Black Canyon Trail (BCT) north of Bumble Bee

[MEWhiteman]

Tom and I had finished the Black Canyon Trail (BCT) as far north as Hidden Treasure Mine/Government Spring a couple of weeks ago. We knew it didn't go much further at that point, but I had found a newspaper article from Jan 2010 that said the BLM had received $432,400 of stimulus money to be used to finish the trail by April 2011. Another article from Feb 2010 said work had begun in Mayer heading south. I read another post on a mountain biking site from about a month ago saying the trail was almost complete to Mayer except for 2 miles needed to connect existing sections between GS and Mayer.

Based on this Tom and I tried to find where the trail crossed roads north of Government Spring so we could continue hiking the trail. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any crossing points between GS and Mayer. There were signs on 179 between GS and Old Cordes and from there on Antelope Creek Rd toward Mayer, but we believe they were for the old trail or for the motorized version of the BCT. The trailwork now going on is for a non-motorized trial. No trails crossed the road at those signs. We did follow the new trail about one mile from GS but didn't go to the endpoint as that is the section they are currently building and it was cold and raining. We also found where the BCT crosses under AZ 69 between Mayer and Spring Valley but could not find where it went south from there. There were no signs and no obvious trail.

There may be spots where the trail crosses the roads on which we were driving but there were no BCT signs indicating the trail was there and there were no obvious trail crossings. Perhaps they were on unmarked jeep roads. Does anyone know where the BCT can be picked up and followed between Government Spring and Mayer?

[nonot]

I'm not familiar with the area. On Google Earth, I observe that, starting from Gov't Springs, someone can walk the wash NW along Crown King Rd, and a trail appears just north of the intersection of Crown King and FR259 in that wash. It's definitely headed in the right direction and goes on for awhile. I lose sight of it as it works its way through a canyon near the end of bradshaw Mtn Ranch Rd and Dripping Springs Rd.

[MEWhiteman]

The trail that has been built going to Mayer from Government Springs crosses that wash and heads east. We followed it about a mile to the gas pipeline access road. It continued NE from there so unfortunately it doesn't follow the wash NW along Crown King Road.

[kingsnake]

Unfortunately, Google maps satellite view does not give clear 50ft resolution in rural areas like it does in central Phoenix. Bumble Bee is clear to 500 feet, maybe 200 feet. So, it makes scoping out trails a bit harder up there than on North Mountain. ;)

[MEWhiteman]

I also think that much of the "new" trail may not be on Google Maps. From what I've read the BLM/BCT Coalition has been using professional and volunteer trail crews to cut new trail to get it off the roads and two tracks especially during 2010. This is too new to be on Google Maps unless we were lucky and the satellite photos were taken very recently. I don't know how frequently Google updates their maps.

[kingsnake]

I think it depends on where, some areas more often than others. I can use the area at Raintree and 101 as a gauge: When I moved (office) up there in June, 2007, the office park on the northeast corner was complete, but Google maps still showed it as excavation pits. Even two years later, it was still the same satellite excavation images. But now, Google maps shows the complete buildings. So, every 2-3 years appears to be roughly accurate. (At least in high density urban areas ...)

[joebartels]

Albeit slightly off-topic and fading out-of-season...
I thought the collective authors that have documented this virtual unknown would be pleased to see this new Mapped Area

MEWhiteman: the hike association box on the description page is now sorted South to North as you requested too

[kingsnake]

I love those maps that show a bunch of related routes like that. Very useful.

[MEWhiteman]

Thanks, Joe, for linking the tracks in the mapped area and listing all hikes south to north in a box with each description. Looks great and is helpful.

I hope to add some more descriptions this month before it gets too hot. The trail should be completely built by now. There was a completion celebration scheduled for 4/9/11 which was rained out and is to be held next fall. However, I located a track from a mountain biker website which shows the last 13.2 miles of the trail from HIdden Treasure Mine TH (AKA Government Spr) to just north of AZ69 in Mayer. I would have done it earlier but I've been waiting for a hiking buddy to get some free time.