PUMPHOUSE WASH TRAIL
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| The north leg of the trail overlooks a sprawling marsh. |
Pumphouse Wash
is a tributary gorge of Oak Creek Canyon that runs between Sedona and Flagstaff,
roughly paralleling State Route 89A.
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| The trail wanders through moist meadows. |
Its rugged, lower channels—that can be
accessed from SR 89A just south of the switchbacks 12 miles north of Sedona –are
popular destinations for backcountry hiking and technical canyoneering. From
the looks of the tangled corridor’s boulder-choked base, vertical walls, slots
and pools of dubious depths, it’s difficult to imagine that its headwaters are
located 600 feet uphill in unassuming meadows around the tiny community of
Kachina Village.
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| Four O'Clock flowers are plentiful in summer. |
Located 9 miles south of Flagstaff off
Interstate 17, the mountain hamlet is an idyllic residential area of log
cabins, A-frame summer homes and a hub of nature trails in the Pumphouse Wash
County Natural Area.
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| The trail stays on the brown and out of the green. |
Less than a mile
from the freeway, Raymond Park and Pumphouse Nature Trail offer short, effortless
walks outfitted with observation decks overlooking acres of wet meadows that
help with natural flood control and groundwater recharge while providing rich
wildlife habitat. Just steps off the pavement, these two easy-access sites
provide excellent opportunities to view elk, foxes, waterfowl and deer. For a longer
hike, farther away from the asphalt and parking lots, the Pumphouse Wash Trail dives
deeper into the woods, following damp swales that drain into Oak Creek and the
Verde River. This venture into the
softer side of the wash doesn’t challenge hikers with harsh terrain navigation,
rock scrambling or water obstacles. Instead, the smooth, designated trail that traces vivid strips of sensitive wetlands
is all about low-impact travel.
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| Late summer sunflowers in Pumphouse Wash. |
The last thing
delicate riparian plants and aquatic species need is human boots and loose dogs
trampling their precious environments. The Coconino County Parks &
Recreation Department, which oversees the site, advises visitors to “hike on
the brown, stay out of the green”.
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| Limestone cliffs seen from the north leg of the trail. |
Sticking to designated trails is always a
good idea, but staying out of the weeds is especially important to help protect
the health of rare watershed areas like this one.
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| Moth Mullein grows in most areas along the route. |
From the roomy
trailhead, the route departs in two directions. The 0.3-mile north segment
follows a closed road above a scenic marsh area, but it’s the 1.4-mile south
leg that leads to the best parts.
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| Yellow Salsify (silver puffs) are common meadow bloomers. |
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| The trail narrows as it moves south. |
Just
beyond the rustic fence entry, a sunny field flanked with limestone cliffs
glows with summer wildflowers.
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| Morning dew on New Mexican Checkermallow. |
Showy
sunflowers, blue flax and fleabane bloom among tall grasses and fruit-laden wild
rose and currant shrubs. The trail stays
on the pine-shaded high banks of wide greenway as it twists past scoured embankments
and spongy cienegas with water-loving patches of New Mexican Checkermallow,
Shrubby cinquefoil and Moth Mullein. At about the 1-mile point, the wash
corridor begins to narrow and thickets of willows and oaks gradually close in
on the path.
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| Shrubby cinquefoil grows near marshes. |
The route ends where the meadows morph into a jumbled, overgrown
watercourse where Woody Wash comes in from the northwest. Underbrush, log jams and thorny brambles preclude
further exploration.
If you need further incentive to hike on the brown and return the way you came; most of the green stuff ahead is poison ivy.
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| Fence at the beginning of the trail's south leg. |
LENGTH: 3. 4
miles roundtrip
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 6670
– 6600 feet
GETTING THERE:
From Interstate
17 just south of Flagstaff, take the Kachina Village exit 333. At the bottom of
the off ramp, turn left onto Kachina Blvd. and go 0.1-mile to Kachina Trail.
Turn right, go 0.3-mile, turn left onto Ancient Trail and continue 0.9-mile to
the trailhead on the left located across from Oraibi Ovi. Dogs must be on
leash.
INFO:
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