt River, then on return up canyon soon exiting at WP pic location http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=329252 to begin a very scenic off trail uphill ridgeline route with very manageable high desert vegetation.
The hiking elevation range of his high desert area is from a low of 2631 feet at the Salt River to a high of 3800 feet with little shade available, so winter to mid spring hiking and camping in this area is recommended.
2013-03-21 Grasshopper
