Hance Creek

Dogs No Dogs

Features Cave · River/Creek · Views

This trail is best accessed by working your way along the Grandview Trail. Just over 2.5 miles into that trail, and shortly after reaching Horseshoe Mesa, you'll reach a trail intersection. At that junction, you go to the right (headed East) and you are now on the trail that leads to Hance Creek, the appropriately named Hance Creek Trail.

After an initial short, flat stretch along the east rim of the mesa you begin to descend. The trail is easy to follow, as it is well-established. The trail continues to descend and after about 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile, you'll reach the opening shaft to an old abandoned mine. There some remnants of 100-year old mining equipment sitting there, which makes for a spooky and interesting stop. You can go into the shaft about 300 feet until the closed gate. This can be a nice stopping point if you want to take a break in the shade.

After the mine, you continue down for another 1/4 mile to where the Page Springs trail spur leads to the perennial water source called Miners' (or Page) Spring. Back on the main trail, you'll continue down for about another mile until the trail dead ends into the East Tonto trail on the edge of a dramatic cliff overlooking Hance Creek.