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Anyone done Hellsgate trail?
Posted: Apr 30 2002 8:48 am
by decarlo
How is this trail? Please advise. I plan to take it to Hell's hole, camp overnight and come back the next day.
Posted: Apr 30 2002 9:20 am
by Nighthiker
Trail 37 from the Little Green Valley trailhead is located on a former 4x4 road (the old road bed is only the first part of the trail) that will take you to the confluence of Haigler Creek and Tonto Creek, Hells Gate. I have not hiked this trail in several years. I have been thinking about a trip from the South, taking forest road 133, NW of Pleasant Valley to access the Trail 37 Trailhead located South of Hells Gate.
Posted: Apr 30 2002 11:17 am
by CindyC
I attempted Hellgate destination Haigler/Tonto confluence in1997. We started out at Bear Flats and planned on testing our 'canyoneering' skills by staying in the creek. We never made it as a fellow hiker was injured and needed immediate attention. A year later I accessed Hellsgate via the trail out of Young which I assume is the same as the one mentioned near Pleasant Valley. To reach this trailhead a 4x4 high clearance vehicle is your best bet. The trail to the confluence would probably be rated a 3 on HAZ scale of difficulty, but I've heard different opinions on that trail. The trip is certainly worth it. I spent 4 there and would do it again. Great swimming holes too.
Hellsgate
Posted: Apr 30 2002 12:20 pm
by decarlo
Thanks Cindy and nighthiker. I don't have 4x4, so I am still wondering if I can drive in sedan-like from the North on 260 or 405...anyone?
I'd love to do the cayonerring thing, but I don't have the gear for that yet.
Posted: Apr 30 2002 1:54 pm
by azrocks
I got to the HellsGate Trail in a sedan via 260/405, and dayhiked to the confluence,
about 7 hrs roundtrip. There's a pretty narrows, about 1/4 mile long, but the water
was painfully cold - an air mattress would have been nice. Most of the trail is
along a wooded ridge, then about 1 mile across a broad meadow, and the last
100 yards is steep and loose enough you want to test your foot before trusting it.
At the confluence, there was debris 15 ft above the water line, and the canyon
there was 200 ft wide, so flood water exiting the narrows must be an awesome
sight. I only saw one good camp site, which was occupied by a guy who was
fishing from a ledge halfway up the cliff in the narrows.