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Hike Tortilla Pass and Rogers Canyon Cliff Dwellings Loop in Tonto National Forest, Arizona - Stav is Lost

Hike Tortilla Pass and Rogers Canyon Cliff Dwellings Loop Tonto National Forest, AZ

Class 1 13.2 miles 2700 gain 5-7 hrs Loop
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
DirectionsRoute MapDownload GPX

Feb 11, 2019 — There are three places you can start this loop: the Woodbury Trailhead, which adds about a mile to the loop, the Roberts Trough trailhead, which mgiht have been too rough for my car, and the spot where I parked along the road about halfway between Woodbury and Robert Trough. From here, head down on a heavily-eroded dirt road down to Woodbury Cabin (is the cabin gone?) and then take the trail up to Tortilla Pass. The trail was a little bit overgrown form Tortilla Pass down to Angel Basin, but definitely easy to follow and not too scratchy. Angel Basin was the highlight for me. The grassy field and colorful pinnacles surrounding the spot was a unique desert scene, and the stream running through made it a really tranquil spot. Heading along the Rogers Canyon Trail, you'll pass some really cool Cliff Dwellings that require you do a short scramble to get to the more interesting stuff higher up. Follow Rogers Canyon up to the Rogers Trough Trailhead and then head down the road back to the parking spot.

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photo protector Starting from my chosen parking area. Tortilla Pass is visible on the far right. This dirt road ahead leads to lower ground.
Starting from my chosen parking area. Tortilla Pass is visible on the far right. This dirt road ahead leads to lower ground.
photo protector At the marked section called Woodbury Cabin (is the cabin gone?), Tortilla Pass top right.
At the marked section called Woodbury Cabin (is the cabin gone?), Tortilla Pass top right.
photo protector Continuing along the trail leading to Tortilla Pass.
Continuing along the trail leading to Tortilla Pass.
photo protector Looking back along the trail to Tortilla Pass. My car is up on the hills to the left somewhere.
Looking back along the trail to Tortilla Pass. My car is up on the hills to the left somewhere.
photo protector Cross a wash and pick up the trail on the other side.
Cross a wash and pick up the trail on the other side.
photo protector Trail gets progressively more steep as you near Tortilla Pass.
Trail gets progressively more steep as you near Tortilla Pass.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Almost at Tortilla Pass, looking back the way I came. Woodbury Cabin site is on the top left somewhere.
Almost at Tortilla Pass, looking back the way I came. Woodbury Cabin site is on the top left somewhere.
photo protector Tortilla Pass junction. Continue along the Rogers Canyon Trail leading slightly higher to what I assume is the true Tortilla Pass.
Tortilla Pass junction. Continue along the Rogers Canyon Trail leading slightly higher to what I assume is the true Tortilla Pass.
photo protector Tortilla Pass, looking back the way I came.
Tortilla Pass, looking back the way I came.
photo protector Tortilla Pass, looking northeast toward Angel Basin.
Tortilla Pass, looking northeast toward Angel Basin.
photo protector On the way down to Angel Basin, looking back toward Tortilla Pass.
On the way down to Angel Basin, looking back toward Tortilla Pass.
photo protector Angel Basin and the interesting cliffs of Rogers Canyon on the right.
Angel Basin and the interesting cliffs of Rogers Canyon on the right.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Looking back up toward Tortilla Pass.
Looking back up toward Tortilla Pass.
photo protector The trail gets a little brush as it gets down toward a creek, but nothing too bad.
The trail gets a little brush as it gets down toward a creek, but nothing too bad.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector An unexpected natural arch.
An unexpected natural arch.
photo protector Approaching Angel Basin.
Approaching Angel Basin.
photo protector Cross a creek to get to Angel Basin.
Cross a creek to get to Angel Basin.
photo protector Looking back toward an interesting rock formation at a trail junction.
Looking back toward an interesting rock formation at a trail junction.
photo protector Grassy meadow of Angel Basin. This was a really nice spot. The trail leads to the center of this photo. The official map I had labeled this spot as being where the cliff dwellings are, but it was pretty wrong.
Grassy meadow of Angel Basin. This was a really nice spot. The trail leads to the center of this photo. The official map I had labeled this spot as being where the cliff dwellings are, but it was pretty wrong.
photo protector Close-up of some cool pinnacles to the south.
Close-up of some cool pinnacles to the south.
photo protector Heading out of Angel Basin and up Rogers Canyon.
Heading out of Angel Basin and up Rogers Canyon.
photo protector The water was flowing in Rogers Canyon, and it was really nice.
The water was flowing in Rogers Canyon, and it was really nice.
photo protector Approaching the Cliff Dwellings.
Approaching the Cliff Dwellings.
photo protector Sign for the Rogers Canyon Cliff Dwellings. Scramble up the ledge to get to the higher ones.
Sign for the Rogers Canyon Cliff Dwellings. Scramble up the ledge to get to the higher ones.
photo protector Dwellings on the lower level.
Dwellings on the lower level.
photo protector Really cool stuff on the higher level.
Really cool stuff on the higher level.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector A lot of the dwellings are still intact.
A lot of the dwellings are still intact.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Continuing up Rogers Canyon.
Continuing up Rogers Canyon.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Rogers Canyon follows the creek for much of the time before ascending to higher ground.
Rogers Canyon follows the creek for much of the time before ascending to higher ground.
photo protector No caption.
photo protector Looking south, still a ways to go.
Looking south, still a ways to go.
photo protector The trail follows the creek, but from higher ground.
The trail follows the creek, but from higher ground.
photo protector Looking back down Rogers Canyon.
Looking back down Rogers Canyon.
photo protector Rogers Trough Trailhead ahead.
Rogers Trough Trailhead ahead.
photo protector Looking back at the Rogers Trough Trailhead. I would have to walk along the road back to my car for a couple miles.
Looking back at the Rogers Trough Trailhead. I would have to walk along the road back to my car for a couple miles.
photo protector Expansive views along the road.
Expansive views along the road.
photo protector Close-up of Tortilla Pass (far right). You can see a small dirt road on the left, that's where my car is parked.
Close-up of Tortilla Pass (far right). You can see a small dirt road on the left, that's where my car is parked.

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