Bulldog Canyon

Next weekend is the night run through Bulldog Canyon with the Phoenix 4x4 group. Never having been through that area and with it on the upper end of difficulty for trails we like to run, we decided we wanted to try it during the daylight before going with a big group after dark.

Marcia's parents went along with us. We ate lunch first and as we were pulling out of the parking lot, we noticed our Jeep was turning over 50,000 miles. Here's the proof.



We took US60 east to Ellsworth road and then went north. This goes past the Usery Mountain Park. About a mile north of the park entrance is the locked gate to the Bulldog Canyon OHV area. To enter here, you have to get a permit from the Tonto National Forest first. It's free; you just have to go there in person and get it first.

The road is fairly easy at first, but a few miles in, we turned to the south to go through Bulldog Canyon. From here, the trail is more difficult with quite a few obstacles.

Here is the first climb we came to that was a little bit of a challenge.



Dave went down and came back up a more difficult path the 2nd time.



Here we are at the top of the hill with the gorgeous views in the background.



Dave and Kathy climb another steep, rutted hill.



A few more miles in, we came to quite a few hills that were covered in 6"-8" boulders. Marcia got out and walked up ahead of me following her in the Jeep.











Looking east at the Superstition Mountains.



The narrow trail meandering through the desert.



On the way home, the monsoon rains were blowing in. Here are 2 photos from the 101 looking towards the McDowell Mountains getting some showers and lightning.