HikeArizona.COM

Date: February 22

Meet up Location: Denny's parking lot, I-17 and Bell, SW Quadrant

Meet up Time: 7:00 AM

The Hell Canyon Wilderness is located northwest of Lake Pleasant. If you've driven past Castle Hot Springs, the Wilderness is the pile of mountains to the west. This hike celebrates the BLM acquisition of the last private land in-holding in this designated Wilderness Area. We may have some of the BLM people who made this happen with us. The route is down Garfias Wash from North Castle Hot Srings Road almost to Lake Pleasant. If you go to Google Maps , click "Terrain," and search for "Garfias Mountain" the wash is just north (up) from there and this will start to make sense. Scroll around and you'll see the route down the wash. HAZ has a hike by this name but this will be slightly different route than what is posted there.

This will be a through-hike so we'll be doing car tricks. We'll leave a car or two on the east end where Garfias Wash flows into Lake Pleasant, then pile into others and drive around to the west end. Regular street cars are OK for the east end, the west end takes high clearance. Permits, $5/vehicle, available at the entrance to the park, are required for those cars left at the exit end of the hike.

TOPO suggests a distance of 8-10 miles. Terrain is wash bottom, with some walk arounds I'm sure. I have only hiked a couple miles of this on the upper end so there is a degree of exploration involved.

Please come self-contained, this is a "group-of-solo-hikers" arrangment.

Mexican group feed afterwards.

Been wanting to do this for some time now!

The HAZ hike that describes some of the upper route would be Hell Canyon. Sounds like a great time!

I need to see this area too. If I can make it work I'll commit.

This one's coming up soon! Sredfield- I was considering bringing a friend. My truck is medium clearance, and although I made it out to the upper trailhead for Garfias Wash last time I was out there, my truck had a bit of a struggle driving the road. I also don't know where exactly you are planning on beginning the hike. Should there be enough room for both of us to pack in and hitch a ride to the upper TH?

One quick question . . . with all you hiking pros, will this 8-10 mi hike be what you'd consider a "fast pace" ? or do moderate hikers fit into the mix as well?

I tend to go fast and then stop and take pictures for a long time... But my habits change when I'm with others. I'm sure you'll be fine!

Good to know. I hope I'll be able to go!

I might make this one. If I do I'll just go in from the west end and do an in and out on my own so as not to disrupt the group dynamics. Or I might just make the restaurant deal afterward. I'll be in a burgundy Toyota FJ cruiser with tons of pinstriping.