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| Black Rock - Holdout Loop, AZ | | -
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| | Black Rock - Holdout Loop, AZ | | | |
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Black Rock - Holdout Loop, AZ
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| Backpack | 19.18 Miles |
2,210 AEG |
| | Backpack | 19.18 Miles | 1 Day 5 Hrs 32 Mns | | |
| 2,210 ft AEG | | | | |
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[ show ]
| no partners | | I led an Arizona Backpackers Club hike on the Black Rock - Holdout Creek loop, with a side trip into the North Santa Teresa Wilderness. We drove the rough but passable road to Reef Tank, where we spent the first night. The last section of road down to Reef Tank is steep and somewhat washed out, but we made it with an F150 and a stock Cherokee Trailhawk. Driving back up out of the campsite was a bit hairy, but we both made it after a bit of wheel spinning, but I get ahead of myself. The campsite at Reef Tank has plenty of tent space. On the first morning, we headed back up the road to the top of the hill, and then down another steep road toward the Black Rock Canyon Trail. About 1.7 miles from the campsite, the trail takes a sharp turn off the road through a gate. It is easy to miss. Arriving at the bottom of the canyon, it became clear that for the most part, there is no trail down the canyon; following the wash is the way to go. There was only one slightly tricky spot around a waterfall, [ photo ] but it is easy to find the way. Right across the canyon from the confluence with Holdout Creek, there is a corral in a large meadow with plenty of places to camp.
We continued downstream into the North Santa Teresa Wilderness. We ran out of time before we got to the boundary with private property, and turned around back to camp.
On the second morning, we followed the Holdout Creek Trail back toward our starting point. There is some catclaw, but it is not serious. The bigger problem is finding, and staying on, the trail. It was easy to get sidetracked if we weren't closely following the GPX track, as there are many paths. The Holdout Creek Trail is spectacular and well worth the trip.
There was water off and on in Black Rock Canyon, and pretty much continuously in Holdout Creek as well. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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Goat Canyon |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | No flow in Goat Canyon, but light flow in Black Rock Canyon. |
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Holdout Creek |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | Light flow in Holdout Creek most of the way up the hill, and light flow in Black Rock Canyon as well. | | | |
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