Hackberry Creek, Upper Devil's Canyon
Video of Rappel
Date: 1/30/2004
Trail Time: 4-5 hours
Location: Oak Flats Campground / I60 , Arizona. This trail is also known as the power line trail
Mapping / GPS / Waypoint File: .GIF Map Image / .MPS (Mapsource) Track File / .TXT Waypoint and Track /
Trail Rating (1-5 Scale): 3.5- Longer vehicles should have rocker protection or sufficient clearance. One locking differential will make the more challenging areas easier, but it is not required with good wheel travel. There is an easier route into this area via the Magma Mine Road. There is also another loop that can be accessed from the large open pasture with the stock tank and windmill (N33 16 30.4 W111 02 21.7), but it is no more challenging than the route we took in.
Major Obstacle: Steep, loose climbs with large rocks, shelves, ledges and hard rock fins. This trail can be completed by a SWB with oversized tires and good suspension travel. The trail was wet from recent rains, greatly increasing the difficulty
Attendees:
Scott Brady and Charles K- 1994 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
SPECIAL NOTE:
The Oak Flats, Hackberry, and Apache Leap area is threatened with closure due to block cave mining. The Arizona legislature is attempting to close the campground and open areas using a "land swap" initiative. This area is best known for its rock climbing competitions (the largest in the world), OHV challenges and great hiking and camping.
If you want to get involved in helping to protect access to this special area, please visit The Friends of Queen Creek for more information.
Friends of Queen Creek Website
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
This trip was about more than the driving. We wanted to do some rappelling and climbing on the rock faces and spires of Upper Devil's Canyon. We took the shorter, more challenging entrance into the area, which affords several good challenges for the vehicle and driver.
The trip was conducted during a 3/4 moon, and we camped on bed rolls and cots under the stars. The Upper Devil's Canyon area and overlook into Queen Creek is a great camp spot.
This is one of my favorite trails!
On the trip in we took the steep climb that starts from the eastern shoreline of the small stock tank. The trail was still wet from the recent rains, requiring the use of the ARB locking differentials.
Video of the option climb from the northern entrance to Hackberry.
We stopped to do some bouldering and to check out the view. the ARB bumper makes a great spot to store firewood!
This is a view down Hackberry Creek towards the confluence of Rio Rancho Creek, Hackberry and Oak Creek. This makes up the Lower Devil's Canyon gorge.
This is a view of the rock faces from our camping area at the Upper Devil's Canyon overlook.
View of our camp while rigging our safety lines for the first rappel.
A picture of me on climb one.
The two routes of wall one.
Climb one of wall two. This was a 50' crack climb. My hands were nice and bloody by the top from jamming my fist into the crack.
A picture of my route up wall two.
Our camp in the morning.
We were greeted by a beautiful sunrise!
Video of the Jeep climbing the slickrock fin leaving the northern entrance to Hackberry.
View the entire album here.
