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Seeking to hike Haunted Canyon from the lower trailhead. Have read all the HC triplogs, and maybe it’s just me, but the directions to the lower TH seem a little vague.
Have done some reconnaissance of the area, (by vehicle) and finding the TH for the north route was no problem. (Just don’t do it right after a rain!)
Anybody done the lower route?

I am a little confused on which is the upper TH and the lower. I know one trail which from what I've heard follows a creek for 6 miles is located just before the metal bridge off of FR287, I haven't done that trail. The other way (in which I've done twice) is a little harder to find but is off of FR287A. To get there drive over the metal bridge and proceed about 1/8th of a mile. At that point you'll see a fairly large car camp area on your right and a road turning off to your left, go up that road (FR287A). I can't tell you the mileage to the TH but you will have to drive over 2 cattle guards, after driving over the 2nd cattle guard the TH is about 1 mile further. Once there you'll see a sign on the right that I believe says trail 203. Directly on the other side of the road is an old corral that is right next to the road, the trail starts there.

the 287 road comes to a " T " intersection. The right at 287a takes you to the upper TH. Take the left at the T, and drive the very short distance to a closed metal gate. Park here and follow the road for mile and you will see the trailhead on the right. After 4 or so miles on the trail you come to a Y. Take the left fork crossing the creek. DO NOT go up hill to the right. That will lead you away from Toms Cabin, and that just aint right!

My wife and I have made a valiant effort to concur the lower TH for HC, but to our disappointment we can not and have given up.

In April of 06 she and I set out following a triplog from this site. It was a bit vague : yet we were confident. It starts out okay until you get to the old corral. We should have stopped and turned back but didn't. We followed and uneven un marked trail for some time in search of Tony's Cabin as our finish line, but never reached it. We got lost and ran out of water and a not so friendly rattler :twisted: let us know to turn around. The mine has taken over this lower portion of the TH We did not know this at the time of our hike.

We plan to return and try from the upper TH #203.

mikeinFHAZ wrote:the 287 road comes to a " T " intersection. The right at 287a takes you to the upper TH. Take the left at the T, and drive the very short distance to a closed metal gate. Park here and follow the road for mile and you will see the trailhead on the right. After 4 or so miles on the trail you come to a Y. Take the left fork crossing the creek. DO NOT go up hill to the right. That will lead you away from Toms Cabin, and that just aint right!

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/wildernes ... rs_map.htm

See the lower right quadrant of the map (below)