Reavis Ranch Return

Weather:  64º, sun early, clouds afternoon, a few sprinkles 

Time: 3 Hours to Reavis Ranch; 4 Hours Back; 7 Hours Total

About this Hike:  It has been just about four years to the day since I last visited Reavis Ranch.  Today's hike was sort of planned last minute. I've been thinking about going back to the ranch for some time now. The weather today looked absolutely perfect.

Same as in 2021, I started my hike at the Campaign Creek Trailhead near Reavis Mountain School. I was sad to see the junipers and other tall trees that offered a little shade in the parking area are now just stumps and mulch covering the ground. I have no idea why the FS did this. I had the parking lot to myself today, unlike in 2021 when  there were at least a few other cars. 

I started out on Campaign Creek Trail heading for Reavis Gap. It was about 20 degrees cooler than when I did this four years ago, yet it was still warm on the steep uphill sections climbing the gap. 

I marveled at how much healthy forest still remains in an area that was impacted by Woodbury Fire nearly six years ago. When I crested the gap on Two Bar Ridge, I kicked my phone off airplane mode. With a clear sightline toward Four Peaks and Tonto Basin below, my phone actually had service—two bars to be exact. 

Once I reached the ranch, I must admit it was a little underwhelming. The old artifacts are interesting to study and observe. It's amazing that the stamping marks are still intact on a lot of the steel equipment. Unlike four years ago, I didn't see any blossoms yet on the apple trees.  I ate lunch and probably spent no more than thirty minutes at the ranch.

In part, this was due to stormy clouds looming in the distance over the Salome and Sierra Ancha Wilderness areas. While the forecast wasn't calling for rain, I know that conditions can change quickly in the mountains. I was nervous about being caught in a thunderstorm and having to descend on the steep portions with them now being soaked and even more slippery. 

Thankfully aside from a few minor sprinkles the rain never reached the Superstitions. Unlike four years ago when I foolishly did the loop via Fire Line and Campaign Creek Trails, this time I did the hike as an out-and-back on Reavis Gap. This shaved off about two miles, making it "only" a 15-mile round trip hike. Reavis Gap is also well maintained. Fire Line and Campaign Creek Trails are faint and easy to lose. My understanding is that as manzanita and cat claw take over the Woodbury burn scar, those trails aren't getting any better... 

As I was wrapping up, I made one mistake similar to what I had done four years ago. Somehow I ended up at a gate leading into the Reavis Mountain School. This time I didn't open the gate and walk in. Instead, I had to climb up a steep ravine and force my way back onto the main trail. 

The school looked like class was in session today. I saw tents in the meadow and people working the gardens. 

This was definitely a tough day hike for a relatively minor reward. I suppose the real reward was enjoying all the rugged and beautiful scenery the Superstitions have to offer. 

Roger's Canyon Cliff Dwellings

Weather:  72°, clouds & sun

About this Hike:  I said I never wanted to attempt the notorious FR172 to Roger's Trough Trailhead in the Eastern Superstitions. Back in April of 2021 I even used Campaign Creek as a means of accessing Reavis Ranch so as to avoid the drive up to Roger's Trough.

Then I began reading about maintenance done on FR172 early in 2022.  And I had read about the Roger's Canyon Cliff Dwellings that are also accessible from Roger's Trough Trailhead. 

I decided to give FR172 a try.  Despite being re-graded earlier this year, the road is in rough shape.  The last four miles where it splits into FR172A and 172B are exceptionally bad. I have a mostly stock TRD Off-Road Tacoma. The truck performed excellent and never so much as slipped a tire. That said, I did slightly bottom out once on a rut. If you choose to do this road, it's a beautiful desert drive, but the road is scary in spots. 

Once parked at Roger's Trough Trailhead, we started off toward Roger's Canyon.  The first mile and a half of the hike follows the Reavis Ranch Trail. Roger's Canyon eventually forks off at a signed junction.

Roger's Canyon Trail 110 exists only in the memories of some, the maps of All Trails, and Tonto Forest's website. The actual trail is overgrown with catclaw and other nasties. However, since this trail parallels Roger's Creek, you simply walk in the dry creek bed. For this reason, I'd only recommend this hike when there hasn't been any recent precip, nor is any in the forecast.

The creekbed is mostly packed sand. However, it does get more challenging with steep drop offs that I'm certain are magnificent waterfalls when the creek is flowing.  Despite some scrambling, there always is a path down; you just have to hunt for it in some places.  Keep in mind your limits when it comes to rock scrambles--you need to come back up whatever you go down. 

