Boulder Canyon - Lower La Barge Trail

This adventure is an out and back to a loop hike around Battleship Mountain in Tonto National Forest.  The trailhead is across Route 88 from Canyon Lake Marina.  The marina parking lot has 10 car spots designated for people hiking Boulder Canyon.

The trail is well marked and defined.  It is a steady climb up a ridge with great views of Boulder Canyon and Lower La Barge Canyon.  The trail passes Boulder Canyon point which is popular for sunset hikes with a turn around that that point.  The trail has a gradual descent with one section, just before reach the canyon floor being very steep.

The trail reaches Lower La Barge Creek after about 3.75 miles from the trailhead.  The route crosses over the dry creek bed. Continue another .25 miles and the trail will begin to go up Boulder Canyon.  Watch for cairns as the trail crosses the dry creek bed.

After about 2 miles in Boulder Canyon, the trail leaves the Boulder Canyon trail and traverses over a shoulder, then drops down into Lower La Barge Canyon.  This is the most difficult section of the route.  Lower La Barge canyon does not have a trail.  It requires a lot of boulder hopping in a dry creek bed for more than 2 miles. 

Watch for cairns to exit the dry creek bed and return on the Boulder Canyon trail on the right.