Black Mountain - Indian Creek

Black Mountain - Indian Creek

This great excursion across the northeast end of the Gila Wilderness offers wide variety, from mountaintops to mesas. Some of the ending segments of the route are rarely visited, adding a bit of challenge to the art of trail finding. The first 4 miles to the 9,303-foot Black Mountain Lookout are a delight. The well-graded trail gains 1,200 feet over the course of 3 miles to a wooded gap marking the wilderness boundary. This is a good viewpoint, with a mosaic of burned and unburned forest unfolding across Trap Corral Canyon to the east. The Black Mountain Trail then drops gently to another saddle before making the final 0.5-mile switchback ascent to the lookout tower. Two signed trails wrap around the lookout. The one to the right drops down the west ridge of Black Mountain toward Sam Martin Spring, the other heads south into Jordan Canyon. For the middle segment of the shuttle hike, take the Sam Martin Spring Trail. But first check out the lookout. It’s staffed by May 15 or earlier depending on the arrival of the fire season. Trees close in the actual summit of Black Mountain. If the friendly lookout person invites you up to the tower, you’ll be treated to an amazing 360-degree view. The entire Gila Wilderness stretches southward. The vista across the forks of the Gila to the lofty Mogollon Range is especially impressive. Highlights: Black Mountain, the northern sentinel of the Gila; expansive mountain vistas and secluded canyons.

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