Black Hills Mine Road – 7/7/2016

Past San Manuel the road takes a hard left as it heads down to the San Pedro River – only a year or two ago the road turned to dirt near the turn, but now an unbroken path of pavement takes you towards the river. At the turn an unsigned dirt road leaves to the right – Black Hills Mine Road – FR4450. 

Cloud shadows on the hills between Black Hills Mine Road and the Santa Catalina Mountains. July 2016.
Cloud shadows on the hills between Black Hills Mine Road and the Santa Catalina Mountains. July 2016.

Black Hills Mine Road is wide and smooth at the start as it cuts straight lines thru the desert to the edge of Alder Canyon. At Alder Canyon the road climbs to the ridge between Alder Canyon and Geesaman Wash and passes the Ventana Tank.

Ventana Tank - reflections of Point 5817 between Alder and Edgar Canyons and the clouds above. July 2016.
Ventana Tank – reflections of Point 5817 between Alder and Edgar Canyons and the clouds above. July 2016.

Near Bat Well the road, now rougher and narrower, crosses over to Geesaman wash and winds towards a junction with the Control Road.

The Bat Well area off of Black Hills Mine Road. July 2016.
The Bat Well area off of Black Hills Mine Road. July 2016.

Black Hills Mine Road is best enjoyed in a high clearance vehicle with a detailed map – there are a number of dirt roads in the area and generally no signs to rely on – if exploring from the road it is helpful to have a map showing land ownership boundaries, the road passes thru a mixture of State Trust, USFS and private land. (Use of State Trust Land requires a permit.) 

Edgar Canyon, Davis Spring Trail, Point 5817 – 4/1/2016

Points 5810 and 5817 on the left, Evans Mountain on the right. April 2016.
Points 5810 and 5817 on the left, Evans Mountain on the right. April 2016.

Looking down into the San Pedro Valley from high on the highway there are a huge number of ridges and peaks to draw your attention – one particularly beautiful peak is Point 5817. Point 5817 is not a massive peak or towering spire – it doesn’t even have a name – but its large cliffs stand out from the surrounding terrain.

We drive around the north end of the Santa Catalina Mountains, down the San Pedro, past the junction with Redington Road, thru the Six Bar Ranch and out to the Davis Spring Trailhead. The road seems a little rougher than it did in 2014. The trailhead is empty – probably be true most days, I don’t think this area is popular with hikers at the moment and is likely more often used by hunters.

Beautiful rock in Edgar Canyon. April 2016.
Beautiful rock in Edgar Canyon. April 2016.

One of the tanks below Davis Spring is full and pipes still take water down to the corral. At the corral we leave from the trail sign, but our first guess at the trail is a cow path to nowhere – unsure if the Davis Spring Trail really still exists in any useful form we give up and drop into Edgar Canyon – a great decision that quickly leads to unique rocks, flowing water and reasonably easy walking.

A few minutes above a section of unusual rock we are surprised to find the Davis Spring Trail – and even more surprised that we can easily follow the trail past the junction sign for the Knagge Trail and nearly to Araster Spring before it eludes us on a grassy hillside.

The Davis Spring Trail high on the hillside above Edgar Canyon. April 2016.
The Davis Spring Trail high on the hillside above Edgar Canyon. April 2016.

Araster Spring is covered with leaves, the canyon is flowing nearby – a great spot for a a short break before the climb up to the ridge to the north. The hike up to the ridge is filled with steep climbs on grassy hillsides with great views of our destination, Point 5817.

Point 5817 above Edgar Canyon - above Araster Spring in Peck Basin. April 2016.
Point 5817 above Edgar Canyon – taken above Araster Spring in Peck Basin. April 2016.
A mystery on the barbed wire fence - north ridge of Edgar Canyon. April 2016.
A mystery on the barbed wire fence – north ridge of Edgar Canyon. April 2016.

Up on the ridge a barbed wire fence becomes our path and at a small saddle what seems to be a seat hangs on the barbed wire fence surrounded by an old gate, a section of fence pulled down by a tree, a pallet that probably held fencing supplies, old rusted out cans and a shirt nearly destroyed by the elements.

Shadows cover the landscape – from the summit of Peak 5817 the sunset lights up the Galiuros, a nice distraction before the slowest section of the hike – a loose slippery grass filled hillside back down to the trail.

Looking across Peck Basin - shadows covering the landscape at the end of the day. April 2016.
Looking across Peck Basin – shadows covering the landscape at the end of the day. April 2016.
The Galiuro Mountains with Mount Graham in the background -  from Point 5817. April 2016.
The Galiuro Mountains with Mount Graham in the background – from Point 5817. April 2016.

If you are interested in visiting this area see the information at the bottom of this post on visiting Evans Mountain – there is information about the drive to the Davis Spring Trailhead from Tucson, several trip reports from the area and some information about the Six Bar Ranch.