Sierra Canyon

Tonto National Forest, AZ Superstition Mountains + Phoenix

Trip stats

Distance
4.6 mi
Net Gain
1,100 ft
Time
4-6 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 2
ACA Rating
3B
Longest Rappel
50 ft
Route
Loop

Ratings out of 10

Effort
3.2/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
7/10
Solitude
4.7/10
What do these mean? →

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

33.534530, -111.303980

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Technical canyon warning

This is a technical canyon requiring canyoneering skills and specialized equipment. If you are not experienced with building anchors or using the gear required for technical canyoneering, do not attempt this route.

Apr 5, 2025 — We got a late start after being out late the night before, but we were all very excited for Sierra Canyon, the first technical canyon in the Superstition Mountains for all of us. Until recently, the dirt road leading down from Fish Creek Vista to Fish Creek Canyon had been closed, which would have added a significant amount of hiking along the road. Fortunately, the road has been repaired and is now open, though driving down requires more clearance than a typical passenger car offers. Sierra Canyon can apparently carry heavy flow, but today we encountered only small pools.

We parked at a large pullout and hiked into Fish Creek, heading toward the cliffs towering ahead. After about half a mile in Fish Creek, we exited on the right via a slickrock watercourse, though we likely missed a social trail off to the left initially. Sure enough, we found it shortly after leaving the watercourse. The approach follows this social trail just beneath the sheer cliffs above, leading up a steep slope to the crest above. At first, the trail was well-traveled and easy to follow, but after passing the cliff face, the route became more faint. Eventually, we just bushwhacked to the crest above.

Up on the flatter grassy desert above, the hiking got easier and the views were gorgeous. After crossing a minor ridge, we reached our drop-in to Sierra Canyon. We got nicked by some catclaw, but it was an overall painless approach. Now within Sierra Canyon, the walls rose tall pretty abruptly, and the rock was unlike anything any of us had seen in a canyon before. We moved smoothly through the technical sections, 7 rappels up to 50 feet, with some optional down-climbs. There are two technical sections of very different character, separated by a short walk through a more expansive section of the canyon. More photos of the rappels will be better detail below.

Once through the technical stuff, Sierra Canyon’s drainage spilled back out at a junction with Fish Creek Canyon, from where we hiked back up the canyon.

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App

Photos

48 photos

  1. From the pull-out we headed into Fish Creek Canyon. The approach route leads just below the cliff seen ahead, top right.
  2. We took the watercourse, but it's likely a social trail exists to the left. We found it shortly after, taking it to the center of this photo.
  3. View back toward the road.
  4. Social trail leading up the slope.
  5. Nearing the crest above, the trail became a bit more tricky to follow.
  6. View back down once we reached the crest.
  7. Some nice hiking along the flatter meadows above.
  8. A couple of minor ridges on the way to the drop-in point.
  9. Dropping into Sierra Canyon.
  10. It quickly became very pretty. Here we're avoiding a wet section before reaching the main branch of Sierra Canyon.
  11. Now within Sierra Canyon.
  13. Avoidable drop by bypassing left.
  15. A short boulder field.
  16. Sierra Canyon becomes more narrow.
  18. Looking back at a partner-assist or down climb.
  19. Rap 1.
  20. View back at Rap 1.
  21. Rap 2.
  22. Deep pool at the bottom of Rap 2.
  23. Some gorgeous narrows within Sierra Canyon.
  24. Rap 4, anchor is high above from a tree hidden by a big bush.
  25. So sexy, Matt.
  26. View back at Rap 4.
  27. Rap 5.
  28. Looking back at Rap 5.
  29. A cool eroded grotto/cave.
  30. Sierra Canyon opens up for a bit.
  31. Entering more narrows.
  32. Gorgeous, though very different from the previous set of narrows.
  37. Rap 6.
  38. The drop on Rap 6.
  39. View back toward Rap 6 (left), where there's a nice bend in the canyon.
  40. A couple of twists past Rap 6.
  41. Sierra Canyon opens up again for a while before the final rappel.
  43. View back as we approach Rap 7.
  44. Rap 7.
  45. Junction with Fish Creek Canyon ahead.
  46. Hiking back up Fish Creek Canyon.

Photo 1 of 1

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App
GPX track

Sierra Canyon GPX route and driving track

The complete GPX track is available to download, so you can load the route straight into your navigation app or device. The trip report, route info, photos and planning details stay free.

Add to cart View cart