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| Hiking | 7.31 Miles |
1,016 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.31 Miles | 4 Hrs 3 Mns | | 2.28 mph |
| 1,016 ft AEG | 51 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This is the best decommissioned trail I've ever seen! Seriously, I think this trail is in better shape than some of the maintained trails! Very easy to follow. Not much cat's claw at all. Marked by a plethora of cairns (big, huge ones at that!) and starting at the rock creek turnoff, the trail is also marked by blue tape.
We pulled out of Gilbert at about 815a and made it to the Pinto Mine turnoff from US60 in about an hour. It then took us about 35 minutes to drive to the Miles TH. We were in a subaru, so not true 4WD or super high clearance, but it did the job. There were some ugly looking deep ruts here and there, and some rocky areas,but we managed to get there okay. In fact, while I would have been happier in a Jeep Wrangler, I would not have wanted to be in an F150 given how narrow the road is past the iron bridge. Signs are posted, so you are definitely warned. Single lane road, beware! Primitive unmaintained road ahead! Steep, mountainous curves ahead! You definitely cannot say you haven't been warned!!   I guess that is why the first TH (Pinto Creek TH) to Haunted Canyon is full of cars, and there were no cars at any of the other THs! I actually think the section of road just before the Pinto Creek TH is worse than anything past the iron bridge. There were sketchy parts, but doable. The hands-down worst section came at the very end, past the sign which helpfully reads "end of 279" but then the road continues for a very short length to the Miles TH. But you know you are almost there. You can see the corral. We had to park by the corral entrance and walk the remaining few steps to the TH due to a gigantic puddle that spanned road. There was no possibility of avoiding it in the car, so we figured it was better to walk the last bit.
This trail is super easy to our turn around point which was the 1909 corral described in the book Superstition Wilderness Trails East. I have been wanting to hike Rock Creek for a while, and I was not disappointed! This area is so beautiful, just as I expected based on hiking in the haunted canyon area. The hike is not physically challenging, with little elevation gain. It was enjoyable to mosey along in the trees with good company on a sunny day. 
The waterfall was a mere drip, but still interesting to observe. The corral is half a mile down and relatively easy to spot. I took way points for both on my route. I had read on one of the previous triplogs that the way got tougher after the water fall, but this was not the case today. Smooth sailing the entire way to the corral!
There was ice on the puddle-pond when we started hiking, but it was melted by our return. There was still iced-over puddles in the shadows by the water fall on our way back to the car.
Saw lots of birds at the puddle-pond, about 30 of them! Quite a few looked like robins. And on the drive out, we saw a couple of stellars jays. During the hike, I saw a few lizards and a lone chipmunk.
There was no one at the Miles TH upon our arrival, and no one there when we returned. Just as we were about to drive away, an off road golf cart showed up. I've never seen such a thing before. I asked if they passed anyone on the drive in, as I wanted to know what we were in for on the drive out. They said they saw no one, and indeed driving back we saw no one until just before the Iron Bridge and the perilous ways are coming signs. There was a single quad and a side by side.
After our hike, we checked out the barn structure which is full of bullet holes. Especially odd is the face high on the metal barn made from shooting. Strange.
I have never been to the Miles TH before today, and I was surprised at how big the area is with so much space for camping.
Such a beautiful area!! I can't wait to go back, but since I am an off road wuss, I will have to recover for a bit before going on that single lane road with nasty dropoffs! ;O |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Route Editor
Route Scout
and no, this isn't a trick to keep getting rides out to Miles TH 
Route 
Saw no other hikers all day, weather was a bit cool and breezy but felt nice. Another great day in the Supes!
I guess that is why the first TH (Pinto Creek TH) to Haunted Canyon is full of cars, and there were no cars at any of the other THs! I actually think the section of road just before the Pinto Creek TH is worse than anything past the iron bridge. There were sketchy parts, but doable. The hands-down worst section came at the very end, past the sign which helpfully reads "end of 279" but then the road continues for a very short length to the Miles TH. But you know you are almost there. You can see the corral. We had to park by the corral entrance and walk the remaining few steps to the TH due to a gigantic puddle that spanned road. There was no possibility of avoiding it in the car, so we figured it was better to walk the last bit.
with some nice pools up on top of it. Continued on to finish the missing section and tried to find the old Y Bar corral, but turns it I was about a quarter mile away from it. Headed back down and had lunch at the waterfall and back down I went. I did not see another person and I was the only vehicle at the TH all day, which is a bit surprising. Came across a couple small doe on the way down and that was it for the day. Hopefully we will get some additional rain, when I was at the falls last year it had more water then I have ever seen. This trail is no longer a wide open highway that it was early last year when I last did it. The catclaw is making a strong comeback, especially in a couple of areas. Pants are a must. 
