by Christine Maxa
January Outside in Arizona
Christine writes "The Hike of the Week" for the Arizona Republic newspaper and is a frequent contributor to Arizona Highways magazine, the Mesa Tribune and numerous publications nationwide.
7 miles one way
Rated: Average
The Hike: This hiking route starts on FR 650 from a large corral at Happy Camp, then turns Tonto Trail #509, and ends where it rejoins FR 650 at the top of Montana Mountain. Over a hundred years ago, Elisha Reavis used part of this route to transport vegetables and fruits from his ranch deep in the Superstition Wilderness to Superior.
The route follows the drainage of Whitford Canyon and within a mile, hooks up with Reavis Trail Canyon where Trail #509 begins as an old jeep road at a large metal sign identifying it as part of the Arizona Trail. Reavis Trail Canyon harbors galleries of cottonwoods and stands of saguaros between walls chiseled and smoothed by erosion.
Cardinals flash like red sparks among the riparian cover. The trail narrows to a footpath, crisscrossing the shallow drainage while gently climbing into the remote high country of the eastern Superstition Mts.
At a brushy basin ringed by 5,000 ft. peaks, the trails starts its long, hard slog up Montana Mountain. Once on the mountaintop, hikers can see Superior, Picketpost Mountain, the Pinal Mountains, and Mt. Lemmon in the southern distance. Northern views beautifully articulate the layout of the Superstition's jagged ridges.
Getting There: Take U.S. 60 east past the Florence Junction turnoff to just past mile marker 221; turn left onto an unmarked road, after 0.1 miles, veer right onto FR 8; drive 1.9 miles to FR 650; drive 3.7 miles to Happy Camp corral. High clearance vehicles best for this route.
Leave No Trace:
Plan ahead for weather, water, and food considerations; stay on the trail when possible; pack out what you pack in; bury human waste 6-8" in the ground, 200 feet (about 80 adult steps) away from water sources or camp; wash away from water sources; choose an established camp or an area that will not be damaged; restore area to be as natural as possible.
like red sparks among the riparian cover"
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