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Black Hills Arch - 2 members in 8 triplogs have rated this an average 3.5 ( 1 to 5 best )
8 triplogs
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Dec 05 2023
avatar

 Guides 4
 Photos 4,732
 Triplogs 2,607

55 male
 Joined Sep 29 2004
 Small Town USA
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 05 2023
SkyIslander18 • Triplogs 2,607
Hiking7.00 Miles 750 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles
750 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Red Knolls Amphitheater
Partners partners
AddSanz
Great hike out to the Arch!
We poked around in the many alcoves/caves along the way.
Had lunch inside the big alcove at the arch.
Climbed up under the arch for pics and views.
Short visit to the native shelter cave.
Sooo glad it's winter hiking season, this would be a death march in summer.
Highlight for me was the many Saguaros along the way ... I don't get to see these often in my parts.
This area is as far east as they grow in the US.

On the way back home we made the side trip out to Red Knolls for a loop around the natural amphitheater.
Very cool formations and someday we will make this area into a full day trip.

Good times with my buddy in the open December AZ desert :y:
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Nov 20 2017
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 Guides 4
 Photos 4,732
 Triplogs 2,607

55 male
 Joined Sep 29 2004
 Small Town USA
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 20 2017
SkyIslander18 • Triplogs 2,607
Hiking7.00 Miles 750 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles
750 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Red Knolls Amphitheater
Partners partners
Abqkathy
weavejd
Ahhh November temps! It's finally cool enough to start my winter adventures across the Gila Valley desert that I so love. And no better place to start then up the gash know as Box Canyon in Fort Thomas, this ain't no autumn colors hike. X2 the fun getting to show my visiting friends Dave & Kathy (and Finn aka the dog) this amazing place for the first time!
We parked, hiked up the wash & entered the canyon greeted by the most eastern found standing saguaro's in the US ... always a cool tidbit. We then marveled at the high jagged canyon walls, saguaros, mini arches, numerous alcoves, rock formations & huge raptor nests high up including "Shikaka's lair".
The last 1/2 mile up is the money section including the arch, huge bee alcove, twisting green canyon full of small caves, native artifact cave and ending at the dead end slot canyon.
Returned out the way we came in after first getting the mandatory under the arch pics. The hike out is just as good as the hike in and I believe we nailed it today ..... great temps, great hike ..... I think the dog liked it too!
On the drive out we made a short stop across Hwy 70 at Red Knolls for a loop around the natural amphitheater for pics.
Box Canyon, Black Hills Arch & Red Knolls ..... Perfect start to my desert hiking season!
Thx Dave, Kathy & Finn, until the next one ..... :yr:
:D

dry Box Canyon Dry Dry
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  1 archive
Nov 25 2014
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 Guides 4
 Photos 4,732
 Triplogs 2,607

55 male
 Joined Sep 29 2004
 Small Town USA
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 25 2014
SkyIslander18 • Triplogs 2,607
Hiking10.10 Miles 1,100 AEG
Hiking10.10 Miles
1,100 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
AddSanz
This has become one of my favorite annual Gila Valley hikes!
Temps are now perfect for hiking up the open wash to and through Ft Thomas's Box Canyon.
Addie was my partner on this one and together we first completed the described route to the awesome arch reward at the end. We then backtracked and took a side canyon out of the main gash to search for the eastern most saguaro cactus we could find. This area is as far east as they appear in the US and we off-trailed to many nice ones to log. We then found a good wash backdrop to break in a new .38 & .380 for about an hour before heading back out. After a few miles of up & down desert hill crossings with two failed big drop-off wash routes, we finally picked up a good wash that brought us back around to complete one fun & scenic loop!
Wildlife sightings today was in the Thousands ..... Bees ..... Thousands of bees packed into a half dozen or so big cliff hanging honeycombs. I've never seen anything like it before.
Very enjoyable trip, see ya again in 2015,16,17 .....
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Jan 10 2013
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 Photos 4
 Triplogs 5

