Damn that looks like a great time...I need go exploring this weekend, Nice pics.
Access to Back (East) Side of Empire Mountains
- Thread starter Rocky_LC
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I luv the Total Wreck area....the Gas Line Road hills to the NE of Total Wreck are awesome!
Sounds like you went in from Las Cienegas and exited Hilton Ranch Road? ???
So you did run the huge hills NE of TWM to I-10?
Sounds like you went in from Las Cienegas and exited Hilton Ranch Road? ???
So you did run the huge hills NE of TWM to I-10?
- Thread starter
- #23
No we didn't try those out.
Your picture makes it look like something we should make a run at.
We came in from the South, and once we crossed the creek, then took the Power Line road up. We were on the gas line for only a short time. There looked like there were lots of other spots to explore.
Thanks for the tip.
Rocky
Your picture makes it look like something we should make a run at.
We came in from the South, and once we crossed the creek, then took the Power Line road up. We were on the gas line for only a short time. There looked like there were lots of other spots to explore.
Thanks for the tip.
Rocky
HEy you inspired us to go there this weekend..what a wild wild trip that was. THere are roads freaking everywhere I cant even believe it. WE found some beautiful water holes to swim in and tons of interesting places.. luckily our buddy with us has a topo map system on his puter and internet service. We could not figure out where the narrows were (while we sat at TOtal wreck) until viewing your tiny map (which actually helped us
) I'll post up pics later today but DAMN THAT WAS FUN...nothing hard at all 2.0 we took the pipeline road and the telephone line road for miles there was nothing bad at all. I did however manage to go flying over the top of a hill half way to Benson and fall into huge hole had to get pulled out hahahhah DORK! THanks for posting this up othewise we would have not known about this place.
) I'll post up pics later today but DAMN THAT WAS FUN...nothing hard at all 2.0 we took the pipeline road and the telephone line road for miles there was nothing bad at all. I did however manage to go flying over the top of a hill half way to Benson and fall into huge hole had to get pulled out hahahhah DORK! THanks for posting this up othewise we would have not known about this place.
I couldn't find where you took those pics at the narrows at...any way you could point it out on a map system for us?
- Thread starter
- #26
We didn't actually get to the "Official" Narrows - I guess that area is closed off.
We crossed the water about 1/2 Mile South East of the Narrows. I'll get you a Topo and some (rough) GPS coordiantes when I get off work.
You have to cross the water twice, once you come out after the secons one (where our pictures were taken) - you hook back up to the powerline road.
Glad you guys had a good time. I too was surprised by how much was out there.
Rocky
We crossed the water about 1/2 Mile South East of the Narrows. I'll get you a Topo and some (rough) GPS coordiantes when I get off work.
You have to cross the water twice, once you come out after the secons one (where our pictures were taken) - you hook back up to the powerline road.
Glad you guys had a good time. I too was surprised by how much was out there.
Rocky
Weird we found the narrows I would love to see a more detailed map of how you accessed the area if you have time. Here are the pics. Thanks for showing us these trails I had no idea they existed! This is from another forum so please excuse the descriptions since you already have them here.
SO we met at the freeway entrance to SOnoita without any idea really of where we were going except getting to total wreck mine in the Empire mountains. We got to the Ciennaga (swamp in spanish) river entrance and started our journey. Traveling past hundreds of trails and places to go..it was unbelievable! WATER in the creek running very nicely, clear just gorgeous.
Some trails were closed so our route had to be changed from what we expected. Luckily Tim had a computer with GPS topo and internet service to help us along..without that for the first time we would have been on a wild goose chase. WHat we did know is we wanted to be near the riparian area where it was green and the water was running. Had to kind of guess where we were going since some of the trails weren't marked. First stop down by the river...minnows everywhere polly wogs and huge trees HELL YEAH!
