Mazatzal Peak via Barnhardt and Y Bar Basin Loop in Tonto National Forest, AZ

Hike Mazatzal Peak via Barnhardt and Y Bar Basin Loop Tonto National Forest, AZ

Class 2 11.9 miles 4200 gain 5-7 hrs Loop May 1, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mazatzal Peak via Barnhardt and Y Bar Basin Loop GPX Track

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Mazatzal Peak made it on my to-do list years ago and I was always daunted by the potenial bushwhack, which ultimately wasn't bad at all. I finally got a chance to give the peak a shot, but really wanting to make it into a loop. Most people approach Mazatzal Peak from the Barnhardt Trail and descend the same way, but there is another option via the Y Bar Basin Trail, which I used as my descent. I would recommend you just do the hike as an out-and-back via Barnhardt. The second half of my loop was far less intersting and had more bushwhacking. The Barnhardt and Y Bar Basin Trail also apparently make for a nice loop, but this loop doesn't make it to the summit of Mazatzal Peak. I passed a couple of backpackers along the way who seemed to enjoy it.

From the Barnhardt Trailhead (accessible by any vehicle), I started along the very pretty and somewhat popular trail, which parallels Barnhardt Canyon. It winds around the lumpy hillside slopes as many Arizona trails do, slowly gaining elevation and therefore improving views into the drainage below. The trail eventually curves away from Barnhardt Canyon and heads south along the slopes of a side-drainage and introducing some tight switchbacks. Some more walking on the nice trail led to a quick detour to Barnhardt Falls, a pretty little falls in a very short slot canyon. The trail became a little less interesting after the falls, just following the slopes and heading generally south.

I left the Barnhardt Trail at a rocky drainage, which provided some Class 2 boulder-hopping and avoided brush for a good quarter mile. Soon the drainage became a bit more choked by encroaching bushes, so I headed onto a minor spur ridge and continued south. I was pleasantly surprised at how little brush there was, fully expecting to be miserable for the remainder of the hike to Mazatzal Peak. Aside from just being a steep slope, the approach was actually pretty pleasant. I won't say it was brush-free, but certainly clear enough to bring my mood up significantly. As I continued up this spur ridge to the main ridgeline above, I noticed some very heavy brush, easily avoidable by making an ascending traverse rather than going directly to the ridgeline itself. Once on the ridgeline (which is really more of a slope and less of a true "ridge") I had to dodge a bunch of trees, but the bushwhacking was over. I chose to stick as close to the rim as possible, my goal being the false summit that I've labeled Peak 7823. This false summit introduces some fun Class 2 scrambling and nice views to the west. Alternatively, you can skip all the scrambling and views and ascend to Mazatzal Peak just to the left (east) of the rim on easy terrain. The traverse from Peak 7823 to Mazatzal Peak was pleasant and pretty, and the views from Mazatzal Peak were really wonderful.

I debated briefly heading back the way I came, but decided to give the loop a go. I headed east and zig-zagged through thickening manzanitas until the solid ground turned into cliffs. I dropped to my right onto a brushy slope nestled between some rock outcrops and fought with manzanitas for the next 15 minutes. I did note cairns as I descended, but they were sporadic and really only served as a guide since there was no discernable social trail. Generally I would recommend sticking to a minor ridge rather than the slopes to get more Class 2 and less bushwhacking, but don't expect to find some magic route or avoid the unpleasantness. Halfway down the descent ridge, the manzanitas eased up, but I was faced with a couple of cliffs, avoidable on the left (north) side of the ridge via a steep slope. I lost all sight of cairns (if there were any) and found myself bushwhacking again to get to the Y Bar Basin Trail, located at a saddle below. 

The Y Bar Trail was in good shape, though quite a bit more rocky than the Barnhardt Trail. The views were minimal at first, the trail mostly just taking me through a forest. A couple of miles later the Y Bar Basin Trail skirted the slopes for the remainder of the hike, offering some slightly better views to the east. Along the way, I passed the head of Shake Tree Canyon, a tempting canyoneering adventure I'd get to a year later. It also included some additional ups and downs to get over the main ravines the trail passes over. Really the second half was a bit of a letdown, but I always enjoy making loops regardless.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mazatzal Peak
7903 ft
3943 rise

