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| | | Cedar Flat Galiuros Loop, AZ | | | |
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Cedar Flat Galiuros Loop, AZ
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| Backpack | 35.47 Miles |
3,427 AEG |
| | Backpack | 35.47 Miles | 4 Days | | |
| 3,427 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Recommended for experienced hikers only, with strong backgrounds in off-trail hiking, navigation, and water-finding. This is a long, arduous hike with several difficult off-trail sections. Even though it largely follows the West Divide trail, little of that trail remains between Hooker Cabin and Cedar Flat, and there is no trail whatsoever from Cedar Flat to the saddle above Long Tom Mine. Many other portions of trail are faint at best. All marked Springs within 0.5 mi of the route were bone dry, with the exception of the unnamed Spring in the side canyon south of Kiehlberg Canyon, Holdout Spring, and Jackson Spring. Water is not easy to find in dry months, though the more narrow slot canyons do hold water almost year-round.
Drove to Jackson Cabin for a 7am start (Note: high clearance 4WD vehicle required for this). First day hiked Jackson Cabin to Hooker Cabin on the West Divide Trail. There was no water anywhere in the main drainage of Redfield Canyon this time of year (late November, major ongoing drought), but after snow melt in Feb/ March, or after a good Monsoon season, the canyon has lots of water. West Divide trail above Hooker Cabin grows faint, and I didn't take this route. Instead, took theunnamed side canyon to the northeast of Hooker Cabin, veering left at the confluence with Negro Canyon. There was good water in several pockets in this side canyon. Scrambled up to Cedar flat via an unnamed drainage, and spent the first night at Cedar Flat, finding more water in pockets along the drainages.
Second day hiked from Cedar Flat to Holdout Spring, taking the route of West Divide Trail up to Rattlesnake Canyon. There is no remaining trail between Cedar Flat and the saddle just south of Long Tom Mine, nor any sign of the trail that I was able to find. This was an arduous bushwhack up the canyons. Passed by Cedar Spring, Knothe Spring, and Echols Spring; all dry. I suspect these would have water at other times of the year, as the plants growing on them were healthier and greener than anywhere else. There is water in the spring box below the abandoned cabin in the canyon to the southeast of Kiehlberg tank, and there was some water around Kiehlberg tank itself. The trail starts to get decent again halfway between Kiehlberg tank and Powers Mine. Holdout Spring always has great water, and there were one or two pockets of water in the deeper stone culverts along Rattlesnake Canyon about a mile prior to Holdout Spring. Spent the night at Holdout Spring.
Third day hiked from Holdout Spring to just below Basset peak, taking the East Divide trail. In contrast to the West Divide trail, this was much more traveled, though no water at this elevation. It was a long day of hiking and carrying as much water as I could from Holdout. Extraordinary sunsets from below Bassett peak.
Final day hiked up past Bassett Peak, and back down to Jackson Cabin via what is marked on *some* maps as #287C, though this "trail" does not appear on any FS maps. Like several of the other sections, this part is not for the faint of heart as it is quite steep in places, with the old and worn trail washed out rockslides. Jackson Spring was flowing great, but this was the only water I found between Holdout Spring and Jackson Spring along my route.
The Galiuros are an extremely special and unusual place.
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Wildflowers Observation None
Fall foliage was extensive and lovely. |
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