Tap Tank

TAP TANK

Annual goldeneye in full bloom Sept. 25, 2021

October in Arizona means cooler temperatures, dusting off of hiking boots and the annual rush to view golden high-country fall foliage.

View from the high pastures above Rarick Canyon

While it’s sometimes overlooked, Arizona autumn gold happens underfoot as well as overhead. The low-growing option is easy to spot along Interstate 17 between Sedona and Flagstaff.

Landforms of Sedona viewed from FR 213F

 

Tap Tank caps off the hike in Coconino NF

From late September through October, the rangeland is dominated by the peaking of Annual goldeneye flowers that blanket the rolling hills in a paint-splatter style reminiscent of loosely-rendered works created by plein air impressionists working in airy, Provence meadows.

Tap Tank attracts wildlife and domestic cattle

 

Annual goldeneye bloom May - October

The annual showing of Heliomeris longifolia var. annua, a knee-high, shrub-like plant in the sunflower family that produces small golden flowers from May through October, is at its best in early fall.  

The route crosses rugged Rarick Canyon

One particularly fine area to walk among the blooms is the rangeland of Coconino National Forest around Stoneman Lake north of Camp Verde.  Many dirt roads wind through the hilly backcountry including one that’s not only dripping in goldeneyes, but includes a dip into scenic Rarick Canyon and a traipse to a high pasture with a glassy stock tank and amazing vistas.

Storm clouds brew above FR 213F

View from the upper end of FR 213F

Forest Road 213F serves as the trail for this moderate-rated hike.  The rough dirt two-track begins easily enough with a short walk through juniper-studded flats. At the 0.2-mile point, the road splits. 

Acres of Annual goldeneye color the landscape

Take the less-obvious left fork to stay on FR 213F and save the unnamed right track for a surprise add-on trip on the way back.  A half-mile in, the road starts a short, steep dip into Rarick Canyon and crosses the bottom of the rocky gorge.

Wright's birdbeak blooms Jun- October

 Once past the boulder-jumbled gully, the road heads up the east face of the canyon wall. It’s less than 500 feet of climbing from the canyon depths to the high pastures above, but many dips and ascents along the way accumulate to over 1,300 feet of elevation change. 

Mountain vistas and high pastures on FR 213F

Along this segment, views of the Verde Valley, Bradshaw Mountains and the colorful rock formations of Sedona open up to the north.  At the 1.8-mile point, the road splits again.  Forest Road 213J spins off to the left while FR 213F continues south around 6,197-foot Table Mountain. 

The road dips & climbs through Rarick Canyon

For this trip, take the left fork which is marked by a faded post obscured by a juniper tree, and follow the overgrown road a few yards to Tap Tank.  Set in a shallow depression on the north side of the road, the glassy livestock water hole is besieged with a fringe of wildflowers, water plants, hip-high grasses and an arc of junipers.  

A skunk bush blushes with autumn color

The tank makes for a good turnaround point.  For an alternate look at the annual goldeneye show, backtrack to the first junction and head out on the unsigned right fork.  This spur road is flatter and sunnier than its companion route. 

Extend the hike on an unnamed spur road

Over its 0.6-mile course, it serves up a full menu of breath-taking vistas that rise above acres of scrub oak, yucca and a seemingly never-ending sea of golden blooms before it dead-ends at the lip of Rarick Canyon.

White prairie aster bloom August - October

LENGTH: 5 miles round trip (including the spur road)

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 5,548 – 6,031 feet (1,313 feet accumulated elevation change)

GETTING THERE:

From Interstate 17 drive 19 miles north of Camp Verde and take the Stoneman Lake exit 306. Head east at the bottom of the off ramp and follow Stoneman Lake Road (Forest Road 213) 1.8 miles to Forest Road 213F on the right where there’s a gate and cattle guard.  There’s parking for 2-3 vehicles near the gate.  NOTE: FR 213F may be closed in winter and when there’s flooding in the canyon.