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| Hiking | 8.60 Miles |
931 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.60 Miles | 3 Hrs 33 Mns | | 2.42 mph |
| 931 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I knew Kaiser Hot Spring was near Burro Creek Campground, but I did not relish a rocky, and possibly quite wet, 12-mile roundtrip between the two. Plus, I did not want to get shot at: https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flags ... 0819a.html. (In 2018, Danny Button was sentenced to 22 years in prison.)
After doing some satellite recon, I came up with a route from US-93, down Warm Spring Canyon, to Kaiser Hot Spring (aka Warm Spring, itself). But the route is only 3.4 miles round trip — meager exercise on a 4-hour roundtrip drive from Phoenix — so I added a jeep trail loop up an unnamed mesa.
There was a retired couple camping at the junction of Warm Spring Canyon and FR 7519. I announced myself before passing by, on my way up FR 7519. I went counterclockwise, up the rougher half. At the top, I could see Wikieup through a highway cut in a nearby spur. 
On the way down FR 7519, I saw two separate burros, but they moved too quick to get a decent photo. I also spotted an absolutely enormous ocotillo, easily 15 ft. tall! (Waymarked on the official GPS route.)
Passing back by the campsite, the retired couple and I had the first of several conversations we would have as we hop-scotched each other down to Kaiser Hot Spring, Burro Creek, and then back. (I filled them in on how wonderful Aravaipa Canyon is: I have to get back there one of these days!)
Warm Spring Canyon was incredible! I wanted to check out Burro Creek Mine before getting my feet wet, so I passed by Kaiser Hot Spring.
Just past Kaiser Hot Spring, there were a bunch of warning signs. According to the Arizona Geological Society, Burro Creek Mine had not been worked since the early 90s — the 1990s, that is — but besides the signs, I found three Caterpillar earthmovers and lots of mining supplies. Though I neither saw, nor heard, any mining activity, Burro Creek Mine was clearly active, not just some placer mining desert rat.
Later research proved me correct, as Sitka Gold Corp. of Vancouver, BC, has assumed ownership of the Burro Creek Mine claims, and is in the midst of a $1.3 million exploration effort. There are four patented claims, and 30 unpatented, totalling 650 acres, stretching two miles from FR 7519 on top of the unnamed mesa, southeast across Warm Spring Canyon, and along Burro Creek to Andy’s Hole.
I’ve read Sitka's 56-page geological report, and they expect to extract as much as 200,000 ounces of gold, from ~5 million tons of ore. Gold is currently over $1,500 per ounce. Even at the 5-year low of around $1,000, that would be $200 million in revenue. Strip mining is authorized on their claims, so with that kind of money at stake, it’s going to happen. Visit Warm Springs Canyon while you can! 
I could not cross Burro Creek dry, and did not want to go to Federal Pound Me In The  Prison, so I doubled back to Kaiser Hot Spring.
As I mentioned, Kaiser Hot Spring is also referred to as Warm Spring, which is more accurate description of the water’s temperature. The pool is small, and only calf deep, but the bottom is soft, and safe to walk in, so you can sit & soak, but not swim. I ate lunch and relaxed with a hiking beer.
After lunch, I made short work (37 minutes) of the 1.7 mile hike back up Warm Spring Canyon to US-93, where a small herd of burros were keeping watch over my patient wife.
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/476643472 |
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Wildflowers Observation None
None, but lots of bright green grass under every palo verde and many creosote. |
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Warm Spring |
Gallon per minute |
Gallon per minute |
| | | Flowing heavily enough that overflow was running down to Burro Creek. Some moss & algae. Probably drinkable filtered. |
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Warm Spring Canyon |
Medium flow |
Medium flow |
| | | Not deep, but wide and flowing pretty good. Could not cross dry. Wouldn't drink it though, being immediately below current Burro Creek Mine operation. | | _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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