Who knew you could get to the eagle traps from the Indian plaza ruin? Haven't done it yet but the connection is obvious when you're at the plaza ruin because you're looking across the side canyon to Frijoles Canyon that's just below the point of the mesa with the two south-facing eagle traps.
This connection was discovered when I went to Burnt Mesa today with Tuesday hikers. Last Wednesday, also went to Burnt Mesa but with the Wednesday hikers. Great minds think alike! The Wednesday group, though, went to the eagle traps while the Tuesday group fell for my line about leading them to the Indian plaza ruin. Besides which, they really wanted to walk out to the end of the "classic" Burnt Mesa Trail.
I had trouble finding the elk exclosure (only my second time taking hikers to the plaza) which is just north of the plaza ruin. Fortunately I had told the others to look out for it and someone who's sharp-eyed spotted it for me!
Here's the deal: Turn south off the "classic" Burnt Mesa Trail when you get to the Saguaro Snag (just north of the trail) a little over 1 1/2 mile in (wild estimate) from the trailhead just off NM4. Head toward the Burnt Totem Pole Snag and then toward the V for Victory Snag. You're generally heading south going out to the ruin and north going back to the "classic" trail.
I also showed them the CCC dam which is inexplicably built in a completely dry draw. I hope to one day lead them to the two eagle traps and the deer trap along the way. Once you know how to find them, it's really a cinch!
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