GOLDFIELD
MOUNTAIN VIEWPOINT
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| Snow-covered Superstition Mtns seen from Bulldog Canyon |
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| Brittlebush bloom along the roads |
Tucked
into a rumpled space at the fringe of suburbia, the Goldfield Mountains north
of Apache Junction are rife with exploratory hiking opportunities.
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| Destination (center on ridge) visible from the trailhead |
This rugged slice of the Tonto National
Forest located south of Saguaro Lake and the Salt River is hemmed in by State
Route 88, the Superstition Wilderness, Four Peaks Wilderness, Usery Mountain
Recreation Area and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Reservation. It’s a strangely beautiful place of mostly
volcanic origins.
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| Magnificent rock formations in Bulldog Canyon |
Wildly contorted buffs, welded ash pillars, eroded hills and
natural arches hover over jumbled washes and acres of gorgeous Sonoran Desert
vegetation.
Although
there are few designated hiking trails in the area, old roads cut by defunct
mining operations and ranches serve just as well. Venturing within the Goldfields is not for inexperienced
or directionally-challenged visitors.
But within the heavily-used Bulldog Canyon section, finding your way
around isn’t too difficult.
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| Snow on Four Peaks and Sierra Ancha Mountains 11-30-19 |
One simple
starter hike in the Bulldog Canyon area leads to a small peak at the end of a
ridge with panoramic vistas that provide a tempting overview of the lay of the land. The tour
begins at the Dome Mountain Trailhead where a gate marks the entrance to the
Bulldog Canyon OHV recreation area. The destination, marked by FAA
communication towers, teeters on a high crest the to the west. Start hiking north on the dirt road (Forest
Road 10) which is open to motorized traffic, equestrians, bikers and hikers.
Follow the cholla-lined track to the 0.3-mile point where Forest Road 1356 head
off to the right. For this trip, veer left and stay on FR 10. Ahead,
magnificent views of Dome Mountain (3,381 feet), the highest point in the
Goldfields soars above the hilly terrain while the hulking form of the Flatiron
and Superstition Ridgeline loom to the southeast. At just under a mile, where two sign posts
mark where FR 10 swerves east (right), make note of an unsigned road heading
downhill on the left. This is the optional return route. As the road makes a
gradual ascent, views of the Four Peaks and Sierra Ancha Mountains begin to
peek out over ridges and mesas to the east.
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| A short, steep climb leads to high point vistas |
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| Flatiron is a commanding presence on the hike |
To reach the peak, continue another
0.1-mile straight ahead, veer left at a 3-way junction and pass a white road
gate. Here’s where the route begins a moderate climb on long switchbacks. Soon,
gaps in the volcanic terrain frame views of the Salt River Valley and distant
Mount Ord to the north. After few more
bends in the road, the peaks of the Superstition Wilderness can be seen to the
east.
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| Horses and ATVs climb the summit ridge |
At the top of the road, an FAA
station built into the base the ridgeline’s southern promontory, marks the
beginning a short, steep climb to a highpoint with wind-sculpted shallow caves
and 360-degree views of the Valley and beyond. On clear days, you can see as
far away as the mountains near Tucson and the Mogollon Rim.
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| Rich Sonoran Desert plants grow in Bulldog Canyon |
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| North views extend to Mt Ord and the Mogollon Rim |
When done ogling
the landscape, head back down the hill to the double-signed FR 10 junction. For
an optional, more difficult return route, take the road going downhill to the
right which roughly follows the overhead powerlines. This option has more
ups-and-downs and is steeper than FR 10. Otherwise, just retrace your steps on
FR 10 back to the trailhead. Both options are nearly the same length.
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| An FAA site sits below the hike high point. |
LENGTH: 3.6 miles roundtrip
RATING:
moderate
ELEVATION:
2,011 – 2,490 feet
GETTING
THERE:
Dome
Mountain Trailhead
From U.S.
60 in Apache Junction, take the Idaho Road exit 196 and go 4.4 miles north to
McKellips Road.
Turn right
(east) on McKellips and continue 0.4-mile to Wolverine Pass Road, turn left
(north) and go 0.8 miles to Tonto Street
where the pavement ends. Turn
right and go 0.2-mile to Cactus Road, turn left and continue 0.2-mile to the
parking area.
INFO:
Arizona
Geological Survey
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