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Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky Hollow - 5 members in 5 triplogs have rated this an average 3 ( 1 to 5 best )
5 triplogs
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Dec 08 2024
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 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,176
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky HollowPayson, AZ
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky Hollow
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 08 2024
pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290
Hiking6.91 Miles 1,942 AEG
Hiking6.91 Miles   3 Hrs   12 Mns   2.34 mph
1,942 ft AEG      15 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Hell's Gate Trail #37
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Four-star hike with a two-star approach drive. No car will make it to Smoky Hollow TH. It doesn't matter if one uses FR133 (longer) or FR1673 (less gates), both are slow grueling rock crawls. Your wheeler might take some punishment via scratches and skid plate scrapes. This southern hike is shorter than its northern counterpart though. Similar in that the first section follows an old two track until crossing lower Smoky Hollow. The rest of the way from there stays above the creek bed and is a bit obscure and overgrown. Creek levels were low, so I crossed Haigler and explored upstream until being stopped by a large pool. I also was able to cross Tonto Creek without getting wet below where the northern route ends at the camp. There was only one guy, and his dog camped at the sunnier southern camp. He also hauled out some trash that I couldn't fit in my pack. Returned via FR133 which was 11.6 miles and 1h 7m total to pavement. Next time in this area, I'll car camp in the area to make it more worthwhile.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Trash Hauled Out
  7 archives
Jun 11 2021
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 Guides 94
 Routes 840
 Photos 22,055
 Triplogs 1,993

52 male
 Joined Sep 18 2002
 Tempe, AZ
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky HollowPayson, AZ
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky Hollow
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 11 2021
chumley • Triplogs 1,993
Hiking3.27 Miles 175 AEG
Hiking3.27 Miles   1 Hour   28 Mns   2.28 mph
175 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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JoelHazelton
Jonnybackpack
After some logistical hiccups we got started on the trail a bit before 2. There were a couple of quads parked at the trailhead whose riders we guessed were on a day hike. The heat of the day took its toll, and I was happy to be carrying my shade umbrella.

About half a mile from the bottom we encountered an unusual find ... a cooler, abandoned right in the middle of the trail. Still cold and full of food we learned later it had been left by the two quad riders, two utes from Young. Apparently, after 6 hours of hiking they had given up and decided the finish the hike without the cooler. They also left their ice cream containers on the trail, as I'm sure those too, were quite heavy.

Their quads were gone when we returned to the trailhead so apparently they survived. Numerous signs of their presence here had also survived, which is always a bit disheartening to see, and somewhat unexpected in such a remote area.

Despite the stain of their visit, I was happy to have finally set foot on this trail, which has been on my map for several years.
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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
 
Jan 07 2021
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 Routes 154
 Photos 1,505
 Triplogs 266

31 male
 Joined Jun 02 2019
 Phoenix, AZ
Hell's Gate Trail #37Payson, AZ
Hell's Gate Trail #37
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 07 2021
LJW • Triplogs 266
Hiking22.82 Miles 5,188 AEG
Hiking22.82 Miles   11 Hrs   28 Mns   2.70 mph
5,188 ft AEG   3 Hrs    Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
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Hellsgate 37 ( North ) to Tonto Creek
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky Hollow
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
A friend and I hadn't been to Hell's Gate in a few years, and neither of us had done the South end of the trail. Started at 6:30 and walked for an hour in the dark.

Cows everywhere on the way in. Trail's the same as it's ever been to Hell's Gate. From there the trail was in good shape. A little overgrown and faint in a couple spots but no trouble. Eventually it switchbacks out of Smoky Hollow Canyon to the ridge. Turns into a two track that is steep and slippery but easy to follow to the road.

At the road we met a guy who had driven out to the southern th and was going to descend down to Tonto. Road in is reportedly slow going but not bad with 4x4 and some clearance.

Started toward Winter Camp but decided to save that for another day. Headed back the way we came and saw one backpacker on the way out.
  3 archives
May 28 2018
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 Guides 107
 Routes 249
 Photos 2,067
 Triplogs 514

male
 Joined Nov 18 2005
 Phoenix, AZ
Hell's Gate Trail #37Payson, AZ
Hell's Gate Trail #37
Payson, AZ
Backpack avatar May 28 2018
nonot • Triplogs 514
Backpack10.39 Miles 2,699 AEG
Backpack10.39 Miles3 Days         
2,699 ft AEG45 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Haigler Creek Hellsgate Wilderness
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky Hollow
Partners none no partners
Went down Hellsgate via the Young side. The roads to the trailhead are not great, but also aren't the worst I've ever driven. Definitely 4wd though.

