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| Hiking | 18.21 Miles |
2,942 AEG |
| | Hiking | 18.21 Miles | | | |
| 2,942 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Further exploration of some of the trails out at Sloan Canyon NCA. I'll have to take the time to write these trails up - some were quite intriguing and worth hiking.
Started out on 404 (Black Mountain), turned right on 402 (Connector Trail), which is merely a connector to 403 (Streaky Peak Loop). Turned right on 403, and took off on the unmarked, yet now finished, Trail 101 (Black Mtn - Petroglyph Cyn Connector Trail) to the west. This trail mostly skirts along the edge of the subdivisions in the flats. Nothing much to look at, nothing to suggest you are on your way to something amazing. Doesn't appear to see a lot of foot traffic. The washed-out conditions from the last time I was here were completely repaired when the crew completed the trail. The trail eventually dead-ends at a gravel road leading to Petroglyph Canyon.
This trip there was plenty of time to explore the trails around Petroglyph Canyon. After signing in at the information kiosk and noting the 7 vehicles somehow parked there (the parking normally accommodates ~4  ), I set off up the main wash. At the first branch, I figured why not go the opposite way we had already been, and set off up Trail 200 (Cowboy Trail). This trail turned out to be a pretty cool trek up the next wash over from Petrogylph Canyon. In and of itself, the trail traverses through some fascinating rock formations, also providing an alternate route to get up into Petroglyph Canyon past all of the dry falls. Trail 200 ended by dropping back into Petrogylph Canyon at the top.
Again, I decided to go a new way, and turned right up the canyon on Trail 300 (Hidden Valley Trail). Shortly, there is a group of wash-side boulders heavily covered with petroglyphs - I took this as a sign to continue  Trail 300 continues up and along the wash, over a pass through some interesting rock formations, and down to the opposite side of the McCullough Range. After this, I turned around and headed back, with plans to return. Hiked back via the main Petroglyph Canyon - need to come back and spend an entire day just in this section (there are nearly 400 documented panels, so lots to see).
Good day on some new trails. In spite of all the vehicles, I only saw 2 people in Sloan Canyon - the site stewards. Good to know there are people who care enough to help take care of these truly special places.
I must protest the terribly uninspired naming of the trails - the name "Trail #100" hardly gets you excited. The trail names above are partly made up by me, and partly based on the schematic map at the Black Mtn trail head - the NCA's website doesn't include any names or numbers for any of the trails. |
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| "Let it ride / Let it roll / Let it go" |
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. The 2 I talked with told me it was their first hike in preparation for a one night backpacking trip - hope they have fun!
- painfully slow to say the least. Apparently, the BLM is planning to position a loop trail for Black Mountain up this ridge sometime in the future. That is going to be a lot of hard work!
! My hands were frozen for the hike down (glad I always carry gloves in my pack). It gets pretty steep once you get to the top, but the reward comes quickly. Great views of the strip, but I found myself more entertained by the views of AZ on the other side. 
