RED CREEK

RED CREEK Tonto National Forest Crystal clear, gurgling waters, red rock cliffs, shady mesquite forests and towering canyon walls make hiking Red Creek an especially relaxing experience. A tributary of the Verde River, Red Creek creates a narrow band of green in the desert and supports abundant plant and animal life. Simple and serene, the trail follows the creek and 4x4 roads. Stream hopping is a major feature of this hike but the creek bed is gravel (not mud) and the water is anything but deep or treacherous. The creek emerges from the canyon at about the 3-mile mark and trickles into a desert wash with big-sky views and miles of river rock underfoot. On the near horizon, a ribbon of green jutting over the desert ridges is a sure sign that a major water source is nearby. Keep following the trickle and it will lead you to the rushing waters and sandy beaches of the upper Verde River. LENGTH: 8 miles out-and-back RATING: Easy ELEVATION CHANGE: 400 feet GETTING THERE: From Carefree, follow Cave Creek Road (which will turn onto FR 24) for 32 miles to the FR 269 junction (Bloody Basin Road) and turn right. Go about three miles and turn left onto FR 18 and proceed for roughly 2.5 miles. Park in a dirt turnoff just before the steep descent to Red Creek. Expect to spend 2.5 hours on dirt roads. NOTE: FR 18 is very rough and requires at least a high clearance vehicle.

HAUNTED CANYON

HAUNTED CANYON Superstition Wilderness Tony’s Cabin is still standing, as it has for decades, at the edge of a sycamore-lined creek in Haunted Canyon. Abandoned long ago, it serves now as a shrine to a camaraderie of hikers who have never met. The weathered log building is lovingly maintained and stocked with canned foods, matches and other survival essentials, like beer, by outdoors enthusiasts just passing through. Be it a stash for the lost or an offering to the spirits that inhabit the wilderness, you too can become part of the tradition by depositing a can of beans of your own. Undulating and traversing a variety of terrain, the Haunted Canyon trail starts out as an easy-to-follow stroll, but quickly demands more of your quads and route-finding skills. Views from the high ridgelines into the forests and meadows are worth the effort. Keep in mind that the downhill sections on the way in become uphill slogs on the way out. Except for some tortured looking cottonwoods, and the calls of fugitive owls, the trail does not seem haunted. Native Americans slapped the moniker on the canyon as a determent to outsiders. But, slag heaps and tailings ponds along the drive to the trailhead are ample evidence that phantoms are no match for the lure of copper. LENGTH: Optional. 7.5 miles out and back RATING: moderate - difficult ELEVATION RANGE: 3,200 – 4,900 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, take Hwy 60 east past Queen Creek to the Pinto Valley mine exit (FR 287). Follow the paved road almost 3 miles to the mine entrance. Turn left and follow the “public access” signs. Keep bearing left until you reach the Trail 203 sign. INFORMATION: Tonto National Forest, Superstition Wilderness

SKULL MESA

SKULL MESA Tonto National Forest There is an intoxicating muddling of time and place on the trails leading to Skull Mesa. Hohokam symbols, chipped into rock 800-years-ago, embellish sun-drenched niches and along a wash, fresh javalina prints follow a trickle of water. Located just a few miles north of Cave Creek in the Seven Springs recreation area, the Skull Mesa trail system feels feral and remote despite its proximity to town. For a leisurely stroll, the first 1.9 miles along a creek-side horse trail is flat and scenic, flanked by red cliffs and cottonwoods. After that, the excursion becomes more challenging requiring ridge running along crumbling sandstone and narrow cholla-lined footpaths. At the Trail 248 junction, climb the 27 steep switchbacks to the 4,285-foot low summit. (The 4,590-foot high point is another 1.3 miles to the east.) Descend in time to enjoy weatherworn ruins, solstice markers and skulking coyotes among the yucca and scurrying quail. LENGTH: 12 miles round-trip RATING: difficult ELEVATION: 2,410 - 4,285 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix: Exit 101 at Cave Creek Road. Go north on Cave Creek Road to Spur Cross Road. Follow Spur Cross Road to several yards before the Conservation Area gate and park in the large dirt lot on the right. FEE: $3 daily fee per person. Bring exact change for the self-serve pay box. THE ROUTE: Follow Spur Cross Trail north for 1.9 miles (hopping the creek a up to a dozen times depending on water levels) to the Skull Mesa trailhead--marked by a large forest service map/sign on the banks of the creek.  Follow Cave Creek Trail #4 briefly and go right to connect to Cottonwood Trail #247and hike roughly 3 miles to the Skull Mesa Trail #248 junction paying attention to cairns and trail signs as it is very easy to loose the trail in some spots. From the 248 junction, grunt your way up to the top of Skull Mesa. This report describes the hike to the low summit. However, the hike can be extended to explore ruins on the mesa and/or connected loops using the Tonto NF maps. NOTE: this is an all-day hike. The route undulates continually, so the elevation gain feels like much more, that’s why it’s smart to carry plenty of food, water and emergency supplies when hiking this route.
INFO: Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/ and
Tonto National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTSw8jAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEHcDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEAIzTHkw!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMjAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110312&ttype=recarea&recid=35253&actid=50&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110160000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&cid=FSE_003714&pname=Tonto+National+Forest+-+Skull+Mesa+Trail+248

