This Wilderness was established in 1984 and contains approximately 18,530 acres, with a major canyon running practically its entire length. The upper reaches of Salome Creek and Workman Creek are small perennial streams snaking their way through the bottom of this scenic canyon. Pools of water can be found nearly all year. Cross-country travel is very difficult.
Elevations range from 2,600 feet at the lower end of Salome Creek to 6,500 feet on Hopkins Mountain. Spring and fall are ideal times to visit this area; however, trails are rare and access to the wilderness is limited.
In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing and extraordinary opportunities for solitude.
Access Points
Before you access this wilderness we recommend to contact the Forest Service District that administers it. Pleasant Valley Ranger District PO BOX 450 FOREST ROAD 63 YOUNG AZ 85554 Phone: 928-462-4300 Trailheads at the northern end of Salome Wilderness are usually accessed via the Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Road (Arizona Highway 288). There is also a road clinging to the edge of the hill (well back from the high water line) around the northern side of Theodore Roosevelt Lake that runs along the southern boundary of Salome Wilderness.
Salome Wilderness History
If you hike rough and lonesome Salome Canyon, the major canyon that runs almost the entire length of this Wilderness, you probably won't encounter another human being. However, you may see remnants of the Salado Indians, who lived here until vanishing about 700 years ago.
As you work your way north, the land becomes increasingly rugged with many bedrock outcroppings. It culminates in Hell's Hole, a region of precipitous bluffs. Water is sometimes available from several small springs. Elevations range from 2,600 feet at lower Salome Creek to 6,500 feet on Hopkins Mountain.
Semidesert grasslands and chaparral dominate the vegetation. Winters usually freeze, and summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Several trails provide access to the area. From the Reynolds Trailhead, hikers can follow the Hell's Hole Trail, which descends steeply for 5.3 miles and dead-ends in Hell's Hole.
Salome Wilderness Trails
Salome Wilderness contains about 18,530 acres in the Sierra Ancha Mountains northeast of Roosevelt Lake. The majority of the wilderness is the canyon containing Salome and Workman Creeks, the upper boundary of the wilderness being defined mostly by the rim of the canyon. Owing to the steepness of the canyon walls and the "slot" nature of the stream beds (vertically eroded into pink granite), cross-country travel is exceedingly difficult. Elevations range from a low of 2,600 feet where Salome Creek emerges from the wilderness above Roosevelt Lake to a high of about 6,500 feet on Hopkins Mountain. As you can see from the photos on this page, making your way through the bottom of the canyon might be very hazardous to your health in spots. Of the defined trails that do exist, one leaves from the trail head at Reynolds Campground (along the From the Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Road) and works its way down the side of the canyon below Workman's Creek to the bottom of Hell's Hole. Another branches south from that and follows an old jeep trail to the west of Hopkins Mountain, eventually ending on Boyer Ridge to the west of Thompson Mesa. The only other trail that accesses the wilderness leaves from a trail head along the road that skirts the edge of Roosevelt Lake and essentially travels along the southern edge of the wilderness area until it dead-ends at Salome Creek. Some hardy (some might say "foolhardy") souls who traveled down the stream beds to the bottom of the wilderness say that you should be in pretty good shape to take on this wilderness... but this is Mogollon Rim country at its finest. There are no marked or maintained trails in the bottom of the canyon, probably because of intermittent flash flooding. If you're in the bottom of the canyon when a good rainstorm hits, there isn't much in the way of feasible escape route... This area freezes in the winter and temps pass 100°F regularly in the summer. A group size of no more than 15 people and no more than 15 head of pack or saddle animals of any type is enforced within this wilderness year-round. Find Hiking Trails in the Hells Gate Wilderness
Salome Wilderness Fishing
SALOME CREEK: Contains native fishes and stocked brown and rainbow trout. In the lower reaches native fish such as speckled dace, longfin dace and roundtail chub are found. There are also nonnative green sunfish. Arizona Game and Fish reports that the fishing area goes into the Salome Wilderness for a couple of miles. There is private property nearby -- please respect that property. Access: From Young, go south on State Hwy.288 for 12 miles to FR 609 and turn right. Follow FR 609 (primitive road) for 5 miles to FR 486 and turn left. Continue on FR 486 for 4 miles (a primitive four-wheel-drive road) to JR Canyon. Park on National Forest System land; do not park on private property. Hike east cross-country for approximately 1 mile to Salome Creek. WORKMAN CREEK: Below the waterfall, Workman Creek is stocked twice a year during the early part of summer. Above the falls, the creek supports a small naturally-reproducing population of rainbow trout. There are no native fish found in Workman Creek at this time. Most fishing activity takes place between State Hwy. 288 and Workman Creek Falls. Access: From the junction of U.S. Highway 60 & State Hwy. 188 (between Globe and Miami) drive northwest on Hwy. 88 for approximately 15 miles to the junction of State Hwy. 288. Bear right and follow Hwy. 288 for approximately 25 ½ miles to the Workman Creek Bridge. If desired, you may also drive along the creek on FR 487 that turns right (east) just past the bridge. It is approximately 3 miles to Workman Creek Falls (a high-clearance vehicle is needed).
