Round Trip Distance: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4006 - 4039 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hrs.
Trailhead: Brooklyn Complex
Fee: none
Attractions: puebloan ruins, petroglyphs
The Brooklyn Group of ruins and petroglyphs are located in the Tonto National Forest, bordering on the Agua Fria National Monument, near Black Canyon City, Arizona. The group consists of 5 pueblo ruins of around 300 rooms in total that we have personally confirmed and 5 other possible sites that we haven't confirmed. Besides the ruins there are a good number of petroglyphs located below the rim of the mesa and around Lookout Point.
To get there take I-17 Exit 259 and follow the Bloody Basin Road for 11.3 miles and turn right at the kiosk onto Agua Fria 9014/FR 14.
Follow Agua Fria 9014 south for 4.35 miles and go to the left. As soon as you cross the boundary between Agua Fria National Monument and the Tonto National Forest 9014 becomes FR 14. During dry conditions this road is accessible by careful drivers in 2WD vehicles with medium ground clearance. If there have been heavy rains even 4WD vehicles should wait for it to dry out.
After another 300 feet FR 14 continues past the 1st ruin and drops down into the canyon. There is a fork in the road at this point where cars will want to go to the right and park to see the 1st ruin.
As you continue along the road past the 1st ruin there will be a small ruin about 100 feet off to the right that doesn't amount to much. After that the road bends around a larger pueblo that you can park right next to and explore.
Past that ruin the road continues a little further before forming a loop and coming to an end. Park here and pass through the fence to see the next 2 ruins.
The pueblo to the right is the largest in the group. It is clearly visible from space on Google Earth and Apple Maps.
If you walk around enough you will find some good sections of intact walls.
The last pueblo is about 500 feet further south. It is also large enough to easily see from satellite view. To the south and east of that ruin it looks like they had some farming fields.
All of the ruins have scatterings of pottery of the same style and color. Be sure to leave it all for others to enjoy. If you read the signs at each ruin you will be reminded of what you should already know, that it is illegal to collect artifacts.
Something that you can't help but notice here and in other mesa top areas of Agua Fria National Monument are small burnt scars on the ground. They appear to be from lightening strikes and there are quite a few of them. There isn't enough fodder for them to develop into a wildfire but it sure gives you an uneasy feeling when it starts to cloud up. It's definitely not a good place to be out in the open during an electrical storm.
