South Bass to Silver Bell - THE GEMS Photoset • BiFrost • 2015-03-19 • HikeArizona.COM

South Bass to Silver Bell - THE GEMS, AZ

	2015-03-19
	27 by BiFrost

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South Bass to Silver Bell - THE GEMS, AZ

Backpack	51.48 Miles	9,238 AEG

Backpack	51.48 Miles	4 Days
	9,238 ft AEG

Linked

6 linked trail guides

South Bass Trail

Tonto Trail: Boucher Trail to South Bass Trail

Boucher Trail

Silver Bell Trail

Dripping Springs - Grand Canyon

Boucher Rapids via Boucher

Partners

partners

	chumley	FOTG
	John9L	slowandsteady
	Tough_Boots

The GEMS in the Grand Canyon was the objective for this long weekend. John9L set the route and planning the hike so we had to just show up. However, we did have a shuttle to setup and Chumley suggested we ask the Res gate guys for a ride. So while the others headed down South Bass FOTG and I managed to get one Res guy for a modest fee to shuttle us back to South Bass TH. We were about 2 hours behind the others but no problem and we made Serpentine Canyon Camp 1 by early afternoon. Early enough to venture down to the Colorado to enjoy the river.

Day 2 it was 10+ miles on the Tonto Trail over to Turquoise Canyon for the second night. Passed thru several side drainages along with Ruby Canyon where we had lunch and grabbed some shade before reaching Turquoise. Nice camp with some narrows and rock benches for camping.

Day 3 was the longest day at 15 miles of nothing but Tonto Trail. We passed several more of the Gems Sapphire, Agate, and Slate in route to Boucher and Camp 3. Somewhat hot on the Tonto so we headed down to the Colorado to cool off. Then back to camp at Boucher and relaxing evening listening to the frogs.

Day 4 we all headed out early to get up the trail before the heat set in and have time to make the significant climb up Boucher Trail. We took a break at Yuma Point enjoying the great views and then continued on to Dripping Springs for another short break. Then up the Silver Bell Trail which I'd never been on before. Cool trail but the bottom is really rough and unmaintained. Nice to take a different exit out of the canyon for a change. Finally made it out with the rest of the group waiting so we could hit the road for Flag to enjoy pizza and wings at NiMarcos. Great weekend in the canyon!!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Boucher Creek Boucher Rapids Mount Huethawali Ruby Canyon Serpentine Canyon Serpentine Rapids Slate Creek

	Boucher Creek	Medium flow	Medium flow
	decent pools in and around the camp area

Dripping Spring

Quart per minute

	Ruby Canyon	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle
	small pools with light trickle

	Sapphire Creek - GC	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle
	small pools with light trickle

	Serpentine Canyon	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle
	small pools with trickle

	Serpentine Creek - GC	Light flow	Light flow
	light flow with multiple pool options

	Slate Creek	Light flow	Light flow
	small pools with light flow

	Turquoise Creek - GC	Light flow	Light flow
	small pools with light flow

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