Sawmill / Tanks canyons

[hikeaz]

I was wondering if anyone might have access to any beta on decending Tanks and/or Sawmill canyons, south of the Salt? I am interested in a hike all the way down to the Salt from near the head(s) of these 2 canyons.
Thanks in advance!

[JoelHazelton]

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15354

There isn't much of a description on the page, but a PM to SSK4 may render some results. He is a nice guy and generally willing to share beta.

[hikeaz]

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15354
There isn't much of a description on the page, but a PM to SSK4 may render some results. He is a nice guy and generally willing to share beta.

Thanks... I didn't even LOOK on HAZ for Tanks Canyon... shame-on-me!

[aztazer]

Hi Kurt:

I saw your post on HikeAZ about Sawmill Canyon: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7147

Have you checked these canyons out yet? They look very cool and I wondered if you had any 411? I'm especially interested in how to get to the "trailhead," how far it was to the river, and did you encounter any technical or sketchy sections.

Thanks,

Lucky

[hikeaz]

Lucky-
We actually started at the Salt/Sawmill trail - I guess you'd call it.
The 'trail' (an old abandoned road actually) is about 1.5 miles, maybe less, down to the Salt. The last 1/4 mile down to the Salt is decent loose trail, not road.
Depending on the flow, crossing the Salt over to Sawmill is a thigh-high proposition - or it could be 'kayakable', so watch the online USGS gauge prior to your trip.
Once in Sawmill there are not any/many 'sketchy' areas at all, unless you choose that path. It is a pretty canyon almost right away and then for the first 2-2.5 miles, but that lessens as you move upstream.
Camping possibilities within the lower reaches of Sawmill are grim at best - there are some decent slickrock areas that are camp-able within the canyon though, if weather conditions permit.. We camped on the north side of the Salt on a decent beach.
The water in the Salt is just that, and I would avoid having to drink it, even filtered/treated, as it lives up to its name at low flows. Instead, get any drinking/cooking water from Sawmill.
If you'd be doing a one-way thru hike of Tanks and Sawmill, you could follow the 'Tanks Canyon' driving instructions here on HAZ to the 'head' of Tanks and figure from there it's about 9.5 to 10 miles to the Salt river from there. These are not always 'fast' miles though. The Sawmill hike write-up here on HAZ will explain the parking/trail location for that end of the hike. The shuttle would be pretty short, which is always a good thing.
I can provide you marked up topo maps via email, so if you want those just email me.

Kurt

[aztazer]

Thanks Kurt!