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| Potts Canyon & AZT #18 CW Loop, AZ | | -
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| | Potts Canyon & AZT #18 CW Loop, AZ | | | |
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Potts Canyon & AZT #18 CW Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 8.70 Miles |
1,090 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.70 Miles | 3 Hrs 51 Mns | | 2.31 mph |
| 1,090 ft AEG | 5 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | After the third year in a row, this has become a regular early-in-the-year hike for us. It features a variety of terrain along with plenty of scenic views, ending with a stint on the AZT.
We started from the AZT #18 TH along Hewitt Station Road, turn West along the first set of power lines, turn NW along Forest Road 293, cross under the high-tension power lines, then head North into Potts Canyon. While it is NOT a Forest Service Road, there is a well-traveled two-track road meandering its way Northward deeper into Potts Canyon, which is what we followed most of the time. Whenever it became loose sand or took a wide curve either way, we opted for one of the numerous cow paths.
About 2 miles into Potts Canyon there is a gated fence, which after passing through it's barely a hundred yards before we head NW up a wide drainage following well-traveled cow paths until reaching Forest Road #518. Shortly after reaching the road we were passed by a gal on horseback.
(Eventually it appeared she was participating in a two-day, likely equestrian-only event, which appeared to loop CCW on Saturday then CW on Sunday)
We followed FR #518 past the quarry, past a VERY dry Perlite Spring. While not a complete surprise due to the lack of rain, last year there was a herd of cows getting their fill at what at-the-time was a small lake.
Leaving Perlite Spring we continued on, turning East onto FR #982. When the road crossed the head of the deep slot canyon I took a short detour for a couple photos into the slot canyon.
(When I first encountered the slot canyon in 2013 I spent almost an hour traversing as much as I could of the slots, likely a few hundred yards in total, dropping in at some spots to barely get 40-50 feet before being too tight to continue, and trying again. The farthest point I reached had a pool of water with a large drowned rat... that was enough for me)
Since I'd documented the slots long ago, we skipped a more in-depth look and continued along FR #982.
Upon reaching the junction, we turned and headed South on AZT #18. While Tracey is partial to on-trail hiking more than road-walks or sandy washes, there were plenty of downhill (while SB) sections on #18 which were genuinely ankle-busters. Remembering the same thing last year, before this hike I had pondered starting on AZT #18 and finishing in Potts Canyon but now, I can't remember the reason we didn't do just that.
Anyway, in a few spots where baseball-sized loose rocks were bad enough I went off to the side, following trails made by the cattle... smart!
Overall, with temps from the mid 50's to mid-60's it was a pleasant hike. We'll be back next year, albeit maybe CCW. |
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