Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 3994 - 4166 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 2 hrs.
Trailhead: Big Rosalie
Fee: none
Attractions: pueblo ruins
The Big Rosalie Group is located in the Tonto National Forest, bordering on the Agua Fria National Monument, near Black Canyon City, Arizona. The group as we are describing it includes 5 puebloan ruins that are all within close proximity of each other which taken together probably had around 130 rooms. The name of the ruins is derived from the nearby Rosalie Mine. Due to better roads these are some of the easier ruins to visit in the area.
To get there take I-17 Exit 259 and follow the Bloody Basin Road for 11.3 miles. Turn right onto Agua Fria 9014 which becomes FR 14 after crossing into the Tonto National Forest. After about 2.5 miles turn left onto FR 593. At the 0.6 mile point of FR 593 you will pass Ruin 4 which sites on a high point right beside the road. In another tenth of a mile turn right. It is possible to drive right up to, or close to, each of the ruins or you can find a place to park and proceed on foot. Up to this point the roads should be suitable for 2WD vehicles during dry conditions.
Ruin 1 is on the right side of the road after crossing a small wash. This small ruin probably had about 15 rooms. To cross the small wash a high clearance 4WD vehicle is probably required.
Ruin 2 is about 370 feet due east of Ruin 1 on the opposite side of the road. This ruin is very much overgrown with brush. It probably had about 20 rooms.
From the first 2 ruins it is a gentle climb of less than a quarter of a mile to the top of a small hill where the Big Rosalie Pueblo sits.
The Big Rosalie Pueblo is a much larger ruin of probably at least 40-50 rooms. It is harder for dirt to blow and settle in the rooms of a hilltop location so there are a few rooms where intact walls are still visible to a greater depth.
About 200 feet further up the hill is Ruin 3 which probably had at least 25 rooms.
Further to the south of these ruins there is a much higher hill. Looking on the east side of that hill you can make out part of a long rock wall that forms a chain with a few rocky outcrops that is about 385 feet in length. It is easily viewable from space using Google Earth or Apple Maps. There doesn't appear to be an obvious trail leading up to the rock wall but it shouldn't be too difficult all the same.
Ruin 4 may have had as many as 25 rooms.
All of the ruins have their scatterings of pottery. Be sure to leave it and any other artifacts where you find them for others to enjoy.
