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| Hiking | 9.61 Miles |
1,290 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.61 Miles | 8 Hrs 14 Mns | | 1.17 mph |
| 1,290 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Andy and I have been planning a hike in Fish Creek from Tortilla for awhile now and we finally were able to make it happen yesterday joined by Scott. The road into Tortilla Ranch was a smooth graded freeway as always.  Started up the JF trail then went off trail exploring the old Miller Mines and the items that were still scattered around from it. There is a cairned route down however, we figured we would find our own route down, unfortunately it was a very painful one and my arms, hands and legs were bloodied multiple times. Got to the bottom of Lost Dutch Canyon and we were stopped in our tracks by a catclaw forest (oh yea!). Scott had his clippers and after a bit we were able to cut our way out. Lost Dutch Canyon was completely dry so we figured we would see some pools in Fish Creek and that would be it, but to our surprise it was filled with tons of water with huge deep pools and rapids the entire way. About a mile in I stopped and tried to turn around to look at an animal track. As my left leg was planted in mud it slipped the other direction and I popped my ankle. It was pretty painful and weak, but we had worked hard to get into the canyon and I've been wanting to get down into Fish Creek Canyon for awhile, so I sucked it up and continued. Our original goal was to get to the Frog Tanks junction, however, we all of the water, a bum ankle we only averaged about a mile an hour and with the late start we ran out of time. By the time we got to Goat Canyon it was already 2, so we had a quick snack and started back. With a bum ankle and me starting to tire out I decided walking through the creek in spots was easier then boulder hopping around the water. The water was ice cold, my feet felt like a thousand needles were stabbing it but at that point I didn't care lol. Quick break at junction and we started the climb out, this time following the cairned route most of the way, getting back to the truck just before needing the headlamps.
This was probably the most spectacular hike I've done in awhile, and by far the most scenic creek hike in the Superstition's, the views are breathtaking! It was absolutely worth the catclaw and ankle injury to see it. Passed a couple of guys at the start of JF and a guy hiking down 213 in the dark and that was it, however, there were some semi fresh foot prints that we came across at the junction of Fish Creek and Lost Dutch canyons. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
Most leaves are on the ground, however, a few trees still have some remaining. |
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Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee.  |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
A lightly frozen puddle of water near the marked location on the topo.
Route 
Started up the JF trail then went off trail exploring the old Miller Mines and the items that were still scattered around from it. There is a cairned route down however, we figured we would find our own route down, unfortunately it was a very painful one and my arms, hands and legs were bloodied multiple times. Got to the bottom of Lost Dutch Canyon and we were stopped in our tracks by a catclaw forest (oh yea!). Scott had his clippers and after a bit we were able to cut our way out. Lost Dutch Canyon was completely dry so we figured we would see some pools in Fish Creek and that would be it, but to our surprise it was filled with tons of water with huge deep pools and rapids the entire way. About a mile in I stopped and tried to turn around to look at an animal track. As my left leg was planted in mud it slipped the other direction and I popped my ankle. It was pretty painful and weak, but we had worked hard to get into the canyon and I've been wanting to get down into Fish Creek Canyon for awhile, so I sucked it up and continued. Our original goal was to get to the Frog Tanks junction, however, we all of the water, a bum ankle we only averaged about a mile an hour and with the late start we ran out of time. By the time we got to Goat Canyon it was already 2, so we had a quick snack and started back. With a bum ankle and me starting to tire out I decided walking through the creek in spots was easier then boulder hopping around the water. The water was ice cold, my feet felt like a thousand needles were stabbing it but at that point I didn't care lol. Quick break at junction and we started the climb out, this time following the cairned route most of the way, getting back to the truck just before needing the headlamps. 
I wouldn't expect the road to open anytime soon. And there were leeches in the few pools that were present, and they were relentless little poos!
. It's an easy and relatively flat hike back to the 88. The hike down Fish Creek Hill is great too, save for the dust from the occasional passing car. It was late enough in the day that traffic was light. I helped push a truck out of a ditch. Walking down FCH is also nicer than driving because you can stop and look over the edge more. There are no fewer than 8 vehicles that met their demise on this stretch of road, left to rust on the hillside hundreds of feet below. And at least one boat.
I only wish.
I stayed on course for the most part with some light thorny bushwhacking though some sections had me briefly stop in my tracks and question where the trail went before pushing on... Great views of Supes Ridgeline off in the distance and Tortilla Mt had me longing to soon hike those as well. I rolled into Tortilla Pass just in time around sunset and setup camp for the evening. Since I was solo, a warm night & just an overnighter, I choose to forgo a fire or tent and just slept under the stars and played iPhone games while star gazing through the LONG evening. 
The geology of this canyon is quite amazing but after loads & loads of rock hopping that exit trail at Lost Dutch Canyon is a welcome relief. 
so that saves us 3 miles of hiking each way and I logged us only hiking 9 hours those two days if I subtract my half hour sidetrip to Angel Basin. That JF trail isn't in too bad of shape and the views into the canyons along the way was pretty cool. It was also cool to finally meet GPSJoe, SunHiker, and Grashhopper on the trail as well. We eventually Tortilla Pass after some pushing thru the bushes and then angled north towards Angel Basin thru some slightly nasty catclaw just before reaching it. It's been a couple winters since I checked out the ruins, so I took a sidetrip up there while the others continued downstream to the Rogers/Fish confluence at setup camp. Those ruins were as sweet as ever and then I picked up my pack to hammer out the last 2 miles of the day. 
I hike a little slower with a full backpack and get slowed down by taking photos, so that evening I was able to talk more with them and get to know them better since we got in early and had a couple hours of daylight to burn. When darkness set it, we started the fire since it was getting cold fast. Some clouds rolled in and then left making us feel safe that it wouldn't rain when Wally & I finally turned in around 10pm only sleeping on pad/tarp .
