Bulldog Canyon

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 – Location:  Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, Arizona

This morning again a cool breeze out of the north developed during the night.  Turned the Wave on for about half an hour to get the chill out of the MH and by 8:30, it was warming up nicely.  Going to get near 80 today, so hope the breeze sticks around.

Yesterday, the road that led back into Bulldog Canyon I took just down from here didn’t work out too well for me, but I was determined to find a way.  So this morning, me and Yuma headed over to the road, Deb (On a long and lonesome highway…. ) and I could see from the boulders the other day.  Now I have a permit to enter the gated Bulldog Canyon area, so off we went. 

Took me a half hour to find the entrance even though I had just been there the day before.  They hide it well.  No signs, you just have to know.  Finally, I turned on my Topo Map and it led me right to the entrance. 

Took me 10 minutes to figure out how to unlock and open the gate, but I did it.  My goal was to drive the entire 9 mile length of Bulldog Canyon and exit north of here near Salt River.  My Topo Map has a GPS, so all I had to do was follow the trail and if need be, check my location to make sure I was on the correct trail.

Of course, the first thing I did was miss the turn-off and ended up at the satellite dish station on top of the mountain where the road just ended.  Deb and I had seen this from the boulders across the canyon and first thought it was a house, but it’s not.  Had to take a few photos while I was there. 

Looking at Superstition Mountain across the valley.  We are staying just down from that rock formation and the gravel pit is directly below it.

Looking back down the way I came to the right and will be taking the road to the left when I go back down.  I will be traveling from the south to the north in Bulldog Canyon today.

Four Peaks way off in the distance to the northeast.

I believe from where I am at the top of this mountain I’m looking through Bulldog Canyon and the Salt River is up there in that low area before the next set of mountains.

There is Superstition Mountain across from the entrance to Bulldog Canyon.  Those boulders in the foreground are where Deb, Yuma and I walked yesterday.

Closer view of the boulders.  That large gorge we took photos of is in the right section of the photo below.  That dark shadow area.

Went back down the mountain and turned onto trail 10.  That is the trail I’m to follow all the way through the canyon.  Not going to say much from here.  The road was tough in places and bad in others.  Yuma did not like all the jostling.  He sat in the front seat most of the time and when it was bad he would sit in my lap.  Talk about tough to drive.  We left the gate at 11 o’clock and I reached the other gate at 2 o’clock.  Took three hours to drive nine miles.  I guess we averaged about 3 miles and hour driving on this trail.

Unfortunately, the trail is not straight.  We didn’t go far as the crow flies, but….

This is the best vehicle to drive in this terrain.  Saw about 10 of these and only two Jeeps.

We drove along canyon walls and a number of times we dropped to the bottom and drove through the wash that ran the length of the canyon.  You had to watch the road carefully to find the best path through the rocks and boulders that were everywhere.

I’m starting to see the end up ahead.

The next photo is looking back the way we came.  We are nearing the end of the canyon now.

Last canyon wall and now we’re out.

There is my exit gate.  In front of me is the N. Bush highway.  Across the highway is the Salt River.  If I go right, I would go to Saguaro Lake.  It was created by building a dam across the Salt River.  If I had the energy, I would have driven up there.  Maybe another day!

As I was locking the gate I saw a woman tending her horse.  She had just finished riding in the canyon. 

I asked her if her horse was afraid of dogs and she laughed and said no.  I had missed an opportunity of catching Yuma kissing a horse yesterday and wanted to correct that error.  For once, I got to go back in time.  Awwww!

If you don’t think Superstition Mountain doesn’t have a big presence in Apache Junction, just look at the photo of me driving back towards the RV.

Long day, but an enjoyable and successful day.   Glad I didn’t let Bulldog Canyon get the better of me, Yuma and my Jeep.

See you later.