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| Hiking | 2.50 Miles |
400 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.50 Miles | | | |
| 400 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Out exploring various roads in the beautiful eastern foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains. I wanted to find another place to hike to El Pilar Tank, versus the traditional approach in Adobe Canyon. Started out by heading in on Gardner Canyon Road past Apache Spring Horse Ranch, then after that got onto FR 4111. Followed that past Young Benchmark and it eventually dropped into Hog Canyon and intersected with FR 4088. Drove that upstream to a saddle where I parked for the hike. El Pilar is just down the hill aways at this point, with a mellow trail heading to it. 
Another really cool spot nearby is Bathtub Tank, but I skipped that this trip, though I was close in my meandering. After the hike I continued along FR 4088 until it dropped into Adobe Canyon at the intersection with FR 234 (you are only about 3 miles from Highway 83 at that point). I had enough daylight left, so headed upstream all the way to the end of the Adobe Canyon Road to check out its condition since I hadn't been on it in 10 years. Pretty much the same as I remembered it. You are very close to to El Pilar/Bathtub at the end of the road, which is why it is the standard approach.
The hike is described in the book "Hiker's Guide to the Santa Rita Mountains" by Betty Leavengood & Mike Liebert. I have the 1994 edition of this excellent book and I highly recommend it if you are interested in the Santa Rita Mountains. It is packed with lots of history as well.
The last thing to do was to head back out to Highway 83 on the Adobe Canyon Road to make sure there was no locked gate. You pass by newer homes near the highway, but the road is open.
There were lots of cattle in Adobe Canyon, but I didn't see any in Hog Canyon. Some excellent well shaded camp spots exist in both canyons. Just really nice country back in there! |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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El Pilar Tank |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | Trickle of water seeping out below the old concrete dam. The usual small pool present by the big rock at the dam. | | _____________________
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