Completed in 1893, a trail was constructed from the Last Chance Mine to a mill site on the rim of this canyon after settlers rediscovered copper on Horseshoe Mesa in 1890. Eight to ten mules a day hauled 200 pounds of ore each from the mine to the rim. You will find mules noticably lacking on this hike, as opposed to the ever popular South Kaibab and Bright Angel trails(or mule crap 1 and mule crap 2 as some people fondly call them).
By 1907 all mining claims on the mesa were abandoned. The cache was placed in its current location during this mining era. Rebuilt shortly after 1940, the trail maintains much of the origional line and design, including examples of hand-laid riprap cobbles and log cribbing. The trail has been described as a "masterpiece of eyeball engineering".
The official trail description reads: "The trail wraps down the Kaibab Limestone and Coconino Sandstone layers [through the Upper Cliffs] in a series of switchbacks. The trail is steep and has a high amount of exposure until you reach the Coconino Saddle (1.5 miles/2 km). Below the Coconino Saddle the trail is very steep and covered with loose rock..."
The cache is just beyond the saddle. While the hike is only about 3 miles round trip it is well over 1,000 vertical feet down and 1,000+ back up. Expect to spend at least 3 hours round trip.
Take at least 1 quart of water per person as none is available on the trail. Some trail food, extra clothing and a signal whistle are advisable. The Coconino Saddle is an excellent place to stop and have lunch on either a day hike or on the hike out from Horseshoe Mesa.
Use instep crampons to reach this cache in the winter when there is snow and/or ice on the trail. These are available at the Market Place store near Yavapai Lodge.
You will recognize the cache because of it's self referencing information. To claim this cache email answers to the following questions to Boots Walker:
- The exact year the item was placed here.
- The vertical distance it is below the former copper mill site on the rim.
If you are one of the over 5 million visitors the park where this cache is located you know that entrance to the park is $30 per vehicle and is good for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase on either rim. A 12 month park pass is $80.
We used to use a 12 month National Parks Pass($80), which is good at all national parks.
We use a $10 lifetime Senior Pass(over 62 years old. $20 to order online), which is good at all national parks.
I have never been to this park in the summer but in winter, spring and fall the enterance stations close at 10:00 PM and the enterance fees are not collected.
Enterance can also be gained via a national forest service road on the east side of US Rt 180 on the south side of Tusayan, about 3 miles south of the park enterance station. A 4 wheel drive may be required during wet weather conditions. High vehicle clearance is required at all times. Free, at large camping is available along this road as long as you camp 1/4 mile off the highway. This road is sometimes closed during the summer because of fire danger. Check with South Kaibab Tusayan Ranger Station [ N35 59.282 W112 07.279 ] for maps, campsite recomendations, current road conditions and restrictions.