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Hot Springs Canyon - 3 members in 9 triplogs have rated this an average 5 ( 1 to 5 best )
9 triplogs
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May 08 2022
avatar

 Guides 2
 Routes 127
 Photos 1,478
 Triplogs 129

male
 Joined May 07 2019
 Tempe, AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 08 2022
mikemcg • Triplogs 129
Hiking9.20 Miles 371 AEG
Hiking9.20 Miles   5 Hrs   17 Mns   2.10 mph
371 ft AEG      54 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
We didn't find any hot springs. But we did see at least 15 deer, 30 cattle, 3 turkeys, 100 squirrels, and a few thousand other birds.

The last 18 miles of the drive are on a dirt road which was easy for my low-clearance vehicle. Muleshoe Ranch is closed but the trails are open to hikers. There is a small parking lot for hikers, but the entrance is not obvious - we had to look carefully and read the small print on the sign to access the lot, then walk up the road a little bit to reach the trail.

The trail begins as a wide dirt road, which gradually narrows as it enters the canyon. There was moderate vegetation, which became thicker as we progressed, and soon turned into a beautiful riparian environment. There was no water for the first 1.5 miles, then there were a few pools up to 15 inches deep filled with tadpoles.

The flowing water began about 2.5 miles in and was continuous from there. It was typically 3-6 inches deep, but up to 3 feet deep in a couple spots. Beautiful and peaceful. There were numerous small (3-12 inches) fish in the water. There were a few cascades and one 2-foot waterfall. There was an interesting juxtaposition of thick green vegetation immediately around the creek with the desert environment visible just 50 feet away at the top of the canyon. There were multiple deer and thousands of birds. There were several turkeys that trotted across the open space but disappeared into the vegetation before we could get a photo. We were hoping to see some coatis based on previous triplogs but didn't see any. We stopped numerous times to take in the beauty and peace of this area. There were no other humans in the canyon, and no other vehicles in the parking lot. We eventually turned around and headed back. We will definitely return and explore this area further.

On the way out, a gang of cattle blocked the road for a while, but eventually let us through.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  New Mexico Thistle
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bullock's Oriole  Cactus Wren  Cow  Mule Deer  Zone-Tailed Hawk
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Bass Canyon Pools to trickle Pools to trickle
  5 archives
Jun 27 2020
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 15
 Photos 520
 Triplogs 38

46 male
 Joined Oct 01 2005
 Queen Creek, AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Canyoneering avatar Jun 27 2020
adv_trev • Triplogs 38
Canyoneering9.65 Miles 869 AEG
Canyoneering9.65 Miles   4 Hrs   17 Mns   2.32 mph
869 ft AEG      7 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
So, apparently this trail is closes? I wasn't sure till we finished. I couldn't imagine why. I know the ranch is closed. The amount of wildlife we saw in this candy was incredible. We saw deer, turkey, skunk, mearns, fish, coati's, and lion tracks. That turkey was following us around. She probably got 5 feet from my brother. The deer was eating right next to her before we showed up. The skunk was foraging it didn't even hear us walk up on it. Once it finally saw us it postured and even did a mini charge. It's pretty cool. Then it just walked off. At the end of the hike we came up on a pack of coati's. They were climbing their trees like a bunch of monkeys. Guess it's the closest thing we'll ever have the monkeys. It was a pretty successful adventure in my books.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Gould's Turkey  Skunk
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Jun 02 2012
avatar

 Routes 4
 Photos 76
 Triplogs 199

57 male
 Joined Mar 28 2011
 Oro Valley, Az
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Canyoneering avatar Jun 02 2012
boydstowe • Triplogs 199
Canyoneering12.00 Miles 623 AEG
Canyoneering12.00 Miles   6 Hrs   46 Mns   2.61 mph
623 ft AEG   2 Hrs   10 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
Canyon Hiking - Non-technical; no rope; easy scrambling; occasional hand use
A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit
III - Normally requires most of a day
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hike this on Saturday with two meetup groups. The SAAC and X-Hiking.

There wasn't a lot of water and it's a little too hot for this hike at this time of the year. The slot canyon part still has water up to your knees, but not much deeper. We did see a few neat things though:

On the way down the canyon we spooked a pack of mature javelina. The must not have heard or smelled us as we were right on top of them before they moved.

We watched an eagle make off with a snake! You could see the snake twisting to try and get at the eagle, but he would drop it and re-grab it in mid air. Later we walked up on the eagle down in the creek bed.

