Jug Trail Extension at Salome Creek

Shortly after the Salome Creek slot canyons were featured in Arizona Highways magazine, VOAz obtained approval from the Tonto National Forest to work on stabilizing a single exit trail from the bottom of the slot canyon located below a reach on the creek known as "The Jug." From the trailhead, canyoneers could follow an old de-comissioned road to the Jug and proceed through one of the most spectacular slot canyons in Arizona. From the end of the slot there was no designated trail out. As a result, the many visitors were carving multiple trails up a hillside of decomposing granite in order to return to the road leading back out to the trailhead. The effects on the landscape were devastating

After multiple site visits by VOAz and TBRD staff, a route was defined that, to a great extent, took advantage of the most reasonable social trails. Because the heaviest traffic through the slot is from April through June or the start of the monsoon, there is great urgency among canyoneers to getting back to the trailhead and out of the heat. A trail meeting normal standards for sustainability would not be used. The result of several years of work is that now all traffic follows a single, high maintenance route. VOAz returns every other year to perform maintenance, repairs, and experiment with inovative methods for stabilizing tread.

The Jug at Salome

Completed Events

Michael Baker, Lee Milne, Tim DeChristopher, Ken Ryan, Mike Snodgrass, Ken Fiebelkorn, Deanne Clay, Ben Cromwell, Marge Sparks and Dick Mayo did a small but critical piece of trail work at Salome Canyon.  Rogil Schroeter and Kathy Sharp took the group through the slot at Salome Canyon. Rogil and Kathy are VOAz volunteers, members of the Arizona Mountaineering Club, and intrepid canyoneers.

Because VOAz could not get this project onto its event calendar until 2003, we wanted to open a clear path to what has become the primary exit trail and obstruct the many other paths that people have created. The trail-workers hiked in Saturday afternoon and deposited tools at the work area. We camped at a beautiful spot Saturday night and met Rogil and Kathy Sunday AM for the trip through the slot.

If you like water and canyons, Salome is amazing. Lots of boulder-hopping and swimming through pools that got progressively colder the deeper we went into the canyon. Then you arrive at "the waterfall."

February 2003

Fog enshrouded Dutchwoman's Butte

Five VOAz crew leaders went out to set the final alignment and do a few construction samples. We managed to encounter snow, cold, rain, and sun conditions during the weekend.  

May 10 & 11, 2003
The first major work weekend of this project. Here is the report from this event

May 1, 2004
Repairs and additional improvements to the trail established in 2004. One more reroute completed. Here is the report with photos.

May 7, 2005
Repairs and additional improvements - report and photos

May 6, 2006
Repairs and additional improvements - report and photos