Angel Canyon (with Bushwhack) Loop - 8/15/22

Angel Canyon Narrows

Angel Canyon (Background) and Bushwhack Territory from Little Bald Knoll

Kyle Canyon Road from Showgirl (Orange) Trail

Up Kyle Canyon from Trailhead Area

It had been years since I had visited Angel Canyon. In years past, the shortest loop route I had created was 8 miles starting at the Juniper Trailhead. We used the Showgirl Trail all the way down the Steep Dive then dropped into the canyon to our left. Next, we climbed the canyon up to a large wash on the left before reaching the Angel Peak road ridge. Turning left, we climbed the wash all the way up to cross the Showgirl Trail that led back up to Juniper Trailhead. This time, we attempted to cut that hike down to 6 miles with a loop starting at Kyle Canyon Road. We succeeded! However, it wasn't without travail! So the Tenacious Trio set out from the USFS fire station on Kyle Canyon Road. This trailhead is bustling with bicycle activity on the weekends!

We found it! (The washed away bridge!)

Finally heading into Angel Canyon

Starting into the Narrows

Rita climbs the first Scramble

However, on a Monday ... not so much. We were the only ones in the parking lot early in the morning. We connected with Tin Can Alley and crossed up toward the Telephone Canyon Road. Before we reached the dirt road, we veered right on a trail that took us down into the neighboring Angel Canyon wash. The wash was clear so we used it to hike up toward Angel Canyon, a large canyon that forks up to the right from Telephone Canyon. Along this section, we found the nice bridge that used to be located on the Showgirl Trail a couple of years ago. It had been washed down. A couple of strong young bikers could have easily dragged it back up to its original position but, instead, it turned out they had built a new one!

Angel Canyon general Condition

Climbing another Dry Fall

Climbing the left side of Another Scramble

Between the Rocks

Continuing up the wash from the new bridge location, we tried to stay in one of the main drainages all the way up to where Angel Canyon narrows down. Finally there, we started up and hit the first of five major scrambles (3rd class) found in the canyon. (It was clear that there is a lot of wild horse or burro activity within the canyon! And, somehow, they find their way around all the obstacles.) Angel Canyon is very nice within the rock walls and steep embankments. The wash floor, itself, is very hikable even having been washed over in the last few weeks. There is only one new tree fall that blocks the canyon but it is easily circumvented. One of the most pleasant surprises was that the last scramble (still the most difficult one) no longer has a tree blockage!

Slippery Short Scramble

View from top of Last Scramble

The Bushwhack Begins!

Mike powers up the Hill

Not far after that last scramble, we peered up to our left to find a doable climb up the hillside. The washes in this area seemed to all be very brushy so we decided to start up on a ridge. Very steep, however, it was also the chosen ridge of wild horses and deer as we surmised on our way up. There were snippets of game trails as we climbed. I had a target two ridges over. It was where the Showgirl Trail swung out toward us. So, we headed in that direction having to deal with three very steep climbs and a deep drainage. There's a lot of territory between the canyon and the trail and it's all very ... yes ... steep. Anyway, we finally reached the trail and started following it down. Soon, we were at the Shady Rest corner where we took our well deserved break!

Utilizing a short Deer Trail

Happy (and tired) at Shady Rest

Stepladder Peak from Showgirl (Orange) Trail

Carefully down the Steep Dive

All we had left to do was continue down the Showgirl (Orange) Trail. We used a new switchback to the trail just after Shady Rest. We lilted over Little Bald Knoll where we got a great view of where we had been. We took the Steep Dive where we thought about how crazy young bikers are ... probably padded from head to toe! We connected with the Lower Showgirl Trail and continued down to the new bridge that we passed before. From there, we retraced our steps back to the trailhead. No threatening rain dampened our pace and we had quite the workout! 😛 Best of all, we can report that Angel Canyon is a "Go" no matter how you wish to loop it!

Stats: 6.2 miles; 1650' gain; 4.75 hours

Parallel to Telephone Canyon Road

Crossing the New Bridge

Same view up canyon 4 Hours Later