MODERATE: Willow Springs Basin Tank via Bulldog Canyon

REMINDER: If this is your first hike with the Sun Lakes Hiking Club, it is required to contact the hike leader before your first club hike.

MODERATE: Willow Springs Basin Tank via Bulldog Canyon
Hike leaders: Scott Downey (503-936-7239) & Pauline Boyd (825-735-2693)
Date: November 9, 2026
Trailhead: Bulldog Canyon – Willow Gate Trailhead which is on Apache Trail Road (Hwy 88) and on the left .3 miles after passing the sign for Weaver’s Needle Vista Viewpoint
Description: Lollipop loop
Hike Distance: 5.8 mile
Accumulated Elevation Gain: 774
Trailhead Elevation: 2082 feet
Driving Distance: 80 miles R/T; approximately 45 minutes
Drivers Fee: $7
Meetup: 7:30 Cottonwood parking lot for 7:45 departure
HIke Description:
This is a modified version of the Willow Springs club hike which the club last year (2025). The hike is slightly shorter and has less elevation gain. The Willow Springs hike is a very scenic ‘lollipop’ hike. This route involves a beautiful hike with rocky terrain, loose rocks, steep ascents, and descents. The scenery includes desert vistas, saguaros, and colorful rock formations. The elevation gain is spread out over 4 or 5 sections of the hike and are easily doable. There are lots of loose gravel and rocks, so hiking poles are recommended. There is a lot of rubble on the downhill areas and poles are highly recommended.
Total hike time is about 3.5 hours. Expect to get back to Sun Lakes around 2pm
Driving Directions: If using a GPS device for driving directions enter “Bulldog Canyon – Willow Gate ” into your device.
Directions Directions: Turn right on Riggs and use your favorite route to Loop 202 East. Take exit 30A for US-60 Globe. Take exit 196 to S Idaho. Turn left onto S Idaho. At 2.3 miles, turn right onto Apache Trail. In 0.3 miles, at the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto AZ 88E/N Apache Trail. At 7.4 miles, turn into the gravel parking lot on the left.
(Watch for the paved and signed Weavers Needle Viewpoint parking lot on the right at 7.2 miles, the next exit on the left is the gravel parking lot you are looking for.)
**FYI - there are NO restroom facilities at the trailhead so we will stop in Apache Junction at the QT gas station at the SE corner of Idaho Rd and Old West Hwy.
Call hike leader, Scott Downey (503-936-7239) or Pauline Boyd (825-735-2693), if you need assistance. (Driver's fee is $7)