SO no way to cross here and no road on the other side we went back to the main road traveling further north with one trail in mind that would go across the river. Well when we got there NO way was it passable nor was there a trail on the other side. BUT LOOK WHAT WE FOUND...refuge from the heat of the summer and beautiful swimming holes (for sure we will be going back soon for this)
15 foot deep water holes
Even deeper huge pool
Tons of native minnows
THis area is very close to the border and due to the water it is a HUGE passage for illegals..always carry a weapon on you in case something happens....
Typical illegal garbage you will find down here
So we left from this spot and were almost screwed because the route we needed could not be found...looking at the topo I just knew we somehow passed it up in the brush so I went back a couple hundred feet and low and behold FOUND IT! Tim followed behind
River crossing nothing deep but still perdy
Tim coming through
I would love to see a more detailed map of how you accessed the area if you have time. Here are the pics. Thanks for showing us these trails I had no idea they existed! This is from another forum so please excuse the descriptions since you already have them here. SO we met at the freeway entrance to SOnoita without any idea really of where we were going except getting to total wreck mine in the Empire mountains. We got to the Ciennaga (swamp in spanish) river entrance and started our journey. Traveling past hundreds of trails and places to go..it was unbelievable! WATER in the creek running very nicely, clear just gorgeous.
Some trails were closed so our route had to be changed from what we expected. Luckily Tim had a computer with GPS topo and internet service to help us along..without that for the first time we would have been on a wild goose chase. WHat we did know is we wanted to be near the riparian area where it was green and the water was running. Had to kind of guess where we were going since some of the trails weren't marked. First stop down by the river...minnows everywhere polly wogs and huge trees HELL YEAH!
SO no way to cross here and no road on the other side we went back to the main road traveling further north with one trail in mind that would go across the river. Well when we got there NO way was it passable nor was there a trail on the other side. BUT LOOK WHAT WE FOUND...refuge from the heat of the summer and beautiful swimming holes (for sure we will be going back soon for this)
15 foot deep water holes
Even deeper huge pool
Tons of native minnows
THis area is very close to the border and due to the water it is a HUGE passage for illegals..always carry a weapon on you in case something happens....
Typical illegal garbage you will find down here
So we left from this spot and were almost screwed because the route we needed could not be found...looking at the topo I just knew we somehow passed it up in the brush so I went back a couple hundred feet and low and behold FOUND IT! Tim followed behind
River crossing nothing deep but still perdy
Tim coming through
So we found the gasline road that would bring us to TOTAL WReck mine
Total WReck mine click here
We didn't take any pics..but we wandered around checking out each mine and collecting shiny rocks. Busty and I went into one shaft that went WAYYYY far back and was quiet dangerous. BUt it was exciting...very stable roof no collapses so that's why we went in. SHINY things everywhere looks to be silver.
Never found the town or footers of anything established but we sat and had lunch while collecting rocks.
SO we wanted to go where the pics from Ih8mud were taken so we tried for internet access and succeded:yay: we finally found THE NARROWs on the topo map and with Tim in the lead.
On our way to the narrows
Nice cowtank we found that you could swim in the water was very nice temperature
SOlar powered:yay: this is what is left of the windmill
WE made it down to the narrows ..but didn't take pics...tons of little fishes and more water AWESOME. Had to take the shoes off and go wading to catch the little buggers with no luck. We decided to travel east and see where it went. Washes for miles I was cruising at high speeds like i learned how to 4 wheel on the west side of Tucson. WE got out of the wash and started going off to Benson MILES away....no idea where we were going. I was cruising at a fast speed and went over this hill only to crash into a gully...GETTTING STUCK my front skid was flat on the dirt...and I couldn't back out or go forward..DUR if we were by ourselves I would have been more cautious and if we did get stuck would have dug out and put rocks under the tire. But since tim was with us I pulled out the snatch strap and he saved us..After that we figured it would be best if turned around and went out another direction going towards tucson. MILES AND MILES of telephone pole roads we traveled at high speeds SLAMMING on things. TIm took the worst hit and his Luncrum metal OEM adapted bumper got slammed on WOW! Glad we didn't break anything.
