CHILDRESS TANK ROAD
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| The Ortiz and Hull families of Mesa on Childress Tank Road |
What do you do
when you want to take friends or family with young kids or mobility issues on a
hike but still want to get in a good workout?
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| Childress Tank sits on a mesa below the Mogollon Rim |
The answer might be found on dirt roads
that spiral off the
short, barrier-free trails that cater to the “hiking lite” crowd. One such place is the Shoofly Village Ruins
north of Payson. For years, this has
been my go-to destination for introducing non-trekkers to the history and
beauty that lies beneath the Mogollon Rim.
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| A visitor reads a sign about an ancient room at Shoofly Village |
The site offers an approachable, intriguing way
to get outdoors without the preparations needed for more remote or wilderness
hikes.
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| Gateway to Childress Tank Road |
All you need for gear is stable
footwear, sun protection and a bottle of water. The self-guided tour is outfitted with
interpretive signs describing dozens of excavated ruins of a Native American
community that was occupied between 1000-1250 A.D.
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| Southwestern lewisia blooms March -June |
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| Stephanie Markoff of Chandler intros her dogs Kona & Louie |
Although walking
the roughly quarter-mile of easy trails with good company has always been a
pleasure, the call of the wild sometimes left me wanting more trail time. Per
the Tonto National Forest map of the Payson area, the “more” I craved was
always right around the bend. Adjacent Forest
Road 1164 adds a refreshing 3.2 miles to the ruins hike.
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| Eli, Annie and Jo Hull on Childress Tank Road |
Although it’s too rocky for those without
good balance or proper gear, the road can be a fun diversion for adults and energetic kids. Also known as Childress Tank Road, the rugged
two-track swoops through the juniper scrublands of Houston Mesa and Walnut Flat
with unobstructed views of the Rim, foothills and rolling grasslands.
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| Twenty-two-month-old Jo Hull cries for more blueberries |
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| Annie Hull and Anthony Ortiz of Mesa supervise snack time |
To find this
road, hike north from the parking lot and follow the wide dirt path to a barbed
wire fence. Pass the gate and continue down the main course (go straight) to
the Forest Road 1163/1164 junction. Turn right, hike one mile, take either fork
at the FR 1167 junction and head toward the earthen berm of Childress Tank. The hike has lots of interesting sights to
keep antsy young ones engaged.
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| Juliana Ortiz and Jo Hull take a snack break |
Wildflowers,
scurrying wildlife and continually-changing terrain put the kibosh on
boredom. The road ends at the stock tank
where a muddy fringe of animal tracks inspires some detective work. The outdoor
classroom is a fun place to try to identify prints that include elk, bobcat,
skunk, deer, raccoon, coyote and of course, domestic cattle and dogs.
I recently hiked this road with Juliana Ortiz
(age 5), Eli Hull (age 3) and Jo Hull (22 months) and their parents. Juliana trekked
like a pro while Eli and Jo alternated between walking and riding in kid
carrier backpacks. The boys’ mom, Annie
Hull and Juliana’s dad Anthony Ortiz of Mesa, brought along plenty of water and
snacks and took frequent breaks to keep the kiddos happy. Except for one tiny meltdown---over blueberry
snacks---the kids enjoyed the hike for its achievable length and entertaining
qualities. The quick out-and-back trek satisfies the urge for an extra leg
stretch while non-hikers can hang out at the trailhead to sketch, picnic or catch
up on reading. It’s an outing that everybody can enjoy on their own terms.
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| Snack time. |
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| Hiking with kids! |
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| Juliana, Kona, Louie and Stephanie at the trailhead |
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| Views of the Mogollon Rim dominate the hike |
LENGTH: 3.2 miles roundtrip (4 miles with the ruins
tour)
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 5075 - 5263 feet
GETTING THERE:
From the State
Route 87/26 junction in Payson, go 2 miles north on SR87 to Houston Mesa Road
(Forest Road 199). Turn right and continue 2.8 miles to the Shoofly Village
Ruins turnoff and follow the access road to the trailhead. Roads are 100% paved.
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| An excavated room at Shoofly Village |
INFO:
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