Route Editor
Route Scout
It looks like there has been some good work done out there this spring (posted 5/13/25).
Thank you to all the volunteers and hiking clubs who put their time and hard work toward maintaining and improving the trails we all enjoy.PUBLIC ACCESS NOTIFICATION
This April (2025), tremendous work took place in the Chiricahua Mountains as volunteer John Sumners on a Spring trip with family and friends, the Portal Hiking Club/Chiricahua Regional Council, and the Sierra Club joined the district in trail clean-up events. With three camps established, west, south, and on the Crest, everyone worked tirelessly to help bring the trail back to life.
Trail report from John Sumner:
Project 1 - clear the southern end of the [ Rattlesnake Trail #275 ] . Over two days, we cleared 0.7 miles of the one-mile trail segment from Rock Creek to Rattle Rock Saddle. Bill Hiscox was the pathfinder and brush hog while the remainder of the crew lopped, cut brush/trees, and improved tread. With 8 to 9 on the crew, we made good progress. An unexpected bonus is that we cleared the lower 2.3 miles of the [ Saulsbury Trail #263 ] on the way in, from the trailhead to Saulsbury Saddle! The map shows the cleared trail in purple and the rest of the loop on the Rock Creek and Turkey Pen trail in blue. Bill, John, Jean, Paul, Jody, Rachel, Moses, Jeff, and Dirk.
Project 2, [ Price Canyon Trail #224 ] . We moved camp from West Turkey Creek to Price Canyon on April 11. Mesa Chili for dinner. Start up the trail on April 12 toward Price Canyon Spring, about a mile. John, Jean, Jody, Jane, John D, Zac, Rachel. Moses, Elaine, Al, Eskild, Peter, and Carol were then joined by Steve. With strength in numbers, we cut and removed many trees and rerouted the trail where creek erosion made it necessary. We repeated the process on the 13th, 14th, and 15th with measurable progress each day. Some trees were cut and required the entire crew to move them off the trail. We cut and moved primarily cypress, but with a mix of oak, pine, and Douglas fir. With three saws, we made progress, and by the end of our sojourn, we had cleared two miles of the 5 1/2 mile long trail. We ended about one mile below the junction with the Baker Canyon trail.
Project 3, Crest trails from Rustler Park to Cima Cabin [ Crest Trail #270 - Barfoot Park Rd to Jct Sdl ] , April 16. The goal was to clear the trails to Cima Cabin for the Sierra Club Service trip. It involved lots of walking by six people, John, Jean, Jody, John D, Nizhoni, and Walter, to clear about 15 trees on the Crest, Long Park, Bear Wallow, Greenhouse, and Centella trails.
Project 4, Ida Peak with Portal Hiking Club, April 17. Portal hikers Eskild, Elly, Carol, Peter, William, Sheila, and Al joined the five outsiders, John, Jean, Jody, John D, and Nizhoni, to help clear 1.2 miles of the upper portion of the [ Ida Peak Trail #274 ] .
Those interested in participating in future trail-clearing opportunities are encouraged to reach out to the Douglas Ranger District at (520) 364-3468.
