Interactive Map – how to use
On a PC, drag the map around and zoom in/out. On a mobile device, use 2 fingers to move the map around and to pinch for zoom. Click or tap on a track or a waypoint dot for more details about that feature. Mouse or finger slide over the elevation profile graph and look to see where that point is located on the map as you move along it.
Click the white arrow in the lower right corner of the main map to expand a mini-map that gives reference to the surrounding area around it.
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Download the tracks and waypoints files in various different formats via clicking the small icons on the top right corner (GPX, GeoJSON, KML, or GeoRSS) and saving to your computer/mobile. GPX format is the most versatile, and has all track and waypoint data. The KML download feature currently is only providing some waypoints, but no track data.
Mouse over this icon (if visible) in the upper right corner of the map to get an option to select an individual track section for which you’d like to see details, or to see it on the elevation profile graph below the map. (for maps with multiple tracks only)
Date: January 27, 2018
Mileage: 14.0
My third section of the Black Canyon Trail started at the Black Canyon City Trailhead in Rock Springs, Arizona and finished at the Gloriana Mine trailhead just off of Crown King Road.
This was another one-day trip, but now from Black Canyon City Trailhead just behind Rock Springs, AZ and finishing at the Gloriana Mine Trailhead on Crown King Road just south of Bumble Bee. My brother-in-law Todd joined me on this next passage, looking to hit his single-day personal record for mileage in one hike. We shuttled my truck to the Gloriana Mine trailhead and drove back down to the Black Canyon City trailhead to get started at just after 8am.
The first climb out of the Black Canyon City trailhead takes you up to the east for about a mile and tops out at the T-junction in the actual trail itself. That’s where you either make a right and head north, or left to go south. Right we go, and the views start paying off now that we’re on high ground.
Within 3 miles of the trialhead, we descend down into the Agua Fria river canyon to make one crossing. A little route finding with the help of some colored ribbons on the brush leads us to an easy log crossing at a shady pool. We cross to the north side and take a break in the shade to enjoy this little oasis, knowing that the rest of the trail ahead is going to be much more exposed.
After the Agua Fria river, we climb back out of that canyon and start the usual ups-and-downs through the various desert drainages and small canyons. The trail quality itself is still very high quality, as it has been for the first 35 southernmost miles.
In this middle section, there is an old grave about a dozen yards off trail to the west. It’s very visible due to the white quartz that marks it. No signage or names on anything, but there are a few old trail gifts left behind.
We spot some various mine tailing piles on the hills all around, and investigate one that was just west of the trail. The tailings were chalky grey, and behind them was a small rocky canyon that was overgrown with Palo Verde trees that were hiding a small mineshaft. It was about 2′ tall and about 3′ wide, just big enough to scoot through on your stomach if you so desired. I decided not to tempt the Hanta Virus gods that day and stayed out of it.
Moving along, we have intermittent views of Black Canyon City downhill to our east. At one point we drop quite close to the town as we cross the actual Black Canyon drainage, where we stop for lunch in the limited shade. An older couple was day hiking up the canyon, and they were the only other hikers we saw all day with the exception of a couple of trail runners.
Having studied the elevation profile beforehand, I knew we had our biggest climb at the 10 mile mark. The ascent goes up the west side of a rising valley, up and over a saddle to a second smaller climb before leveling out on its way to the finishing trailhead. The day was warming up pretty good by now, so we started the big climb.
Up we went, and quickly. I had pictured this climb as a 3 mile gradual ascent, but it was more like 1/2 mile of stairmaster. We pushed through it and took a much-needed rest at the top where there was a small saddle that gave view to the next climb. Hydrated again, we knocked out the next climb and were rewarded with a huge valley view below and the Bradshaws to our left.
Not long after the burn area, we come around a system of winding drainages to see the parking lot at Gloriana Mine trailhead. It’s always a moment of excitement to see your vehicle waiting there for you and knowing what you’ve just accomplished. We jump in my truck and head back to Rock Springs Cafe for a celebration beer and some gluttonous comfort food.