Surprisingly despite what I imagine is almost no visitation, this side of the trail is in pristine shape the first 2 miles, likely due to well thought out construction. The last half mile to the creek suffers from erosion and overgrown bushes. Also, the trail stays high on ledges, where HAZbot suggests it goes down the main drainage. This was much easier than anticipated and I was happy with the way my trip had started.

I was surprised to find 15 cows grazing in Haigler creek around the Tonto intersection. I thought grazing was illegal in a wilderness area in the protected riparian areas. They sure made a mess of things as all the campsites have been filled with cowpies. They were very annoying and one might have a leg injury but it was hard to tell.

The next day I headed up Haigler, I made maybe 2ish miles in 6 hours. It sure is beautiful but all the swimming and head-high poison ivy on the brief respites from swimming really slowed me down. Worried about making my planned exit spot I scoped out a doable exit route and cut short my day, deciding to leave the rest of my trip for another time. I discovered my drybag leaked which left me in a sticky situation with a soaked sleeping bag. Luckily it doesn't get that cold down there and I had enough other stuff that was able to dry out before nightfall to get through the night relatively comfortably.

Last day I climbed and bushwhacked my way back to the road. Smartest decision I made the whole trip was to start the bushwhack climbing before sunrise to take advantage of the shade. Not a route I would recommend but it did get me back.

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Fuller Mesa Tank Number Two 1-25% full 1-25% full
a tiny bit of green disgusting water

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water less than max Haigler Creek Medium flow Medium flow
600 cfm estimated

dry Hell Tank Dry Dry
I didn't see any water in this area of the drainage, but the map suggests this is way up the side of the canyon. I didn't leave the trail to investigate.

dry Hells Gate Trail Tank Dry Dry

dry Lost Camp Canyon Tank Dry Dry

dry Smoky Hollow Tank Dry Dry
_____________________
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Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
  1 archive
Apr 25 2015
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 Guides 13
 Routes 38
 Photos 1,651
 Triplogs 577

60 male
 Joined Nov 15 2005
 Jackson, CA
Hell's Gate Trail #37Payson, AZ
Hell's Gate Trail #37
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 25 2015
toddak • Triplogs 577
Hiking26.00 Miles 5,000 AEG
Hiking26.00 Miles   12 Hrs      2.17 mph
5,000 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Hellsgate 37 ( North ) to Tonto Creek
Hellsgate 37 ( South ) - Smoky Hollow
Partners none no partners
In a recent forum post, chumley asked if anyone had hiked the full length of this trail (most hikers come from the north trailhead and understandably don't venture beyond the confluence of Tonto and Haigler Creeks). As a big fan of Hellsgate Wilderness, of course I had to go check out the southern end of the trail. Since driving to the south trailhead on FR133 from Young was questionable, I started from the north trailhead. This report covers the trail section south of the confluence.

The trail continues a short distance up Haigler Creek from the confluence in the first obvious drainage, which is Smoky Hollow canyon. Shortly after entering the drainage the trail climbs out and up and stays on the eastern slope, paralleling the canyon. The trail is overgrown and faint in spots, but not too hard to follow. After climbing for about 0.75 miles, the trail crosses over to the west side of the drainage and continues climbing on a faint, abandoned road with steadily improving views. There aren't a lot of cairns, but the trail route and GPS track shown on MyTopo are pretty close to accurate.

From the south trailhead at the junction with FR133 I continued road-hiking east and south about 3 miles through beautiful open range country to go check out the "winter camp" shown on the maps. At some point the camp must have been a bustling place, but it appears to be abandoned. FR133 between the trailhead and winter camp is quite steep and rocky in places and would require a pretty serious off-road vehicle, and based on the grass growing on the road and the lack of tire tracks, I doubt it gets much use. I think it's safe to say that taking the southern route into this rugged area isn't going to be easy.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Corral  Windmill
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Hellsgate Wilderness  Smoky Hollow  Smoky Hollow Tank
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average hiking speed 2.37 mph

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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