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| Hiking | 12.00 Miles |
3,100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.00 Miles | | | |
| 3,100 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I've been trying to explore some of the trails in the Santa Rita's (Wrightson) lately. Some weeks back I went up the Florida Canyon Trail which, at the Florida Saddle, connects with Sawmill and Cave Canyon (Cave Creek) trails. I put together a loop that combined both. Unfortunately, a good bit of road walking is involved. I started on Cave Canyon. Like a number of trails in the area, it starts off well-forested and riparian. It then shifts to steep switchbacks in an exposed burn area. Although there are some pines coming back, most of the exposed terrain is covered by the scratchy mix of bushes you'd expect. Cave Canyon is excellently maintained for all that, and the views were great. After Florida Saddle, I continued up a bit through the overgrown sections of Sawmill, which then dips down steeply.
Sawmill Spring has plenty of great water (looks perennial) and I startled some deer who had the same idea.
I was able to fill up my water again at the official start of Sawmill, at a stream crossing.
Unfortunately, to make the hike a loop, the remainder needed to be road walk. Until I reached FR92, there wasn't much traffic.
The highlight of Sawmill is Sawmill Spring, but as between it and Cave Canyon, I'd choose the latter. I would definitely recommend Cave Canyon as an alternative route to the summit, but would not at all suggest replicating my loop hike. Too much road for not enough trail. |
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Sawmill Spring |
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| | | Box of cool, clear, tasty water. And plenty of it. | | _____________________
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