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BIG SPRING OVERLOOK
Overlooking West Clear Creek Wilderness
Forest Road 142H trades on its erratic appeal. A hike on the dirt two track in Coconino National Forest is calming and invigorating in equal measure.
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| Cabin Tank |
Packed with lots of things to see, the road distills a mix of semi-desert grasslands, ranch relics and epic vistas into an approachable, earthy cocktail.
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| Corral ruins |
The hike takes off from an unmarked trailhead off State Route 260 east of Camp Verde where the landscape drolls on in a blanket of wildflower-embellished pastures and pinion-juniper woodlands. Over its first mile, primitive dispersed campsites offer secluded space for well-prepared travelers.
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| Mud Tanks Draw |
Cattle converge around a string of fluctuating water holes in Mud Tanks Draw and dusky-blue scrub jays might swoop and screech to protect their nesting territory. The road itself is in relatively decent condition—rocky but with no major obstacles or route-finding challenges, which adds to the pleasure of walking its curvaceous track.
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| West Clear Creek overlook |
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| West Clear Creek Wilderness overlook |
Sporadically placed white metal chevrons can be spotted tacked to a fence line. These indicate that sections of the road are part of the historic General Crook Trail #130.
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| Yellow evening primrose |
A mile in, FR142H bend right and passes through a wood-and-wire gate. Here, rounded hills, gumdrop-shaped junipers and a smattering of massive, ancient alligator junipers front views of distant ridges and mountain peaks.
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| FR142H passes through this gate |
At the 1.6-mile point, the route meets a junction with Forest Road 13.
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| Corral ruins |
Head left to stay on FR 142H as it begins its gradual ascent to a rustic corral complex at the 2.2-mile point.
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| General Crook Trail chevron |
Wrapped in rusty barbed wire and rough-hewn posts, the corral circles a small waterhole known as Corral Tank.
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| Corral gate |
A sign for Forest Road 9243M sits in front of the corral entry gate. For a quick, but rewarding detour, pass the gate (please close all gates behind you) and walk the 0.1-mile fading road to the tank, watching for cow pies along the way before doubling back. Beyond the corral gate, another site of mangled wood-and-wire fencing lives out its waning days among encroaching cacti and shrubs.
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| Juniper meadow |
Be mindful of the tangles of wire that mimic snakes in the grass.
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| Wooly paintbrush |
A few yards past the corral, the road starts a steeper but not-to-tough climb to the hike’s high point. Much more degraded than the previous miles, FR142H slowly enters a more arid landscape of yucca, pinion and scrub oak.
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| Cabin Tank approach |
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| Verde Valley vista |
The slight elevation gain reveals some great views of the Verde Valley before the road flattens out and ends near a giant alligator juniper and fire pit at the edge of West Clear Creek Wilderness.
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| Woodhouse's phlox |
The volcanic rock ledges overlook the Big Spring area of the wilderness where the West Clear Creek Trail traces the canyon floor 1,000 feet below. Ragged cliffs, colorful rock outcrops and views that stretch all the way to Flagstaff overwhelm the senses at the end of the unassuming road that vaults from pastoral to primordial in just over 3 miles.
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| trailhead |
LENGTH: 6.2 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 5,819 - 5,971 feet (540 feet of total elevation change)
GETTING THERE:
From Interstate 17 In Camp Verde take the State Route 260 exit 287 and continue 22 miles east (toward Payson) to Forest Road 142H on the left just past milepost 24. FR142H is not signed but there’s a stop sign and cattle guard/gate a few yards in. For reference, Apron Tank, a shallow pool that sits on both sides of the road, is at FR142H. There’s parking in a dirt lot past the gate.