The neatest thing happened during lunch. It took off my shoes and dangled my feet in the pool while eating. Suddenly I felt light touches on my feet and legs. When I looked down there were little fish picking at my legs and feet! I've heard of this in spas, but never seen it in nature before... FREE PEDICURE!! :y:
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
_____________________
Skype: boyd.stowe
email: boyd.stowe@gmail.com
 
Aug 08 2010
avatar

 Guides 5
 Photos 26,458
 Triplogs 807

female
 Joined Feb 15 2003
 outside, anywher
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Canyoneering avatar Aug 08 2010
RedRoxx44 • Triplogs 807
Canyoneering12.00 Miles 623 AEG
Canyoneering12.00 Miles
623 ft AEG
Canyon Hiking - Non-technical; no rope; easy scrambling; occasional hand use
B - Up to light current; wading/swimming; possible wet/dry suit
III - Normally requires most of a day
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Really nice day, hot but not too much for this trek. Desert is draped in green velvet right now--so beautiful. Road to Muleshoe was rough last bit, due to rocks strewn about in the wash crossings.
Not sure of mileage as we went in at Bass Canyon. The conservancy has established a cute little trail in the canyon, easy to follow. Green and lush canopy, huge cottonwoods and sycamores throughout both canyons. Bit of a muddy bushwack as things had recently flashed, and it was humid. Nice to hike by a stream with a fair volume. Hot Springs canyon has no trail to follow. It is a bit of a slog to where the canyon starts to rock up. The initial small narrows had some nice swimming, but are completely avoidable by scrambling around on either side. The canyon opens and closes. Persist, the nicest short narrows are not far. A little swimming here also although most of it just chest deep wading on me. Brian didn't want to get wet and stayed dry the whole time. Charlie the city dog had a tough day, enjoyed the swimming, not the obedience training, and slept the whole way home.
_____________________
 
May 17 2009
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 3

44 male
 Joined Jun 29 2011
 Tucson, AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 17 2009
cwhalvor • Triplogs 3
Hiking12.00 Miles 623 AEG
Hiking12.00 Miles
623 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Wonderful hike. There was water almost the whole trip, at times meaning wading through the water above the knee. A couple deeper spots great for swimming. The canyon also had great wildlife: many snakes, including a beautiful diamondback; deer; a pack of about two dozen coatis; and javelinas.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Coatimundi  Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
_____________________
 
Mar 27 2008
avatar

 Triplogs 5

41 male
 Joined Feb 27 2008
 Tucson,AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Canyoneering avatar Mar 27 2008
Caballero • Triplogs 5
Canyoneering12.00 Miles 623 AEG
Canyoneering12.00 Miles
623 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
May 27 2007
avatar

 Photos 132
 Triplogs 131

female
 Joined Aug 13 2003
 Phoenix, AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 27 2007
cyn • Triplogs 131
Hiking8.00 Miles 623 AEG
Hiking8.00 Miles
623 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Apr 25 2007
avatar

 Triplogs 6

39 male
 Joined Apr 03 2007
 Tucson, AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 25 2007
NORTEXIV • Triplogs 6
Hiking16.00 Miles 623 AEG
Hiking16.00 Miles   7 Hrs      2.29 mph
623 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
May 16 2005
avatar

 Guides 15
 Photos 403
 Triplogs 17

45 male
 Joined Feb 05 2002
 Phoenix, AZ
Hot Springs CanyonTucson, AZ
Hot Springs Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 16 2005
Lizard • Triplogs 17
Hiking12.00 Miles 623 AEG
Hiking12.00 Miles
623 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hiked down Hot Springs Canyon yesterday for the second time. I think now that my trip last year was a bit of an anomoly. Tyler Williams says that "you never need to get more than your ankles wet during a traverse of Hot Springs Canyon." Last year several areas had waist deep wades, and one section even had a required swim. This year, The water was never more than shin-deep. However the distance between the high water mark and the waterline was about the same. I believe that last year, I must have hiked the canyon right after it had been scoured out by a flash flood. Many of the deep holes I hiked last year where filled with sand this year.

I hiked down to the "best slot" in the description, then beyond to see if there were more narrows to be found. I got about a mile below the narrows, but there were no more narrow sections to be found. The hike was still very enjoyable however. There were a lot of animals about. I saw 3 deer, and nearly stepped on an evil-looking black rattlesnake.
_____________________
"Of course we weren't lost. We were merely where we shouldn't have been, without knowing exactly where that was."
 
average hiking speed 2.33 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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