Willow Springs of West Boulder Canyon
13.6 mi2,334 ft
3,386 ft
2,228 ft
A more-or-less direct route to Willow Springs, along Boulder Canyon, with a silly venture up and over a ridge to take Peralta back.
Photos
A mostly full moon over First Water Trailhead
Dim morning light on Dutchman Trail
Fantastic sunrise from Parker's Pass
Bands of clouds overhead
Friendly morning rattlesnake, primed for a strike
Large clearing at the Black Mesa junction
Pink tuna fruit on the prickly pear
Looking up on Aylor's Arch on Palomino
Rainy skies above Weaver's Needle
Nice, carved section along Peralta Trail
Sunny skies over Black Mesa to the west
Weaver's Needle making a dramatic showing
Nasty ridge above the trail
Slowly heading towards the saddle
Darkness falling over Needle and La Barge Canyons
Small clearing on the saddle
Steep drop down to Willow Springs
Sunshine and raindrops
The old stone corral above the spring
Ugly muck covering much of the spring
Scummy water and hot rock
Clean water dropping over the pink-brown rocks
Yellow swallowtail
Another clean, clear puddle of water
A spiky little caterpillar
Plenty of water and thick grass
Sort of a cairn marking the way out
A hot trail up towards Tim's Saddle
The next saddle in view, across O'Grady's Canyon
Looking across towards Black Mesa
Last look back at Weaver's Needle under a blue sky
Along the way
Spring 1
- Willow Springs
Mountain 2
- Palomino Mountain
- Weavers Needle
Saddle 2
- Parker Pass
- Tim's Saddle
Ruin 1
- Stone corral above Willow Springs
Trailhead 1
- First Water Trailhead
Junction 3
- Dutchman / Second Water Trail Junction
- Black Mesa / Dutchman Trail Junction
- Dutchman / Boulder Canyon Trail Junction