Punchbowl Canyon via Bronco Butte and Horse Mesa GPX Track
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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.
Just outside the official boundary of the Superstition Wilderness, nestled in the rugged folds of the Tonto National Forest, lies Punchbowl Canyon—a scenic canyoneering gem that delivers big views, full swimmers, and classic desert obstacles, all with the unique rock aesthetic of the Supes. The canyon can have dangerous flows, but on our visit, all the water was stagnant.
As of this writing, access is permitted under strict conditions: no vehicles, specific entry and exit routes, and strict avoidance of the dam and employee housing. The Coalition of American Canyoneers (CAC) successfully negotiated limited access to Punchbowl Canyon with the Salt River Project (SRP), following previous unauthorized use and security concerns related to the nearby dam. There is no permit system, but compliance is crucial since violations or excessive rescues could result in access being revoked. Thanks to the CAC and SRP for establishing this agreement, because this canyon is fantastic.
To reach the trailhead (really just a locked gate with a pull-out), head north from AZ-88 at this point: (33.54439, -111.33792), and park before the plentiful negative signage here: (33.56026, -111.35462). The locked gate is not intended to deter foot-traffic canyoneers, so don’t be alarmed. Just don’t drive in, even if the gate happens to be open.
The standard approach routes begin here, requiring a 2.5-mile walk down toward the Salt River. One option, known as “The Fin/Sheep Route,” is a sketchy but gorgeous low 5th-class climb that leads directly to the head of Punchbowl Canyon. An alternative uses an adjacent gully, which is slightly safer. A third option would be to approach via boat.
We took none of these options. I’d expressed displeasure the day before about not getting enough peaks or vertical gain on this trip, so Shawn appeased me by suggesting we do Punchbowl Canyon as a shuttle route—hiking over Bronco Butte and Horse Mesa before dropping into the canyon. This made me far less fussy. Everyone was thrilled because this meant that we’d only have to hike out on the road once, despite the added miles and effort. Approaching from the east meant we successfully avoided SRP’s restricted areas, and we’d get to explore a likely new, if contrived, route to the canyon.
We drove our start car to a pull-out east of Bronco Butte, a 45-minute shuttle away. From there, we headed northwest toward a weakness in the cliff band. Each of us picked our own line to gain the cliffs, but I lucked out and found a faint animal trail that made the bushwhack nearly nonexistent. From the right side of the main drainage, I angled toward the break in the cliff band. It was steep with a few loose sections, but overall a pleasant enough hike. The terrain became solid Class 2/2+ as we worked toward flatter ground above. At the top of the slope, Bronco Butte came into view. A short bit of Class 2 boulder-hopping brought us to the summit, where we could see Apache Lake stretching out behind the lower eastern summit, and our route to Horse Mesa clearly visible ahead. The Four Peaks loomed in the distance.
We continued toward Horse Mesa. It was a long walk along a tame ridgeline, its lack of brush greatly appreciated. To the left, the sheer cliffs of Fish Creek Canyon contrasted dramatically with the mellow ridge we followed. As we began the final climb to Horse Mesa, the route steepened but remained solidly in Class 2 territory, though was mostly just a good old-fashioned grassy desert slog.
Near the summit, the desert opened up once more, offering even broader views. We hiked west on mellow terrain, eventually descending from the western toe of Horse Mesa (Class 2+) to reach the head of Punchbowl Canyon. In hindsight, we could’ve dropped down a bit earlier to avoid a few cliff bands.
Everyone was eager to get into the canyon at this point, and my peak-hungry restlessness had been satisfied. We made quick progress past a few small obstacles and then suited up in wetsuits before starting the first rappel.
We downclimbed frequently, but still ended up doing 11 rappels (your count may vary depending on your party). A few anchors will need a lot of webbing, if you plan to do any maintenance. A short rope will see the most use. Many pools were deep enough to jump into (after testing them, of course). I’ll let the photos below speak for the beauty and challenges of our descent through Punchbowl Canyon.
The final rappel dropped us into a basin holding the last punchbowl. On our visit, there was very little water, and we managed to stay dry. From there, we followed the road back up to our second car, encountering one truck, though its driver only waved as he passed.
PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
1
Bronco Butte
4349 ft
1669
rise
2
Horse Mesa
4112 ft
512
rise
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