Rattlesnake Trail #275

Access

The Rattlesnake Trail is accessible from three locations, some of which have not been surveyed at this time.

The northern terminus (31.93513, -109.31974) is located at the intersection of the lower portion of the Pine Canyon Road (FR 357) with Downing Pass Road (FR 42C). This road once continued up past the former Methodist Camp/Pine Canyon Camp to an actual trailhead but has experienced significant flood damage and is now closed at this intersection, so this guide will treat the aforementioned intersection as the start of the trail.

Near Rattle Rock Saddle, both the Bootlegger Trail (31.90120, -109.31502) and Witch Ridge Trail (31.90077, -109.31588) connect in 350 feet apart from each other.

The southern terminus is with the Rock Creek Trail in Rock Canyon. (31.89525, -109.32186)

Trail Description

Former Pine Canyon Road to Old Trailhead

• 1.3 mi
• 423 ft ↑ 110 ft ↓
• 4.6% slope

From a small parking area at what is effectively the current trailhead for the Rattlesnake Trail, follow remnants of the old roadbed up Pine Canyon through and past the former site of Methodist Camp/Pine Canyon Camp, an abandoned and nearly completely removed church camp that once occupied this area. Some maintenance has been done on this path as recently as 2022, but you may need to do some routefinding at times due to flood damage making it difficult to follow. When you come up on the confluence with Rattlesnake Canyon, you will cross to the east side of that drainage and should pick up the old roadbed and original trailhead south of the Pine Creek drainage. (31.91850, -109.31360)

Old Trailhead to Rattle Rock Saddle

• 1.97 mi
• 940 ft ↑ 25 ft ↓
• 8.8% slope

The Rattlesnake Trail begins in Pine Canyon at a signed trailhead. A small clearing here is all that remains of a sawmill which was later moved up canyon to Barfoot Park. The trail begins as a very visible logging road, though it has washed away in several places and becomes briefly narrow. After 0.35 mile, the creek makes a bend to the left across the road and the former crossing has been obliterated. Work was done to improve creek crossings in 2022, but if you do not find them you can also just follow the creek until you notice an especially enticing stretch of trail or roadbed. Be warned that it is extremely rocky with large boulders in the creekbed in most places.

0.4 mile later you'll reach the Wilderness boundary, at which point you are a quarter mile due west of Rattlesnake Peak. Another 0.4 mile beyond and the canyon swings from the southeasterly course it had been on to head nearly straight east for a while. Until this point, the route is heavily shaded under tree cover, but the canyon bottom from here was heavily burned and it becomes much more exposed. Remain in the creek bottom for another 0.22 miles before coming to the trail again. The sign marking the point where the trail exits the canyon to the right is lost, but rock cairns should be present. The trail swings sharply to the south and then southwest and climbs up the slope. Frequently contouring around the terrain as it climbs, the next half mile to the Bootlegger Trail junction is steep but not so much as to require switchbacks.

The junction is marked with a sign. The Bootlegger Trail connects in from the left while the Rattlesnake Trail continues to the right an additional 350 feet before reaching Rattle Rock Saddle. Another signed junction occurs here, with the Witch Ridge Trail, which takes the right fork while Rattlesnake continues down the left fork into Rock Canyon.

Rattle Rock Saddle to Rock Creek Trail

• 1.07 mi
• 700 ft ↓
• 12.4% slope

Though Rock Canyon itself fared well in the Horseshoe II fire, the Rattlesnake Trail passes through total devastation all the way from Rattle Rock Saddle until just before it hits the Rock Creek Trail. Coming out of the saddle it takes the lower of the two routes, initially heading west, then swinging to the northwest. After 400 feet, the trail crosses a very narrow spot that has been eroding badly, then contours to the southwest to meet a switchback 0.16 mi beyond. Heading east-southeast now, there is a washout with a several foot drop in the trail after 0.13 mi, then the trail turns sharply south and contours down the slope for the next third of a mile to a final switchback. Due north for 0.13 mi takes you to the bottom of the creek, at which point the trail pretty much disappears entirely. (31.89829, -109.32025)

Follow the canyon bottom roughly south for 0.16 mi until a faint path can be seen gradually climbing back out of the west side of the canyon. (31.89636, -109.32127) Follow this 450 feet in the same south-southwest direction and you will reach the Rock Creek Trail in the bottom of Rock Canyon. (31.89526, -109.32184) To the southeast, the Saulsbury Saddle Trail junction can be reached in 0.81 mi, with the Bootlegger Trail and Crest Trail accessible further beyond. To the west lie Fitch Corral Trail, Turkey Pen Trail, Fife Canyon Trail and the Rock Creek Trail's western terminus at Forest Road 259.

Map

Last updated July 14, 2025.