Deadman Trail #70 • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Mar 09 2022

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Deadman Canyon Trail, AZ

Hiking		Mar 09 2022
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	7.51 Miles	2,033 AEG

Hiking	7.51 Miles	5 Hrs 25 Mns	1.61 mph
	2,033 ft AEG	45 Mns Break

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Deadman Trail #70

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On the second day of hiking in the Pinaleno Mountains I head up to Deadman Canyon to hike the Deadman Canyon Trail to the junction with the Round the Mountain Trail. It is a 10 mile drive on a rocky dirt road to where the trail head is. This road is just as bad as the Marijilda Canyon Road and going is slow since a lot of it is at 10 MPH. Luckily the Rancher that runs Cattle on this land Bulldozed the last 2 miles making it easier to navigate the last section. I talked to the gentleman at the trail head and thanked him for grading it for me, He assured me it wasn't for me..

The trail head isn’t signed but there are two wood posts that look like a good place to start a trail. The route all the way to where you enter into the creek bed is marked with pink ribbons and rock cairns. Even with these markings the very first .5 miles can be hard to locate, especially when the rock cairns and pink ribbons appear to have different opinions. After the first .5 miles the ribbons and rocks get back in sync and the going is clearer. I was surprised by an unexpected sight of Deadman Falls. Pretty impressive and looks like it may need some more exploring on another trip. After about 2.5 miles of steady uphill climb the trail drops into the creek bed. The going is slower here because the ribbons disappear and you appear to be on your own. Lots of bloodletting as you fight your way through dead fall and thorn bushes. On my return route I followed what looked like a trail and was marked by rock cairns occasionally and this route made the going easier. My return GPS route follows that route. Basically the first half of the route up the creek is on the north side and the last half on the south, never really in the creek bed except to cross over. At the junction with the Round the Mountain Trail I saw the remnants of a sign, one wood that marked the RTM Trail and a metal one that I can’t quite read but I like the little hand that points the way to wherever. The RTM trail to the north is marked by rock cairns as it leaves the creek bed but just vanishes in the brush soon after. This trail would require some searching at least on this lower portion. I would not have time to locate this trail and climb the 1600 feet to the ridgeline so I turned around here.

Great trail on would do it again but the drive in is a bit torturous. I may have to do it again to check out Deadman Falls though. Deadman Creek had a light flow. Deadman peak and the massive rock underneath it really impressed me. I know that the mountains are really just rock with some debris covering them but nothing brings it to reality like the massive continuous bolder under Deadman Peak. If you were able to wash away the thin veneer of debris on it what would be left is this huge continuous boulder. This rock is Precambrian in age and floated upward. the north side Deadman Canyon is a totally different structure all metamorphic in nature, probably metamorphosed when this rock to the south of the canyon rose and by probably another massive boulder under it still not exposed. I don't know about others but I was all sorts of excited by this. I know I probably need a life.

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Feb 06 2011

PrestonSands

Guides 170
Routes 148
Photos 5,914
Triplogs 2,097

48 male

Joined Apr 12 2004
Tucson, AZ

Deadman Trail #70

Tucson, AZ

Deadman Trail #70

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Feb 06 2011
		PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097

Hiking	8.31 Miles	2,486 AEG

Hiking	8.31 Miles
	2,486 ft AEG

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Having been on my "to-do" list for years, I figured I'd better do Deadman. I studied Google satellite photos to determine the way to the trailhead (the Coronado National Forest's info is not helpful at all for that) and set off. I started to drive up FR 6629, but figured it wouldn't take much longer to just hike it due to huge rocks, so I parked and went on foot. Unfortunately, this choice would cut into my time budget. Reaching the trail itself, I had pictured something a bit more well traveled, but thankfully some kind person had made plenty of large cairns to follow through the high, itchy grass. Once on the mountainside, I really began to enjoy this trail, with its views of high, rocky, snow covered country and of course, the waterfall.

Pine trees, water, and a really nice campsite upon my arrival at Deadman Creek made me wish I was backpacking instead of just day hiking. I got within a half mile of the end of the trail before I forced myself to turn around. Daylight was running low, and this is not a trail I would want to try to follow at night. Made it back to my truck just before dark, then made the bumpy ride home.

https://www.youtube.com/user/PrestonTheY ... Jo1xmesGrg

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Leding's Hedgehog Cactus

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Deadman Canyon Deadman Peak 7505 Deadman Ridge Safford

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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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