BOYNTON CANYON

BOYNTON CANYON Secret Canyon Wilderness, Sedona To New Age devotes, the metaphysical merit of Sedona’s vortex sites ranks right up there with Machu Pichu, the Egyptian Pyramids and Mount Everest. Along the Boynton Canyon trail, Sedona’s most popular vortex, peace symbols made of pine cones and hundreds of stone cairns mark special places discovered by droves of spiritual pilgrims and extraterrestrial zealots. It’s not unusual to hear the sounds of didgeridoos and flutes emanating from the cliffs. The trail begins on a sandy, desert path overlooking the Enchantment Resort and culminates in a box canyon shaded by oaks and pines. Once at the head of the canyon, venture out onto the sandstone ledge and peer around the corner for breath taking views of the area’s monolithic red and beige sandstone formations. Although it’s easy to see why spirits and little green men would feel right at home in Boynton Canyon, abductions are rare. LENGTH: 3.7 miles one way RATING: Moderate ELEVATION: 4,500' - 5,050' GETTING THERE: From the Sedona "Y" intersection, turn left onto highway 89A (toward Cottonwood) and continue 3 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn right onto Dry Creek Road (FR 152C) and go 3 miles to the intersection for Boynton Canyon Road and turn left. Proceed another .3 mile to the parking lot on the right. A Red Rock Pass is REQUIRED to park. The passes are available for purchase at the ranger station in Oak Creek and at a sub station along Dry Creek Road.

BARRINGER CRATER

BARRINGER CRATER Although it’s located the middle of nowhere, and it costs 15 bucks to see it, a trip to this natural wonder is well worth the travel time and expense. Best known as the backdrop for the dramatic final scenes in the 1984 movie Starman, (starring Jeff "his Dudeness" Bridges as a disturbingly believable extra terrestrial visitor) the experience of seeing this honest-to-goodness meteorite impact crater easily outshines Hollywood’s best special effects talent. The massive 4,000-foot-wide, 550-foot-deep wound in the high desert plains of Northern Arizona was created when an iron-nickel meteorite smashed into the earth roughly 50,000 years ago. Better known by the misnomer “Meteor Crater”, this natural wonder should be called Meteorite Crater. That’s because “meteors” burn up in the earth’s atmosphere, never reaching the ground while meteorites are extraterrestrial hunks of iron that survive the fall through earth’s atmosphere and hit terra firma at speeds in excess of 26,000 miles per hour just like the one that blasted out Barringer Crater. Yup--I learned all that cool stuff and much more by spending about 3 fascinating hours in the adjacent visitor center/geek emporium. Guilty. Guided one-mile walking tours are offered hourly through mid-afternoon and include informative talks on the colorful history, geology and paleontology of the crater. Tour leaders are knowledgeable, entertaining and will happily take a picture of you teetering over the crater’s edge at “picture rock”. FEATURES: world-famous impact crater, learning center, guided hikes LENGTH: roughly 1-mile round-trip RATING: easy but rocky (close-toed shoes are required, no sandals) ELEVATION: 5,700’ NOTE: Pets are not allowed. Please do not leave pets in parked cars as heat can be fatal. Driving distance from Phoenix: 195 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, travel 35 miles east on Interstate 40 (toward Winslow) to exit 233. Follow the signs to the crater. Hours: open year-round but hours change seasonally. Call ahead. Information: Meteor Crater Enterprises: (928) 289-5898 or http://meteorcrater.com