82 female
 Joined Nov 04 2011
 Safford, AZ
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 10 2013
ppriceaz • Triplogs 5
Hiking6.00 Miles 690 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles
690 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
What a spectacular hike right in our backyard (Safford). Actually we just walked the clay mine wash to the box and took short side trips to the numerous natural caves. There was even a geocach at the end. The wash was easy to walk in. We thought this hike was called Box Canyon, but the arch near the end was the show piece of the hike.
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Apr 12 2012
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 Guides 4
 Photos 4,732
 Triplogs 2,607

55 male
 Joined Sep 29 2004
 Small Town USA
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 12 2012
SkyIslander18 • Triplogs 2,607
Hiking7.40 Miles 825 AEG
Hiking7.40 Miles   4 Hrs   53 Mns   2.19 mph
825 ft AEG   1 Hour   30 Mns Break
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I've been waiting for another cooling trend to hit the valley to revisit the arch, and today was the day. Big cloud cover & cool temps had me a little cold as I started up the wash towards the box canyon at noon, but it soon cleared up and was perfect hiking weather for the rest of the trip. Was quite surprised at the amount of wild flowers (and bees) along the wash and canyon as I made my way to the arch. The arch and the rest of the canyon it sits along was Capital C-O-O-L! I spent well over an hour exploring the area including many of the alcoves and the 2 small prehistoric shelter caves. Very fun hike through a scenic canyon with an awesome payoff at the end will have me going back there every year! I also made the short drive out to the Red Knolls natural amphitheater for sunset to end the day, what an amazing place that is as well!!!
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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Jan 08 2011
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 Guides 4
 Photos 4,732
 Triplogs 2,607

55 male
 Joined Sep 29 2004
 Small Town USA
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 08 2011
SkyIslander18 • Triplogs 2,607
Hiking8.50 Miles 1,000 AEG
Hiking8.50 Miles   3 Hrs   14 Mns   2.63 mph
1,000 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Started this one out all wrong, thought I had found the correct wash to hike up without first confirming it with my GPS cords. Realized about a 1/2 mile in that I was not going in the right direction and climbed up to a viewpoint to confirm my mistake. I was almost a mile east of the wash I should have been in and after a few up & down hill crossings, I was in the correct wash and at the mouth of the box canyon. The next 1.5 miles through the towering walls of the box was full of saguaros, natural windows, alcoves & caves, raptor nests, bee honeycombs and interesting rock formations! The box then opened up for a stretch before rounding a corner and leading me to the Arch. The arch was bigger than I expected and I spent about an hour just exploring the area all around it before turning around and heading back. Took the correct wash back out and was NOW glad I had come in the path I did because I found this wash quite boring hiking out. I really enjoyed this unique place and will be back to show others! Nice find Preston !!!
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Saguaro
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Natural Arch
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  3 archives
Jan 26 2010
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 26 2010
PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097
Hiking6.00 Miles 700 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   2 Hrs   26 Mns   2.47 mph
700 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After failing to find the arch in April 2009, I was able to find its location on a map from a website on southern AZ arches (I had been within a quarter mile of it :lol: ). I charged up the wash, and located the arch in just over an hour. Explored up canyon a bit, checking out more alcoves. Located an alcove with pottery sherds and a blackened ceiling. There were holes dug, fresh bootprints and the impression of a 5 gallon bucket in the soft floor (pothunters, I assume). Made the 3 mile return trek in 41 minutes. It was nice to get to see this one before my time in this part of the state comes to an end.
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Natural Arch
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Moon
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Apr 07 2009
avatar

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

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Black Hills ArchTucson, AZ
Black Hills Arch
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 07 2009
PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097
Hiking5.50 Miles 880 AEG
Hiking5.50 Miles
880 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I heard about this one from a friend a few years ago. On a slightly less hot day in early April, I headed up the wash, thinking that the natural arch was at the entrance to the canyon, and would be easy to find. A little ways into the hike, I was roasting. After exploring the main canyon for a bit, I went cross country over a ridge looking for the arch in a side canyon. No luck there either, so I hiked back, hoping to return soon on a cooler day. That didn't happen for another 10 months. :lol:
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mexican Gold Poppy  Saguaro  Scarlet Bugler
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
average hiking speed 2.43 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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