Devil's Canyon

Total Miles
18.8

Elevation

1,463.65 ft

Duration

--

Technical Rating

6

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Trail Overview

This remote, scenic trail should be done at least once by everyone with a well-equipped vehicle. It is probably moderate in most places but is very rough through the center portion. It is a long bumpy day, but you will take away good photos and great memories. Pinal Peak (right) is a nice vista at about 8,000' elevation. The trail can be run either way, but we prefer to do it west to east. It seems to be more scenic.The trail's western end was graded circa 2010 for exploratory drilling associated with the Resolution Copper mine on the other side of Devil's Canyon. It is beginning to deteriorate, but as of 2015 is not too bad. There is a nice overlook into Devil's Canyon not too far into the trail. Shortly after that is where the road gets bumpy.The trail drops down into Mineral Creek at the southernmost point of the trail. Great views as you wind down the switchbacks.Almost as soon as you reach Mineral Creek, you will turn left up Lyons Creek. At this point, you are about 2,900' in elevation. Follow Lyons Creek a short distance, then turn right and head for higher ground. Watch for a crested saguaro on the way up. At 6,000' elevation, turn downhill and head for Globe.It is possible to turn left when you reach Pinto to Pinal 2.0 and go to US 60 that way, but it is quicker and easier to turn right and go through Globe.Government Springs Ranch has grazing rights along this trail and owns some of the land outright. The trail across this privately owned land can be closed at any time. Please respect the Ranch and do not give them a reason to close the trail. Leave gates the way you find them. The Ranch is not gated from this trail, but the manager does not want traffic through the Ranch. Stay away.

Difficulty

Very rough and rocky through the center of the trail

Technical Rating

6

Status Reports

Dalton Nadeau
Mar 15, 2024
4x4
Open
Muddy/Wet
Rough/Deteriorated
Ran trail west to east, trail starts very easy and gets progressively harder towards the Center, multiple uphill climbs on loose rock with medium sized boulders, a couple steep off camber down hill sections on slick rock, lots of sections which can cause body damage if you don’t have a lift and big tires, multiple ranch gates you need to open, remember to close them behind you. Lots of cattle, sometimes in the middle of the road. After you pass through the spring ranch and on to the second half you will encounter some heavily off camber tight section that are extremely slick when wet with a hazard of sliding off the cliff face (up to 25 degrees) as you ascend the mountains, reached a total altitude of 6400ft, into the clouds as we drove a ridge along the top of the mountains. Road will eventually come out into a forest with a campground and its smooth sailing from there to the end on graded road
Ian Sauter
Dec 09, 2023
4x4
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
Andrew Riggs
Nov 18, 2023
4x4
Open
Normal
Rough/Deteriorated
Eric Tomaszewski
May 04, 2023
4x4
Open
Rough/Deteriorated

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