T5700-Dark Canyon Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildflowers

Use Benson Ridge Road (Forest Road 223) from the Sunspot Highway (State Road 6563) to get to the trailhead. The road is a combination of dirt, rock and gravel. It takes about 50 minutes to drive the 8.5 miles to the trailhead. Do not try to use Dark Canyon Road (Forest Road 232) from the Cox Canyon Highway (State Road 130) to get to the trailhead, it is closed to the public. While traveling Benson Ridge FR 223 toward the trail heads, avoid NF 233 as it branches off to connect to Dark Canyon Road FR 232. The trail heads are not accessible from NF 233. Stay on FR 223 to the trail heads.

The Dark Canyon begins and ends at Forest Road 223 (the trail heads are 0.9 miles apart on Forest Road 223). The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Motorcycle Trail Riding

Mixed conifer, Engelmann Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, Pinyon/Juniper and wild flowers. Found numerous bird feathers on the ground and saw wood peckers and hawks.