BLACK TOP MESA

BLACK TOP MESA Superstition Wilderness In 1888, an anonymous Spaniard etched mysterious codes in the rock veneers on the summit of Black Top Mesa. So did some guy named Frank in 1954. The Spaniard’s hieroglyphs are well hidden on the mesa and are rumored to lead to a cache of gold. Adventurous treasure hikers can take advantage of cooler, winter temperatures to enjoy locating the glyphs and (however improbable) striking it rich. The Superstition Mountains are the product of ancient volcanism that resulted in high mesas, breccia-filled trails and craggy ridges complete with twisted and towering hoodoos. Along the trail, Sonoran Desert plants add foreground color to the knarled rock formations as well as a sweet fragrance indigenous to Arizona trails. Most hikers opt to turn back at the Bull Pass junction. Ambitious trekkers may continue all the way to the 3,354 ft. summit of the mesa, where human history and nature compete for attention. On the summit, reach-out-and-touch views of Weaver’s Needle, the signature natural feature of the Superstitions, are priceless. Bring a lunch. You will want to linger long enough to contemplate life and decide where you will go to buy your lotto tickets, for surely, Frank beat you to the gold. HIKE DIRECTIONS: Follow the Dutchman Trail 4.5 miles to the Bull Pass Trail junction. Follow Bull Pass Trail 0.6 mile to the saddle and look for a primitive path heading uphill to the right. Follow this unmaintained trail 0.6 miles to the summit of Black Top Mesa. LENGTH: 11.5 miles, roundtrip. RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 2,300 - 3,300 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go east on US60 to the Idaho Road exit, turn left and follow the AZ 88 signs heading toward Lost Dutchman State Park. Roughly 0.25 mile past the park entrance, go right on First Water Road (FR 78) and continue 2.6 miles to the First Water trailhead at the end of the road. Accessible by passenger car---there are a few rough spots, though. FACILITIES: restrooms. NO fees.

BROWN'S PEAK

BROWN’S PEAK Four Peaks Wilderness Several states, including Arizona, feature images of mountains on their vehicle license plates, but unlike Washington’s treacherous Mt. Rainier or the oxygen-deprived peaks of Colorado, our own bumper icon, Brown’s Peak, is accessible to anyone with a high-clearance vehicle and a sturdy pair of boots. Hikers must hurdle a triad of challenges in order to gain the summit of Brown’s Peak, the highest (7,657 feet) of the four signature pinnacles on the horizon east of Phoenix. First, the drive to the trailhead is a kidney-jarring adventure on sinuous dirt roads. Next, hike 2 miles up a boulder-strewn, forested slope to a wide saddle with views of Roosevelt, Apache and Saguaro lakes as well as the silhouettes of seven mountain ranges. The final challenge is a rock scramble to the summit. Experienced hikers will have no trouble following the cairned route up “hiker’s gully” but, if you fear heights, are out of shape or have a dog or child in tow, don’t even think about attempting the 700-feet of vertical, hand-over-foot climbing. The apex is a jumble of crags and wispy grasses bearing little resemblance its stamped-metal knock-off. LENGTH: Four miles round-trip to the saddle or five miles to the summit. RATING: moderate-difficult ELEVATION GAIN: 1,700 feet GETTING THERE: From Fountain Hills, take Highway 87 north and turn right onto Four Peaks Road (FR 143) then drive 18 miles on the unpaved road to FR 648 and turn right. Follow FR 648 for1.3 miles to the Lone Pine Trailhead. A high-clearance vehicle is required.

