I drove out to Arizona and met my mom and her friend Ann for two backpacking trips in the Mogollon Rim area near Payson, AZ. The first was a three day trip to an area known as Hells Gate! Just the name had me pretty excited, and promises of fishing and swimming added to my excitement. We made our way out to the trailhead, accidentally passing it the first time but then doubling back to find it. We tossed on our packs and started hiking down the trail. First hiking through a forest of big ponderosa pines. We went up and down over a few ridges with the scenery getting less forest and more desert as we went. After a few miles the trail began a long steep descent down into the canyon. As we got down near the bottom we got to overlook the narrow rocky gorge along Tonto creek that gives Hells Gate it's name. The trail arrived at the bottom of the canyon just downstream from the gorge where Tonto creek meets Haigler creek. We crossed Tonto and on the hill between the two creeks we found some perfect spots to setup our camp.

The trailhead

Hiking down the trail

Views from the trail

A small moss covered pond along the trail

Overlooking Hells Gate

Camp

After camp was setup we started checking out the area. It was rugged, desolate, and absolutely beautiful. We spent the afternoon relaxing by the creeks enjoying the cold rushing water and I had some fun fishing before settling into camp for the night.

Haigler Creek

Catching Green Sunfish

Tonto creek just below the gorge

Heading back to camp for the evening

The next morning, after some breakfast, we decided to cross Haigler creek and hike up the trail to Smokey Hollow, a small oak and pine filled valley nestled in the hills above Hells Gate. The trail was very faint and hard to follow in places, but we didn't have too much trouble. It climbed up high on the side of the hill avoiding a rugged canyon below and then dropped us into the Smokey Hollow. We hiked around exploring the valley a bit and then headed back down the trail and back across Haigler creek to our camp. Just after getting back the clouds decided to rain on us for awhile, but it didn't last long. After the rain stopped I spent the rest of the afternoon fishing, swimming, and exploring along both of the creeks and the ridge above Hells Gate.

Morning views from camp

Climbing up the trail to Smokey Hollow

Overlooking the Smokey Hollow

Hiking back down the Smokey Hollow trail

Overlooking Tonto creek just after the rain

Catching Desert Sucker

Selfie up on the ridge above Hells Gate

Western Patch Nosed snake

Mama Tarantula with babies

After another beautiful night in the wilderness we packed up our camp and started the long steep climb up and out of the canyon. We climbed up and up gradually getting back into the Ponderosa forest scenery and back to the trailhead where we started.

Morning light at camp

Getting back up into the Ponderosa forest

Until the next adventure...

I hope you can all get outside and enjoy some...

Amazing Nature!!

And stay tuned for part 2 of this Arizona adventure coming soon!

all photos by @derekrichardson

https://www.californiamountainadventure.com