desertdawg
05-21-2006, 06:56 PM
Hackberry Creek also known as Powerline Trail
Trail Rating: 3.5
The trail is located east of Superior. The trail starts at the Oak Flat campground, which is approximately two miles past the tunnel on U.S. 60. and makes a figure eight through rocky high desert terrain. The trail follows along the powerlines to the east and through Hackberry Creek to the west. The trail passes through a general area known as Queen Creek Canyon, Oak Flat, Devil's Canyon or Hackberry Creek. All are used to describe the area to those familiar with it.
Once you are in the green valley you can either take the road on the west side of the valley and head up (South) through Hackberry Creek (like the Wells book describes) or you can take the road on the East side of the valley, which goes up (South) along the powerlines.
If you take the road along the powerlines take a short side trip to Devil's Canyon. To get there, take the road that goes east at the south end of the green valley where the windmill is. Follow the shelf road East along a creek and it will dead end. Park and take a short hike to an awesome view of the canyon. The breathtaking view is worthwhile.
After the side trip follow the road back down to the windmill and turn left. You are now back on the main trail. Keep following the road south and you will come to a rutted area where you can test out your vehicle's flex. Keep following the road south along the powerlines and eventually you will see a lesser road to your right. This is the optional bypass road around the obstacle and the uphill boulder garden that you will see about a hundred yards in front of you. The bypass will take you to a T intersection.
The obstacle described in the Wells book has been filled in and repaired so it's not much of a challenge anymore. Once up and over the obstacle, proceed up the boulder garden. This will take you to a fork. Go right (West) and you will eventually see where the lesser bypass road intersects. keep going west until you come to another fork. Go right. Straight will take you uphill (West, FR315) and eventually to 177 to Winkleman. Follow the road to your right and you will head north toward Hackberry creek.
You eventually come to another wood barbed wire entry. Prior to starting your descent through Oak Creek and later Hackberry Creek, look for a large boulder to your right. To your left is another cattle pond. This boulder has some interesting Indian petroglyphs on it. Continue following the road through the canyon which will lead back to the green valley. Take the same switch back road up and back down the rocky hill and on to the rock fin. There is an optional road around the the rock fin that is a little more challenging if you decide to take it. After the rock fin just follow the same route you came in on.
The rock fin
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Hackberry%2012-18-05/Pic012.jpg
Steep rocky hill after the rock fin
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic016.jpg
Side trip to Devil's Canyon
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic054.jpg
Devil's Canyon
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic048.jpg
Optional obstacle
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_7359.jpg
Heading north through Hackberry Creek on the west side of the trail
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic272.jpg
Petroglyphs
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_1206.jpg
Heading up the boulder garden just after the obstacle
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic223.jpg
Hackberry Creek with snow
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_5637.jpg
Trail Rating: 3.5
The trail is located east of Superior. The trail starts at the Oak Flat campground, which is approximately two miles past the tunnel on U.S. 60. and makes a figure eight through rocky high desert terrain. The trail follows along the powerlines to the east and through Hackberry Creek to the west. The trail passes through a general area known as Queen Creek Canyon, Oak Flat, Devil's Canyon or Hackberry Creek. All are used to describe the area to those familiar with it.
Once you are in the green valley you can either take the road on the west side of the valley and head up (South) through Hackberry Creek (like the Wells book describes) or you can take the road on the East side of the valley, which goes up (South) along the powerlines.
If you take the road along the powerlines take a short side trip to Devil's Canyon. To get there, take the road that goes east at the south end of the green valley where the windmill is. Follow the shelf road East along a creek and it will dead end. Park and take a short hike to an awesome view of the canyon. The breathtaking view is worthwhile.
After the side trip follow the road back down to the windmill and turn left. You are now back on the main trail. Keep following the road south and you will come to a rutted area where you can test out your vehicle's flex. Keep following the road south along the powerlines and eventually you will see a lesser road to your right. This is the optional bypass road around the obstacle and the uphill boulder garden that you will see about a hundred yards in front of you. The bypass will take you to a T intersection.
The obstacle described in the Wells book has been filled in and repaired so it's not much of a challenge anymore. Once up and over the obstacle, proceed up the boulder garden. This will take you to a fork. Go right (West) and you will eventually see where the lesser bypass road intersects. keep going west until you come to another fork. Go right. Straight will take you uphill (West, FR315) and eventually to 177 to Winkleman. Follow the road to your right and you will head north toward Hackberry creek.
You eventually come to another wood barbed wire entry. Prior to starting your descent through Oak Creek and later Hackberry Creek, look for a large boulder to your right. To your left is another cattle pond. This boulder has some interesting Indian petroglyphs on it. Continue following the road through the canyon which will lead back to the green valley. Take the same switch back road up and back down the rocky hill and on to the rock fin. There is an optional road around the the rock fin that is a little more challenging if you decide to take it. After the rock fin just follow the same route you came in on.
The rock fin
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Hackberry%2012-18-05/Pic012.jpg
Steep rocky hill after the rock fin
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic016.jpg
Side trip to Devil's Canyon
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic054.jpg
Devil's Canyon
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic048.jpg
Optional obstacle
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_7359.jpg
Heading north through Hackberry Creek on the west side of the trail
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic272.jpg
Petroglyphs
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_1206.jpg
Heading up the boulder garden just after the obstacle
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/Pic223.jpg
Hackberry Creek with snow
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b208/ddawg_/IMG_5637.jpg