West Pinto Creek Trail #212

West Pinto Creek Trail #212 is a point-to-point dirt trail in the Superstition Wilderness of the Tonto National Forest, marked for hiking and also open to horseback riding (no bicycles). The route runs along the west fork of Pinto Creek through the canyon bottom, with a notable shift into steeper terrain near Iron Mountain.

Expect steep sections near Iron Mountain, then a lower-elevation stretch in the canyon bottom that can be hard to follow when water is running and the area is subject to flooding. On the route’s longer segments, plan on a sustained backcountry pace rather than a series of short climbs.

Trail length is about 9.3 miles one way (the commonly listed hike distance varies by how the trail is framed as an out-and-back or segment use). Elevation gain is listed around ~1,600–1,650 feet, with a highest point around 3,423 ft and a low point around 1,360 ft.

Bring water planning seriously: the canyon sections depend on the flow along Pinto Creek, and conditions can change as you go deeper into the wilderness. If you’re heading out in hot weather, longer carries may be necessary between reliable sources.

This route connects into the broader Arizona Trail network in Superstition Wilderness (Arizona Trail Passage 19 is associated with this area), which is useful if you’re stitching together a multi-day itinerary from junctions in and around the Pinto Creek drainage.

Use Tonto National Forest recreation information before you go for road access status, fire restrictions, and weather alerts. In-season itinerary planning matters because wilderness access, trailhead conditions, and water availability can vary with recent conditions.