Fishing Strategy:
Small stream tactics are in order for this creek. Stealthy approach and making the first cast into each pool count. General attractor dries with small nymph or midge droppers will get it done on most days. The best place to fish this creek is hidden pools at higher elevations where the water is cooler and the trout are larger. The access to these areas requires hiking so someone physically fit is recommended to find the daring spots. Flies and salmon eggs are recommended fishing baits.
Salome Wilderness Boating Options
Kayaking the JUG:
Description: This stretch of creek is one of the most amazing places that you will be able to boat ever. It is sheer vertical walls with ZERO opportunities for escape. You do not want to go in there at what appears to be "a good high level". It is recommended that you do a canyoneering trip prior to kayaking this creek. But for those boaters who don't have that luxury...then make sure that you walk the length of The Jug from the north rim. Rapids: There are countless slides and falls in here, ranging from 4-30 feet. The entrance drops to The Jug are a good indication of what is downstream. There is only one mandatory portage (Ryan's Falls) The rapids of note *with names* are as follows: (IN ORDER) -Good Twin (small 5 footer that looks like you will piton) -Last Chance Falls (wierd but hard hitting fall to slide) -Three Blind Mice (run the top 15ft slide, and the portage(?) the pinch) **This drop could throw a major wrench in your whole trip -Cave Drop (you'll pass under a fallen spire) -Evil Twin (the CHOICE drop of the run) -Ryan's Falls (portage baby - scale walls and cliff jump or repel from the anchor position on RR) -Camelback (double drops the mark the finish of the Jug) Take Out: From HWY 88 take A+ (or A Cross Rd) to where the creek crosses the road. (right near a ranch). Here is your take out. It is exactly 1.5 miles downstream from the Jug. It is a bash, but better than hiking out on the put in trail. Put In: Drive up 2.5 miles to the pull-off (where there is a large Sierra Anches Wilderness Forest Service sign) and park here. There is a trail (old jeep trail) easily visible. Hike this for two miles, it will drop you into the canyon. **Make Sure** you close all the farmers gates! You will be standing on the side of the Jug. Hopefully it is running. If it is and you are qualified enough, you will know what to do from there!!! VIDEO: "THE JUG" - This is not for the faint of heart! Info courtesy of American Whitewater
Salome Wilderness Camping Options
Dispersed camping for free is allowed in Tonto National Forest and in the wilderness area. However, there are no facilities such as toilets or water. Plan to bring your own water or filter water from Salome Creek. There are no problems with fires unless local fire restrictions are in effect. You may need to bring your own firewood since the local flora is typical Sonoran desert scrub and burnable material may be hard to find. Consider using a backpacking stove. There are several dispersed areas on Salome creek and also near Workman Creek that you can use as camping areas. Bottom line, this is a wilderness and it is WILD...so proceed with caution and make your own adventure.
Salome Wilderness Swimming Holes
Not far upstream the creek forms a deep pool about 20 meters long beneath a short, pretty narrow section and a waterfall. This is the popular swimming site and also has lots of litter, but there is no more beyond since very few people explore further up canyon. Depending on water levels, climbing ability and the desire to swim through other pools, it is possible to walk many miles further. After the Swim Hole the canyon alternates between open stretches and enclosed deep-water channels, then soon the latter start to predominate and the walls become very steep. The rocks are colored various shades of red, grey and white - usually smooth polished granite at water level then jagged, crumbling, darker rock higher up. In some places pools can be avoided by climbing the cliffs above, though the rocks tend to be quite unstable, covered by cacti and other thorny plants, so remaining at water level is generally easiest. In the summer months, when the exposed cliffs become too hot to touch, wading through the pools is the only option and also provides welcome relief from the heat. Upstream Two miles into the canyon, a big pool beneath a 10 foot waterfall marks the end of the easiest section; beyond are more pools and cascades, and a tributary on the southeast side (Soldier Creek) then a long flooded section of around 100 meters. After this the canyon opens for a while at an area known as McDonald Pocket then constricts once more and remains narrow for most of the next 10 miles upstream to the Hellsgate Trail crossing.
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