2014 Map of Haystack Butte

About this map

Tonto National Forest land defines this reach of Gila County, where the Salt River carves deep through the Salt River Canyon. The drainage network is complex, characterized by steep descents such as Jump-Off Canyon and the winding Hess Canyon that eventually feed the main river. Water sources are vital in this arid terrain, marked by scattered tanks and springs like Butte Tank, Yellowjacket Spring, and Yankee Joe Seep. Dominant elevations like Haystack Butte and the Blackjack Mountains provide significant vertical relief against the canyon floor, where white-water features like The Maze Rapid illustrate the river's force. The presence of Haystack Butte Rd provides one of the few named access points into this labyrinthine landscape of canyons and mesas.