Weather: 75°, sunny
About this Hike: Last year I first explored Haunted Canyon Trail #203, although I don't believe I ever blogged about it on here. One of the highlights of Trail 203 is the historic site Tony's Ranch, found along a tricky side trail from the main path.
Last year I took the 'easy' trailhead just past Pinto Valley Mine along FR 287. The easier 'east end' has less elevation gain, but is also is about 5.5 miles to the ranch for an 11-mile out-and-back hike.
This year I decided to brave the shorter, steeper, more challenging side. We'll call this the 'west end' of Trail 203. Not only is the trail more challenging, the road to get there is rough as well.
Pass the parking area for the east trailhead and cross a one-lane iron bridge. The bridge has signage warning of a 17-ton maximum weight limit. One has to ask, how on earth would a vehicle weighing this much (i.e. a semi truck) ever get out there in the first place? FR-287 starts off as graded, wide dirt in the Pinto Valley Mine, but quickly narrows and becomes rockier.
I braved the bridge. At just over 2-tons, my Tacoma was well within the bridge's weight limit. There is no deck on the bridge, but rather two 'tire tracks' laid across the iron trusses. The bridge clattered and banged as I drove across it. I'd love to know the story of this bridge—when was it built? By whom? And for what purpose? Who maintains it?
One sharp left past the bridge, and I was now on FR 287A. I reset my odometer, having measured about 4.2 miles to the trailhead. My odometer read 3.8 miles when I finally reached the trailhead, so either my truck or Google Maps is need of calibration. The trailhead parking is well-signed and has parking for maybe three vehicles, depending on size and how people park. I should caution that FR 287A is rough in places. It's also a narrow one-lane shelf road in spots. Plan accordingly based on your vehicle type and comfort level.
The west hike on Haunted Canyon 203 begins in beautiful forest. Arizona cypress, juniper, and pinon pine mix with a lush variety of scrub. The shaded forest gives way to a climb up a ridge. Near the top, turn around. You'll see the mountains directly north of Roosevelt Lake. Depending on lake level, I'm wondering if the lake itself becomes visible. It's currently sitting below 70% full, and with the haze that was in the air, I'm not certain if I could see the water.
After the initial ascent, this hikes begins a descent. There's a cow tank, and beyond that the trail is overgrown and bush-whacky for a section. From there, you drop into Haunted Canyon and the hike becomes really beautiful. The forest quickly thickens again.
Not too far into this section is the side trail to Tony Ranch. The main 203 trails continues on, eventually ending at the easier, first trailhead. It was at this point I opted to turn around, having covered just short of four miles. The hike back up and out felt easier than going in, and I finished in considerably less time. I wanted to be off the shelf road portion of 287A before dark, a goal I hit easily.
I can now say I've hiked the entire length of Haunted Canyon, and I couldn't think of a more appropriate weekend to have done so.
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