#MAP OF BLACK MESA FULL#

They are still quite impressive: some of the sites contain over one hundred rooms, and are surrounded by a multicolored carpet of broken pot sherds. The roofs have long since disappeared, however, and time, weather, and modern-day looters have reduced most of the walls to piles of rubble. The pueblos here were constructed using a technique known as 'massed room block,' in which field-stone walls stabilized with mud mortar were roofed over with timbers, sticks, mud and straw. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Monument is currently managed by the U.S. Black Mesa is visible from the Sunset Point rest stop along I-17, and the best access is from the Bloody Basin Road exit, where you will find an unmanned information kiosk with maps and information. Created by proclamation of President Bill Clinton on January 11, 2000, the Monument contains 71,100 acres (111 square miles) and more than 450 archeological sites, most of which are located along the perimeters of Black Mesa and Perry Mesa. The Agua Fria National Monument is located about forty miles north of Phoenix, along the east side of Interstate 17. Cell phone coverage is non-existent except for the trailhead parking area.Д¬heck out the Official Route and Triplogs.Sign at the Bloody Basin Road entrance to the Monument While there are no steep ascents like those found on the far side of Peralta, the larger rocks in the canyon washes require hiking boots with strong ankle support. With the exception of the myriad of conflicting trails in Boulder Canyon, the trail is well signed and maintained. This is a good all day hike for the spring or fall months but I guess would be quite arduous in the 100+ days of summer. The park ranger told be that in the summer months, he would not attempt it with less than one gallon per person. Due to the length of this hike, water being unavailable, and a remote chance of missing the return marker, it can not be stressed enough to carry enough water on this hike. I encountered two different groups of hikers at both ends of the trail that had little more than a 25 ounce bottle with them for their hike. On this mile hike, I consumed close to 3 liters of water.

#MAP OF BLACK MESA FULL#

It was around 95 degrees in mid October with a full sun overhead. It never ceases to amaze me that the number of people that go off on long trails with insufficient water. The aforementioned Hiker's Guide to the Superstition Mountains also mentions an alternative return path that is about 2.5 miles longer that follows Boulder Canyon Trail back and connects with the Second Water Trail. If you started the hike in mid-morning, the cliffs will block some of the afternoon sun and will give you a break from the heat. Other sites in the canyon include Battleship Mountain and Geronimo Head.ДЇrom this point you will have about 4.5 miles to follow Lost Dutchman's Trail back to the First Water Trailhead. From here it looks a lot larger than from Freemont Saddle on more traveled Peralta Trail on the other side. In Boulder Canyon, you have a very good view of Weaver's Needle. You should then find the main sign about 200 yards away. Should you do that, backtrack away from Weaver's Needle to the circle of rocks and turn left on the footpath. If you do miss the sign, you should bump into a second one marking the junction of Boulder Canyon and Lost Dutchman's. But if you are on one of the alternative paths, you may see a large circle of rocks and continue walking past it.

If you are on the main trail, you should run into another sign indicating the junction of Black Mesa Trail with Lost Dutchman's. There is the main trail, which is indistinguishable from the horse and foot trails worn down by campers. Working your way down from Black Mesa the trail will descend into Boulder Canyon. I had one brush up against my walking stick and it took a little work to remove all the spines. From the top of Black Mesa you'll encounter a forest of Jumping Cholla Cactus that live up to their name in a slight breeze.

Map of black mesa