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Barnhardt Trailhead. Keep right at the junction with the Y Bar Basin Trail. I returned via the left on my descent.
Barnhardt Trailhead. Keep right at the junction with the Y Bar Basin Trail. I returned via the left on my descent.
Along the Barnhardt Trail.
Along the Barnhardt Trail.
Entering Mazatzal Wilderness.
Entering Mazatzal Wilderness.
Barnhardt Trail, Barnhardt Canyon visible on the right.
Barnhardt Trail, Barnhardt Canyon visible on the right.
View back along the Barnhardt Trail.
View back along the Barnhardt Trail.
Image 5 from gallery
Making progress, view back along the Barnhardt Trail. The trailhead is in the distant center somewhere.
Making progress, view back along the Barnhardt Trail. The trailhead is in the distant center somewhere.
The Barnhardt Trail heads up the slopes of a side drainage.
The Barnhardt Trail heads up the slopes of a side drainage.
Switchbacks. The trail heads away from Barnhardt Canyon, center.
Switchbacks. The trail heads away from Barnhardt Canyon, center.
At the top of the switchbacks, the Barnhardt Trail calms down a bit and wanders along the slopes.
At the top of the switchbacks, the Barnhardt Trail calms down a bit and wanders along the slopes.
Barnhardt Falls.
Barnhardt Falls.
View back toward Barnhardt Falls (right of center).
View back toward Barnhardt Falls (right of center).
Image 12 from gallery
Barnhardt Trail continues west.
Barnhardt Trail continues west.
The views along the Barnhardt Trail aren't quite as good past Barnhardt Falls, but it's pretty in its own way.
The views along the Barnhardt Trail aren't quite as good past Barnhardt Falls, but it's pretty in its own way.
View back.
View back.
The trail heads along the slopes. My goal is the drainage left of center in this photo.
The trail heads along the slopes. My goal is the drainage left of center in this photo.
I left the Barnhardt Trail and started up this Class 2 boulder-hoppy drainage.
I left the Barnhardt Trail and started up this Class 2 boulder-hoppy drainage.
View back within the drainage.
View back within the drainage.
I left the drainage and ascended a spur ridge.
I left the drainage and ascended a spur ridge.
View back as I make progress up the spur ridge. The Barnhardt Trail came up from the canyon right of center, the rocky drainage I ascended visible center.
View back as I make progress up the spur ridge. The Barnhardt Trail came up from the canyon right of center, the rocky drainage I ascended visible center.
Steep slope with minimal bushwhacking. I side-hilled a bit and made an ascending traverse to gain the ridge ahead in order to avoid a massive cluster of bad brush.
Steep slope with minimal bushwhacking. I side-hilled a bit and made an ascending traverse to gain the ridge ahead in order to avoid a massive cluster of bad brush.
View back down again. Barnhardt Trail came from the canyon right of center.
View back down again. Barnhardt Trail came from the canyon right of center.
On the slopey ridge, heading up to Peak 7823, the false summit of Mazatzal Peak. You can see its rocky face in the center.
On the slopey ridge, heading up to Peak 7823, the false summit of Mazatzal Peak. You can see its rocky face in the center.
Along the rim to Peak 7823.
Along the rim to Peak 7823.
View back along the approach to Peak 7823.
View back along the approach to Peak 7823.
Peak 7823 ahead.
Peak 7823 ahead.
Peak 7823 summit, view back the way I came.
Peak 7823 summit, view back the way I came.
Peak 7823, view toward Mazatzal Peak. Very pretty, short traverse to get to Mazatzal.
Peak 7823, view toward Mazatzal Peak. Very pretty, short traverse to get to Mazatzal.
Mazatzal Peak summit, view west.
Mazatzal Peak summit, view west.
Close-up to the west.
Close-up to the west.
Mazatzal Peak summit, view north toward Peak 7823. The popular Barnhardt / Y Bar Basin Loop that people take wraps around the base of the cliffs on the bottom left in this photo.
Mazatzal Peak summit, view north toward Peak 7823. The popular Barnhardt / Y Bar Basin Loop that people take wraps around the base of the cliffs on the bottom left in this photo.
I left the summit of Mazatzal Peak and headed east, hoping to get down to the Y Bar Basin Trail. The route quickly became brushy.
I left the summit of Mazatzal Peak and headed east, hoping to get down to the Y Bar Basin Trail. The route quickly became brushy.
My goal is the saddle in the center of this photo. I stayed high for as long as I could until I encountered cliffy terrain.
My goal is the saddle in the center of this photo. I stayed high for as long as I could until I encountered cliffy terrain.
I dropped into a brushy slope.
I dropped into a brushy slope.
View back up toward the brushy slope nestled between rock outcrops that I came down.
View back up toward the brushy slope nestled between rock outcrops that I came down.
I tried to stick to the most prominent ridge I could since it had the least amount of brush, but this is what it looked like much of the way down.
I tried to stick to the most prominent ridge I could since it had the least amount of brush, but this is what it looked like much of the way down.
View back up the ridge.
View back up the ridge.
Near the bottom of the ridge, view back up the way I came.
Near the bottom of the ridge, view back up the way I came.
I kept left of the ridge at a couple of points to avoid cliffs.
I kept left of the ridge at a couple of points to avoid cliffs.
At the base of the descent, view back toward the ridge I came down (left). You can see the cliffs I avoided.
At the base of the descent, view back toward the ridge I came down (left). You can see the cliffs I avoided.
Along the Y Bar Basin Trail.
Along the Y Bar Basin Trail.
Looking back toward the saddle as I descend along the Y Bar Basin Trail.
Looking back toward the saddle as I descend along the Y Bar Basin Trail.
Y Bar Basin Trail. Not very interesting.
Y Bar Basin Trail. Not very interesting.
Y Bar Basin Trail leaves the forest and wraps along the slopes. Shake Tree Canyon visible on the right. It's a few miles of views and trail that look pretty much just like this.
Y Bar Basin Trail leaves the forest and wraps along the slopes. Shake Tree Canyon visible on the right. It's a few miles of views and trail that look pretty much just like this.
View back along the Y Bar Basin Trail.
View back along the Y Bar Basin Trail.
Image 46 from gallery
Nearing the end of the Y Bar Basin Trail.
Nearing the end of the Y Bar Basin Trail.

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