VIDEO: Camp Creek Falls

 CAMP CREEK FALLS VIDEO

Check out my new hike video series with PHOENIX magazine.  This one traces a hike to Camp Creek Falls north of Cave Creek in Tonto National Forest.

https://www.phoenixmag.com/2021/02/19/hiking-guide-to-camp-creek-falls-blue-wash-trail-near-cave-creek/?fbclid=IwAR1g1yOgd5g8HjzDt1jmWEIjikQbJxPMUj4pFFWfqDT1bx9kJSWgIcG1AEk

BLUE WASH-CAMP CREEK

BLUE WASH-CAMP CREEK

Tonto National Forest, north of Carefree

Sycamores along Camp Creek

The sandy, canyon-bound courses of Blue Wash and Camp Creek provide an interesting twist on desert hiking. During rainstorms, turbulent sheets of water pummeling off of the Cave Creek Mountains rush through these natural funnels that channel moisture into the Verde River. But, on most days, the rocky corridors are hikable mazes of boulders and rock jams settled in a soft-floored, multi-armed gorge that supports a community of willows, sycamores and bamboo plugged into precious groundwater. There's no "official trail" but well-worn footpaths ambling among house-high blocks of granite are reasonably easy to pick out in this quiet section of Tonto National Forest between Cave Creek Road and Bartlett Dam Road that's off limits to motorized traffic.  From the Cave Creek Road trailhead, the hike begins with a passage through "boulder alley" where there are three tricky spots that require some minor scrambling. At the 1.1-mile point, Blue Wash intersects with Camp Creek at a wide "T" junction. Turn left (northeast) here and hike 0.28 mile to visit Camp Creek Falls---a box canyon grotto with spring-fed water cascades and drop pools. Once done exploring the falls, return to the "T" and hike south down the wash another 3 miles to the turnaround point at Bartlett Dam Road. Actual mileage may vary slightly because there are multiple paths through the canyon.

"boulder alley"

LENGTH: 8 miles roundtrip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 2640' - 3200'

GETTING THERE:

NORTH (Cave Creek Road) TRAILHEAD:

From Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Princess/Pima exit 36 and go 13 miles north on  

Camp Creek Falls

Pima to Cave Creek Road (a.k.a. Seven Springs Road and FR24). Follow Cave Creek Road 6.5 miles to the gravel lot on the left just past the "Blue Wash #1" sign. Trail begins near the cottonwood trees across from the parking place.

SOUTH (Bartlett Dam Road) TRAILHEAD:

From Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Princess/Pima exit 36 and go 13 miles north on Pima to Cave Creek Road (a.k.a. Seven Springs Road and FR24). Follow Cave Creek Road 4.1 miles to Bartlett Dam Road, turn right and continue 2.8 miles to the trailhead on the left.

MORE PHOTOS:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200447108459000.1073741917.1795269672&type=1&l=647804239f

CAMP CREEK FALLS

CAMP CREEK FALLS Cave Creek The innocuous, wildfire-tinged roadside pullout that marks the beginning of this hike gives little insight to the wonders that lie in the canyons below. This unmarked route ventures into the craggy desert canyons of Blue Wash and Camp Creek. Although this is not an “official” trail, it’s easy to stay on course by simply following the obvious footpaths and bends in the canyon. The first of several tricky spots happens at roughly the half-mile point where the trail seems to dead-end over a dry waterfall. From here, veer right and hike up above the rise following a narrow path-of-use. Once back in the gully, there are several more minor hand-over-foot rock scrambles to overcome before Blue Wash meets the wide, sandy course of Camp Creek. At this “T” intersection, head left and hike upstream, hopping the many rivulets that flow in lacy, meandering currents. Soon, the rangy walls of a box canyon open up to reveal a cascade of water tumbling over a 20-foot-high granite escarpment. From here, those with good route-finding skills can opt to scramble up to the top of the falls and continue hiking north along Camp Creek where water-hungry reeds and velvet ash trees live side-by-side with drought tolerant cactuses and acacia trees. LENGTH: 3.5 miles round-trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 3,243-2,643 feet GETTING THERE: From the Loop 101 in Scottsdale, take the Pima/Princess Road exit. Go north on Pima Road for 13 miles to Cave Creek Road. Turn right (east) onto Cave Creek Road and continue 6.5 miles just past a sign on the right that reads “Blue Wash #1”. Park in the gravel turnouts on either side of the road. The trail begins near the cottonwood trees. Information: fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rec-hiking-index.shtml, (480) 595-3300