Black Top Mesa is a prominent geologic feature formed by volcanic activity approximately 3 to 25 million years ago. It is characterized by a dark basalt cap over layers of welded tuff. This, and the surrounding area, is a complex volcanic caldera system.
This was during the Miocene Epoch when Arizona was undergoing dramatic transformation, transitioning from a high flat, upland into the characteristic Basin and Range landscape. Active volcanism was widespread and massive faults were stretching and breaking the crust with large mountains forming and valleys dropping.
I started my hike at the First Water Trailhead at 9:26 AM. From there it took me 1 hour to reach Parker Pass on the Dutchman Trail. That was 2.5 miles. From there it was 1.7 miles to the junction of Black Mesa Trail. Then it was 0.3 miles to the junction of Bull Pass Trail. This trail is 4.5 miles from the trailhead. It took me 2 hours to get there. Next was the Black Top Mesa junction which would take me to the summit. That was about a half mile. Then it was 0.7 miles to the top. At 12:35 PM, I stood on the summit. It had taken me 3 hours and 10 minutes to get there. At that point, I was 5.8 miles from the trailhead. At 1:00 PM, I headed back down to the Bull Pass Trail, and continued hiking a loop around Black Top Mesa. I again reached the junction of Bull Pass Trail at 3:11 PM. I was now at 10.4 miles, and I had been hiking for 5 hours and 43 minutes. Then I continued to follow the Dutchman Trail back to my van. At 5:05 PM, I was back at my car. My hike was 15 miles, and it took me 7 hours and 37 minutes.
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