The reward at the end of this hike was the Roger's Canyon Cliff Dwellings.  Constructed by the Salado Indians approximately 600 years ago, it's amazing these ruins are still so in tact.  A path leaves the creek bed and leads up to the first couple of ruins.  I even found some old pottery shards.  

From the creek bed an upper cave with more ruins is clearly visible. From photos I've studied, this upper cave has a fully intact pueblo in it. Unfortunately, it requires a scramble on the cliff face up a rock mezzanine.  My fear of heights wasn't having it. 

My hope was to continue down Roger's Creek and to Angel Basin. However, the creek bed was getting more narrow and technical in nature all the time.  Daylight was of the essence, as I wanted to be off the worst of FR172 before dark.  I opted to return the way I came. 

Despite being an out-and-back, there was plenty of scenery to be enjoyed that I had overlooked on the hike in.  The rough, jagged volcanic rocks that make up the Superstitions have many beautiful formations including needles, spires, and rock arches.  And despite 2019's Woodbury Fire in this area, it never got into Roger's Canyon.  There's still plenty of healthy trees and foliage to enjoy in the lush canyon. 

I don't know that I'll ever brave FR172 again.  I have fear of heights and the rutted shelf portions of this road had me puckering the entire drive.  But regardless, I'm glad to check this cool hike and piece of AZ history off my bucket list.

Reavis Ranch via Gap Loop

Weather:  87º, sunny

Time:  11 hours

About this Hike:  I can finally say I've checked Reavis Ranch off my bucket list.  Go back two years ago when Woodbury Fire was raging, and I never thought I was going to have the chance to experience this place.  Gratefully our wildland firefighters were able to save the ranch site.  

Getting to Reavis Ranch is said not to be a day trip.  The same is said about Grand Canyon Bright Angel rim-to-river and back.  I did that in about eight hours.  One also must weigh which trailhead they want to start at for Reavis Ranch.  Each has pros and cons.  

I opted for the Campaign Creek Trailhead.  Near Roosevelt Lake, it's back about seven miles along a dirt road just off AZ-188.  In terms of the drive, it sounded like it would be much easier than the 18 miles of rough mountain road to Roger's Trough.  The drive was in fact not too difficult.  The road has to get at least some degree of maintenance, as the Reevis Mountain School uses it.  Still, there are creek crossings and sandy spots.  Going in a drier season helped to ensure those obstacles were not an issue.  

Once parked at Campaign Trailhead, I started out on Reavis Gap Trail.  The distance to Reavis Ranch along Gap trail is about the same as Roger's Trough.  However, the elevation gain is much more severe.  While portions are burned, there are still wide areas of healthy juniper, pinon, and even ponderosa pine forest.   After about 4 hours of grueling hike, I reached the ranch.

It was a surreal experience to finally see this place in person.  Once there, you can see just how close the fire came.  It was on the ranch's doorstep.  

My gut told me to treat this as an out-and-back and return via Reavis Gap.  However, the elevation descent looked like it may be more gradual along the Fire Line and then Campaign Creek Trails (I was wrong on that).  Combining these with Reavis Gap forms a 16.2 mile loop.  I disobeyed my gut.  

Fire Line was rocky, scorched, and hard to follow in spots.  Eventually, Fire Line traversed a section of thick ponderosa forest that served as a consolation prize.  Part of the descent on Fire Line was so steep I had to go down on all fours.  

Nightfall came about 7pm.  While I was prepared with plenty of water, headlamp, and spotlight, it was still scary.  Campaign Creek trail is very hard to follow in spots.  Without GPS I wouldn't have made it.  After sunset, it took an additional 3 hours to reach the trailhead.  When I was nearing the end, I ended up off trail several times.  At one point I opened a cattle gate and was in front of a dark cabin.  A dim sodium lamp shined on a building in the distance.  I had trespassed onto Reevis Mountain School and thought seriously about cutting thru as I knew it would take me to the trailhead.  I opted not to, and spent considerable time bushwhacking till I found the correct trail again. 

The Superstitions are beautiful at night.  Desert primerose began opening their showy white petals.  Frogs were peeping in the creek.  The stars overhead were magnificent, even if the light pollution of Phoenix was visible on the horizon.  As I saw multiple cars still parked at the trailhead, I became slightly envious of the backpackers camping out there.  However, night is also when the hunters (mountain lions, bears) are most active.  The Superstitions are mystical, beautiful, and demanding of utter respect.  It is most unforgiving country.  

Thankfully I was prepared.  Had I started this hike a few hours earlier (I started at 11am), it likely wouldn't have ended after dark.  It's an experience I'm grateful to have had, and yet I wish not to have again.