It was dawn when we left Phoenix traveling to the junction of Queen Valley road and US 60. Switch onto the dirt road leading to Rogers Trough. The last couple of miles required me to switch to 4-wheel drive due to the recent rains. As soon as a few more vehicles travel the road it will be back to 2-wheel drive all the way to the top.

Arrived at Rogers Trough at 9 AM and started the hike to Reavis Ranch. This was to be a long day hike. The general lay of the land was a 1.5 mile down hill to the junction where the Reavis Ranch trail (109) and Rogers Canyon trail (110) split. This is a 400-foot elevation lost to this point, we then start the 1000- foot elevation gain to the saddle between White Mountain and Iron Mountain. The trail markers are new and easy to read, so it hard to miss the junction. Due to the recent rain the area was very green. There are many good views as you go up the trail. The temperature was in the 80s, but with the high humidity the sweat was just rolling off of me by the time I got to the top of the saddle.

At about 0.5 mile after the junction is the junction with the short trail to Mr. Reavis’ grave. This is to the left of the main trail and up a small hill. This junction has no trail maker. There are a few white lily type flowers along the trail that make for a nice picture. Continue on to the saddle, this is 1 mile from the junction with the Reavis Ranch and Rogers Canyon trail. You can now look down into Reavis canyon and back to Rogers Canyon. This saddle gives you great view of the Superstitions.

It is now time to start the down ward trek to Reavis Ranch. This is a 3.5 walk down hill though a mix of pine forest and open meadows. We are walking beside Reavis creek and there are deer bounding off the trail as we come across them. They are a little thin from the drought, so they do not go far. For the first 2.5 miles there is no water in the creek, but as soon as we get near the main springs we can see water in the creek. A little ways downhill from here is the signed junction with the Fire Lane trail (118). Continue on the Reavis trail to where the ranch house was, the only thing left is the foundation. The apple orchard is still there, but the apples are the size of large grapes from the drought. The heavy rains that occurred a couple of weeks previous to this hike have washed the apples to the ground. The water from Reavis creek sinks into the sand at this point also. It is now time to find some shade for lunch, so go back up to the ranch house area to talk with some campers and eat my lunch.

At 2 PM leave Reavis ranch to go back up to the Fire Lane trail. Pump some water out of the creek at this point to refill the water bag. Stay on the Fire Lane trail until it’s junction with the trail to Circle Stone. This is an unmarked junction and the trail is faint, but visible. It would be 1 mile and 1000 feet up to Circle Stone, so turn a round and do that trail another day. When we get back to the Reavis trail make a left and continue on the Reavis trail back to the truck. The deer are still near the trail. A tarantula walks across the trail in no great hurry to get across when we get to the junction with the Rogers Canyon trail. We get back to the truck at about 7 PM. The sun makes the surrounding mountains change colors from green, to red and then black. The total distance walked is over 12 miles.

It is now time to pull the tent out of the truck and set up camp for the night. You do not want to drive on the dirt road back to Phoenix at night unless you have close to a full moon. There is water in the truck, because there is no water at Rogers Trough. The next morning get up, fix breakfast, break camp and go home.