The trail is hella easy 2.0 around there...we started at approx 10:30 and ended at 6 at night.
Total WReck mine click here
We didn't take any pics..but we wandered around checking out each mine and collecting shiny rocks. Busty and I went into one shaft that went WAYYYY far back and was quiet dangerous. BUt it was exciting...very stable roof no collapses so that's why we went in. SHINY things everywhere looks to be silver.
Never found the town or footers of anything established but we sat and had lunch while collecting rocks.
SO we wanted to go where the pics from Ih8mud were taken so we tried for internet access and succeded:yay: we finally found THE NARROWs on the topo map and with Tim in the lead.
On our way to the narrows
Nice cowtank we found that you could swim in the water was very nice temperature
SOlar powered:yay: this is what is left of the windmill
WE made it down to the narrows ..but didn't take pics...tons of little fishes and more water AWESOME. Had to take the shoes off and go wading to catch the little buggers with no luck. We decided to travel east and see where it went. Washes for miles I was cruising at high speeds like i learned how to 4 wheel on the west side of Tucson. WE got out of the wash and started going off to Benson MILES away....no idea where we were going. I was cruising at a fast speed and went over this hill only to crash into a gully...GETTTING STUCK
my front skid was flat on the dirt...and I couldn't back out or go forward..DUR if we were by ourselves I would have been more cautious and if we did get stuck would have dug out and put rocks under the tire. But since tim was with us I pulled out the snatch strap and he saved us..After that we figured it would be best if turned around and went out another direction going towards tucson. MILES AND MILES of telephone pole roads we traveled at high speeds SLAMMING on things. TIm took the worst hit and his Luncrum metal OEM adapted bumper got slammed on WOW! Glad we didn't break anything. The trail is hella easy 2.0 around there...we started at approx 10:30 and ended at 6 at night.
This is where we found those huge water holes and the road across the river to the gasline road to Total Wreck
empire mountains az - Google Maps
This is the narrows
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...-110.544713&spn=0.013409,0.01369&z=16&iwloc=A
empire mountains az - Google Maps
This is the narrows
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...-110.544713&spn=0.013409,0.01369&z=16&iwloc=A
MILES AND MILES of telephone pole roads we traveled at high speeds SLAMMING on things. TIm took the worst hit and his Luncrum metal OEM adapted bumper got slammed on
CRAZY NUTS!
Ya, I gotta go back too and I'm gonna follow those crazy Gas Line Hills to I-10/Mescal area.
I came around a corner to see him looking concerned I had to check my rig a couple times also man that was a blast doing baja style racing down some of those roads. RIdiculous amounts of trails..and most are marked...I guess thats how the smugglers get by the BP stop down there hahahah! IN that part of the country always PACK a weapon you just never know.
Thanks John for the pipeline heads up that helped tremendiously.
I had to check my rig a couple times also man that was a blast doing baja style racing down some of those roads. RIdiculous amounts of trails..and most are marked...I guess thats how the smugglers get by the BP stop down there hahahah! IN that part of the country always PACK a weapon you just never know. Thanks John for the pipeline heads up that helped tremendiously.
great pictures! I agree, you need to carry a gun, Ive had some shaky experiences down there. I wont hunt those southern most units anymore fo that reason.
Really what happened? I dont usually go south of Patgonia thats my rule...
Well I know one thing I will be back to the empires mountains and the whetstones....I just found a killer looking trails on google earth.
Well I know one thing I will be back to the empires mountains and the whetstones....I just found a killer looking trails on google earth.
Great pics Jake!
Wow I forgot about those water holes! I now remember hiking down through there, I'd bet it was at least 15 years ago..
Actually your not too far away from the Empire ranch there, right?
Wow I forgot about those water holes! I now remember hiking down through there, I'd bet it was at least 15 years ago..
Actually your not too far away from the Empire ranch there, right?
Thanks brotha! Yeah its not far from the empire ranch.