Johns Canyon , Mexican Hat, Ut

 
47 miles, April 18, 2016

We headed north from Mexican Hat on Hwy 163, turning to the left (towards Gooseneck State Park) on road 261, for a short distance, then left on 316 a tar road. Turn right at MM 3. which is Johns Canyon road. There are 2 boondocking spots, the second one is flatter.

We headed out at 9:30 am directley onto Johns Canyon Road.  The first part of the road is flat with a bluff off to the right.  As you head on the trail travels closer to the rim of the San Juan River and the mountain/bluff
We came to the waterfall at GPS #  Is is a hard rock ledge with water flowing over. Just past this is the Y, to the right is Johns Canyon.  This is where the creek flows to the waterfall.  We didn't  go very far and came to a dead end, a wilderness study area.  Too bad because there are numerous petroglyphs along the creek/canyon.

We went back to the Y and took a right.  We saw numerous petroglyphs along this trail.
We came to the massive rock slide (see photo below), the trail has been cleared. We kept going enjoying the petroglyphs, rock formations and the creek at the bottom of the ravine. We arrived at the end of the trail and the odometer was at 25.  It was 8 miles back to the Y and at the end of the trail we had gone 47 miles at 5pm 

We took a side trip to Gooseneck State Park

INFORMATION>
LOCATION>   NEAREST CITY= Mexican Hat, Ut 5 mi  DIRECTIONS= north from Mexican Hat on Hwy 163, turning to the left (towards Gooseneck State Park) on road 261, for a short distance, then left on 316 a tar road. Turn right at MM 3. which is Johns Canyon road.
AREA >   TYPE OF LAND=-desert, , OWNER=  BLM
QUALITY >  Pro-beautiful terrain / Con-non /  Length of stay-1 / Rating-stars3
TERRAIN>  MILES OF TRAILS, 47 miles with dust / water crossing /    TRAIL MAINTENCE   / SQ. MILE AREA -yes/  NEAR BY TRAILS- Bluff, Ut River house ruin
REGULATIONS> Permit required / Campin /whip / helmets req. / width req.-None
FEE> Camping -RV park in Blanding, 42 mi or Boondocking at Johns Canyon
KEY SERVICES> Camping boondocking on Johns Canyon road /  Water, Diesel, Gasoline- 5 miles away at Mexican Hat /  First Aid-Blanding, Ut-42 mi /  Dump-Campground in Bluff / Food=Blanding, Ut 42 mi
GPS POINTS>
SIDE TRIPS> Gooseneck state park
CONTACTS>BLM

Palace Station, Bradshaw Mountains near Crown King, Az

35 miles

  We drove north of Peeples Valley, Az, to Wagoner Road.  Turning East, this is a gravel road for a mile, then it is tar. We drove in 9.1 miles, crossing the Hassayampa River and passing beautiful ranches. We turned Left on Crooks Canyon Road, in a quarter mile,  stage at the wash or the next pull off to park and stay out of the way, as this road is busy with traffic.  We headed out staying on the NF marker # 94C. We passed thru a great sandstone valley with a view of Battleship Butte.

Then you are traveling over huge rolling hills full of scrub brush, yet there’s views to see. We made it to the pine trees for lunch.

  Then headed on to Palace Station, on Bodie Mine Rd.  A cabin built in 1874 By Spence Family.  It is the oldest structures in Arizona, it served as a stage station on the Senator Trail from Prescott to Phoenix until 1910.   At this point you hit the Senator Highway ( this is NOT  a highway, more like a 4x4 dirt road) and Walker Road. Crown King is 24  mi and Prescott is  15 mi.

We returned another route, passing numerous other trails, crossing over creeks and trying to find the larges cottonwood tree.

Wickenburg massacre site & Reserve Bank Copper Mine

Wickenburg, Az  54 miles

Today our group had 30 rigs, cutting across the desert from Congress, Az towards Wickenburg, Az.

Good thing we had a leader who knew the route, because there are numerous trails shooting off. We arrived at the Reserve Bank Copper Mine, where Gary Huetson goes down into the shaft and mines the copper. Joyce Ramage then works with the raw material and forms it into handmade jewelry.

   First our drive across the desert.  Many  folks haven’t ridden out thru the desert, and it is quite diverse. Certain cactus, only grow in special elevations, south or north facing ranges, or places where there is more water. Below is a tall Yucca plant, it is quite tall, the natives used this plant for baskets, shoes and food. The Saguaro, tall cacti holds many gallons of water and bears a fruit, and birds use it to nest in. The  ocotillo leaf out and bloom when they receive water, watch out for their thorns. The short teddy bear chola has more needle like spines all over it. Watch out they call it the Jumping Chola!

Gary took us down 40ft for a tour of his mining shafts. This mine began in the 1880s. It is 60 degrees down below.

On the way back to Congress, we stopped by the famous Wickenburg Massacre Site.  On Nov. 5, 1871, the stage coach with 8 passengers, en route to Calif. were (supposedly) attacked by Yavapai indians. 6 people died.

So next time you are driving thru the desert, just think of all the history and hidden treasures, that you can’t see!

Crown King, Az

52 mi- 8 hours

   We hauled our rides to Lake Pleasant, and drove up the Castle Hot Springs Road.  In about 8 miles you will find a large staging / camping area.  This is where we unloaded and started our rise in elevation and outstanding sights.

The road that we started out on is pretty good most of the way. It does require 4 wheel drive for a vehicle. We  reached a high elevation where the pine trees grow.  It is cooler up here. There are numerous homes and business in Crown  King. There are some Bed & Breakfast here also. Which would be a good way to see the area, since it takes 8 hrs round trip, including lunch.

We all decided to come back here again.