Hellsgate Wilderness and Haigler Creek 9-20-09 (23 images)
So the main purpose of this trip was to hike 3 miles into the Tonto Creek canyon located inside the Hellsgate Wilderness Area
and fish around the confluence of Tonto and Haigler Creek. Well thanks to a late start leaving Phoenix and a couple wrong
turns I got to the trailhead a lot later then I had planned. I was about 2/3's of the way down the canyon when I decided
it was just too late. I only had about an hour and a half of daylight left and I really didn't want to be hiking 3 miles out
of the canyon in the dark. So I turned around. I was pretty bummed, but the Hellsgate Wilderness area is freak'n gorgeous.
High desert shrubs and green rolling hills for miles in all directions. With it getting dark I figured I'd just jam back to
Young and then up to the Haigler Creek recreation area and set up camp for the night. Awesome night, clear sky and about
55 degrees. I woke up Monday morning and relaxed for a bit, then headed over to Haigler Creek for some fishing. Haigler isn't
that big, and doesn't really hold any monsters, but it's still a lot of fun. I can pull the baby Rainbows out of the smaller
pools and currents all day long. There is one pool that is actually pretty big and deep (it's a popular swimming hole), but
I didn't have much luck in it last time I was up there. Not this time. I pulled 3 or 4 good sized Rainbows out of it. I was
actually pretty stoked about that. Not a bad little trip. Bummed I didn't make it down into the canyon, but I know I'll be
back.
Click a picture to see a larger view.
