Ford Canyon Trail - White Tank Mountain Park

This trail is located in Maricopa County's White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell, which is in the far west valley.  The White Tank Mountains form the barrier to the west of the Valley of the Sun.  Ford Canyon can actually be done as a long 10.3 mile hike.  However, I just hiked up to the name sake of this desert mountain range, the white tanks, or rather a boulder ridden area of white granite near the top of the range.  I hiked approximately 2.6 miles from parking area #9 and then turned back around, as it was growing late in the afternoon.
See brief video at the end of this post of the trail at the granite section

Ford Canyon Trail

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The park has several areas you can access the Ford Canyon Trail from.  I began my hike from area #9.  Pick up a map from the entrance fee station on your way in and follow to the Ford Canyon Road which will lead you to the trail access parking area.  The hike begins by heading east, away from the direction you need to go, it drops into a deep wash and then climbs back out where you begin to head west toward the hills in front of you.  The first 1.5 miles is relatively flat and meanders through cholla and saguaro cactus.  I hiked this trail the first part of March, the desert was green and wildflowers were just starting to come out.  You will crest a small hill at about 1 mile in and then follow down the back side into a large wash area.  Ford Canyon will be straight ahead of you.  The trail is still easy going at this point.  At 1.75 miles in  you will come to a sign waring you of dangerous hiking ahead.  In my opinion, if you are comfortable climbing hills on rocky terrain you will be fine or in other words if you hike Camelback, then you should have no problem with this section, as it is much easier to navigate.  Just be careful with your footing, you don't want to twist an ankle.

This section made the hike worthwhile and the drive to get here.  The trail begins to climb around boulders and rocks and is still well marked during this section.  You will soon round a bend and see the white granite rock that is the name sake of the White Tank Mountains.  Keep heading up the trail to an area of smooth granite.  There may be some pools of water in this area.  I hiked up a bit further following the trail over the granite.  You will soon come up to a sandy wash area.  Stay in the wash and continue up the trail.  A few hundred yards up this wash I turned around as the day was getting late.  Once you are on top of the granite and in the sandy wash you are about 2.6 miles.  Turn back the way you came.  Or if you have the water and time keep following the trail to complete the 10 mile loop.  The pay station has an excellent map to the area. 



First area of granite rock

 This was a nice trail, with a good hill climb to get the heart rate going a little bit.  The granite rock was nice to see and would be great to see during a rain storm, with water pooling over the edges. 

I turned around about 100 yards beyond this point

Length: 5 miles out and back to sandy wash just above granite rock area
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Difficulty: Easy for first 1.75 miles, then low scale moderate
Season: Fall through Spring
Hiking Time:  I did this route in 2 hours
Info:  $6.00 entrance fee
Directions: Take I-10 West.  Exit on Cotton Lane (the 303 is under construction and will soon be the exit you will take) Follow Cotton lane north 8 miles.  Turn Left on Olive, follow for 4 miles to the park entrance.