OAK SPRING TRAIL

OAK SPRING TRAIL Tonto National Forest Gorgeous Oak Spring Canyon is a hidden gem buried in a rocky gorge beneath the Mogollon Rim. Both the Oak Springs trail #16 and nearby Walnut trail # 251 have been incorporated into the state-traversing Arizona Trail. These two trails combine for a 12-mile segment of shady hiking with great views of the rim as well as a plethora of historical and geological points of interest. From the easy-to-access Pine trailhead north of Payson, the Oak Trail begins in a coniferous woodland that has been thinned as part of forest management efforts. After a half-mile of hiking, the trail crosses Highway 87 and enters a ranch area with overhead power lines. This part of the hike is not very scenic, but hang in there—the best is yet to come. Past the ranch, the trail takes on a moderately steep climb to the high ridgeline above Pine Creek before plunging 250 feet into Oak Spring Canyon. Although the trip downhill is just over a half-mile in length, it drops more than 400 feet via a series of steep switchbacks. Once on the canyon floor, continue hiking through the narrow, wooded gorge, over a dry wash lined with twisted vines and Bigtooth maple trees to the Walnut Trail junction. From here, head left and follow the signs to the spring where there’s an old concrete trough that collects the precious water that percolates to the surface from underground caches. Highlights: Canyon hike to a lush spring-fed woodland with corral ruins. Length: 8 miles round-trip Rating: moderate Elevation range: 5,600’ – 5,180’ Driving distance from Phoenix:115 miles one-way Getting there: From Payson, go north on Highway 87 for about 12 miles to the Pine Trailhead, which is located roughly 2 miles north of “Control Road” and the turn off for Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. Information: (602) 225-5200 or fs.fed.us/r3/tonto

KEYHOLE SINK

KEYHOLE SINK Kaibab National Forest In a peaceful alpine meadow framed by a wispy band of aspen trees, lies a “perfect storm” for hunting. From within the 40-foot-high, crescent-shaped granite fortress of Keyhole Sink, there is no easy escape route for the game animals that come to drink from the pools of water that collect at the base of the knobby cliffs. Ancient hunters played this to their advantage by simply perching on the escarpments above the water and waiting for their “dinner” to arrive. A frenzy of 1,000-year-old etchings on the vertical monolithic walls documents the stalkers’ conquests. Dense and cluttered, the rock art seems to vibrate with laughter and celebration. The ashen, stony walls chatter with images of deer, elk, bears, turtles and birds with a spattering of human forms applauding the triumphs of many very good days. Highlights: Easy trail, hundreds of petroglyphs, interpretive signage. Length: 2 miles round-trip Rating: easy Elevation range: 7,100’ – 7,000’ Driving distance from Phoenix: 180 miles one-way Getting there: From Flagstaff, go west on I-40 to the “Parks” exit (#178). Connect with Historic Route 66 and go west (left) to the Oak Hill Snow Play Area on the left. The trailhead is located across the road from the parking lot at a signed gate. Information: (928) 635-8200 or fs.fed.us/r3/kai

WEST CLEAR CREEK

WEST CLEAR CREEK TRAIL Coconino National Forest
UPDATE: Bull Pen will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013  for day use (6 a.m. - 10 p.m.) only.
UPDATE: As of May 23, 2013, FR 215 will be closed.  Contact the Red Rock Ranger District for more info at 928-203-7500. Break out the Gore Tex and wading sandals because you’re gonna get wet on this one! Four challenging, thigh-deep creek crossings along this beautiful trail make the going a real delight! Parts of the trail parallel the sycamore and reed-lined, banks of West Clear Creek while other segments climb along desert ridges hundreds of feet above the water. Washouts make finding the trail kind of tricky in places, especially in the first two miles so watch carefully for cairns tucked in the shadows to keep on the path. From its origin on the Mogollon Rim, the creek cuts a deep gorge through some of the most spectacular terrain in Arizona. Entirely canyon bound, the most scenic segments of the trail pass through soaring limestone and russet sandstone cliffs that cast rich reflections onto the deep pools of icy water that flow serenely at their bases. Hiking sticks come in handy for where the path traverses boulder-strewn wash areas and slick river rock. Although there are many hiking options in the area, including hike-swim-backpacking adventures and a grueling 2,000-foot climb to the top of the Rim, many hikers opt to turn back at the 4.5 mile point where the canyon narrows and the water becomes too deep to wade. Length: 9 miles round trip Rating: moderate Elevation change: 500 feet Getting there: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to exit #285, (General Crook Trail). Go right (east) and continue for 2 miles to the Highway 260 junction. Turn right (east) at the junction and proceed for another 6 miles to just past milepost 226 and then turn north (left) onto FR 618. Continue on FR 618 for 2.2 miles to the signed turn off for the Bull Pen area and FR 215. Turn right (east) onto FR 215 and continue for 3 miles to the wooden “Bull Pen” sign. Turn left at the sign and go another two-tenths of a mile to the corralled parking area. The trail starts at the gate near the restroom. The dirt roads are passable by sedan, but a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. Information: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino (928) 527-3600

VULTURE PEAK

Vulture Peak Wickenburg On a good day, the wind funnels through the jagged rock spires of Vulture Peak at a velocity that coaxes music out of the saguaros that cling to the cliffs. Saguaro spines, when stroked by a healthy breeze, sound something like muffled harp strings or, that weird plant that drove Spock nuts in a famous episode of Star Trek. The eerie soundtrack is apropos for the otherworldly appearance of the Vulture Mountains, especially at dawn and dusk, when sunlight washes the rhyolite heaps in a veil of russet alpen-glow. Jutting abruptly out of the Upland Sonoran Desert the 3,658-foot-high behemoth formed during the epoch when saber-tooth cats roamed the land. Teddy Bear and Buckhorn cholla as well as massive saguaros multiply profusely in the water-retaining, porous rock along the trail. Steep in places, but easy to follow, the maintained trail ends at the saddle between saw tooth escarpments and the summit ridge. A 250-foot vertical rock scramble to the summit rewards with views that assure us, that despite the extraterrestrial sights and sounds, Vulture Peak is one of planet earth’s exquisite creations. LENGTH: 4 miles RATING: moderate ELEVATION GAIN: 1200 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, travel west on I-10 to Highway 303 (Cotton Lane). Go north on Highway 303 to US 60 and head west toward Wickenburg. Continue on US 60 through the center of town then turn left onto Vulture Mine Road and go 6.5 miles to the dirt turnoff for the trailhead between mile markers 19 and 20.
INFO & MAP: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/az/images/hiking.Par.57148.File.dat/VulturePeakMap.pdf

VEIT SPRING

VEIT SPRINGS Coconino National Forest Short in length but long on interest the Veit Springs trail is an under-appreciated gem of a hike. An interpretive sign at the trailhead offers insight to the many attractions along the way, including two springs, a pond, several old buildings, a monument to conservationist Lamar Haines and a gallery of Native American petroglyphs. Easy on the feet and well marked, the hike wanders through stands of spruce, fir and aspens with views of the San Francisco Peaks emerging through the canopy in several scenic spots. At 8,600 feet of elevation, this trail also makes a good acclimation hike for the Humphreys Peak or Kachina Trails that are located further up the road. LENGTH: 1.6-mile loop RATING: Easy ELEVATION GAIN: 60 feet GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, take Highway 180 north for 7.3 miles to the Snow Bowl Road (near MP 223). Turn right onto Snow Bowl Road and continue for 4.5 miles to a parking area on the right. Look for the “Lamar Haines Memorial Wildlife Area” sign that marks the beginning of the hike.
INFO:

SITE ADMINISTERED BY: Arizona Game & Fish Department

http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_lamar_haines.shtml

HUCKABY TRAIL

HUCKABY TRAIL Sedona Hugging the scenic red-rock ridges of Bear Wallow Canyon, the Huckaby Trail is a well-maintained, easy-to-follow urban path. The trail’s proximity to town attracts lots of visitors and it’s not unusual to encounter crowds during the first half-mile of the hike. After that, though, the masses thin out and the trail dips into a sandstone canyon, leaving obvious signs of civilization behind. Along the way, agaves and pinion-juniper frame classic “Sedona” views that feature vividly colored soaring cliffs and impossibly blue skies. At about the two-mile point, the trail descends to Oak Creek where strategically-placed stepping-stones make crossing the water a cinch. Once over the creek, the trail continues for another half-mile to the turn-around point for this hike where Midgly Bridge and the pine-studded for slopes of Wilson Mountain hover overhead. LENGTH: 5 miles round-trip RATING: easy ELEVATION GAIN: 300 feet GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to the Highway 179 exit for Sedona. Head left on Highway 179 and continue into Sedona and then turn right onto Schnebly Hill Road. Continue on the good gravel bi-way for just under two miles and then turn left into the “Margs Draw/Huckaby Trailhead” parking lot. A Red Rock Pass is required to park, but the clean restrooms and interpretive signs at the trailhead make the $5 daily fee per vehicle a bargain. The passes are available at self-serve machine in the parking area.