HUNTER CREEK

HUNTER CREEK
Tonto National Forest
Those in search of solitude will appreciate this off-the-beaten-path stroll along a trickling waterway embellished with sun-dappled meadows. To find Hunter Creek, hike uphill from the parking area, pass a gate and drop into the streambed. To make your return trip easier, mark your entry point, as it’s easy to miss it on the way out. Once at the creek, head right (south west) and follow the babbling brook, taking time to explore terraced waterfalls, a spring, and a crumbling stone foundation. This is also a good place to test your animal track identification skills on the dozens of footprints that clutter the stream’s muddy margins.
HIGHLIGHTS: seldom-visited, creek side ramble
LENGTH: 2- 5 miles roundtrip
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 6,100-6,160 feet

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 125 miles
GETTING THERE: From Payson, go east on Highway 260 for 25 miles to Colcord Road (Forest Road 291). Go right and continue .3 mile and park on an unmarked dirt road on the right where there’s a barbed wire gate visible roughly 40 yard farther up the road.
INFORMATION: 602-225-5200 or fs.fed.us/r3/tonto

CHRISTOPHER CREEK BOX CANYON

UPDATE: April 2013--see recent hiker comments at the bottom of this post for possible alternative access.  

September 2012 UPDATE:

Road construction on AZ260 continues to restrict access.

Do not try to hike in through the Boy Scout Camp, it is private property and hikers have reported being stopped and turned away. “THE BOX” Christopher Creek Canyon There’s always a lot of woopin’ and a hollerin’ at this favorite summertime swimmin’ hole where the scene on any given weekend is a collision of Andy Griffith-esque country charm and the Nine Inch Nails crowd. Cooler-toting baby boomers in plaid Bermuda shorts and white socks mingle with young people in butt-crack-bearing swim trunks to cool off in the clear water and fresh, pine-scented air of Christopher Creek box canyon. For millions of years, the spring-fed waters of Christopher Creek that spill from the base of the Mogollon Rim, have sculpted the rose-tinted ramparts that flank the gorge and funnel water into slippery chutes, churning rapids and low-flow channels awash in swirls of pine needle litter. The most spectacular section of the gorge is less than a mile in length and can be fully explored by those who don’t mind boulder hopping, minor hand-over-foot climbing, wading and swimming. However, most of the action takes place at the head of the canyon where the sun-warmed escarpments fill up quickly with sunbathers and weekend warriors. So, if you’re looking for solitude---try a visiting on a Tuesday. HIGHLIGHTS: Canyon-bound outdoor “spa”. LENGTH: 1.25 miles roundtrip RATING: moderate-difficult ELEVATION: 5,680 – 5,400 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 120 miles GETTING THERE: From Payson, go east on Highway 260 for 19 miles. Between mileposts 271 and 272, look for a dirt turnoff on the south (right) side of the road. Watch that rut! NOTE: a visitor in July 2011 reports that, due to road construction in the area, this parking area is off limits (see comment below).  According to ADOT, road maintenance on SR260 is causing traffic slow downs and lane restrictions,

so I suspect that the uproar may be due to parked vehicles blocking the flow of traffic or getting in the way of dozers. The road project is scheduled to run thru December 2011. Please leave a comment if you encounter drama at the trailhead.  FOR CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS:

http://www.az511.gov/adot/files/

INFORMATION: refer to the Tonto National Forest map

GRANITE MOUNTAIN

GRANITE MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Granite Mountain Wilderness


West of Prescott, the unmistakable, monolith of Granite Mountain dominates the horizon. Meandering through a wilderness of billion-year-old granite boulders and colored with a mosaic of wildflowers and blooming shrubs, trail #261 leads to a scenic, cliff lookout area 2,000 feet over Granite Basin Lake. Junipers, pines and oaks, shade parts of the trail but most are exposed to the sun.
Between the months of December and July, the cliffs are closed (the maintained trails in the area remain open) to climbing due to nesting Peregrine falcons, and if you have a good eye, you may be able to see one of the fastest creatures on the planet in flight. Once at the “Vista Lookout” sign, continue hiking among the boulders as the path hugs the escarpment and opens up to a spectacle of volcanic crags, a blue horizon and distant mountain peaks. At the end of the trail, there’s an optional boulder scramble to an interesting jumble of granite spires.

LENGTH: 9 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 5,580 – 7,626 feet feet

GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to the Cordes Junction interchange then turn left (west) onto Highway 69 toward Prescott. In Prescott, take Highway 89 south (a.k.a. Sheldon Street) and drive 1.3 miles to the “T” intersection with Montezuma Street. Keep following Montezuma Street., which will turn, into Whipple Street which will then turn into Iron Springs Road (a.k.a. SR 10). Drive 3 miles on Iron Springs Road and then turn right onto Granite Basin Road (a.k.a. FR 374). Drive 3.5 miles to the signed Metate trailhead where there’s a restroom and a water fountain. There’s a $2 daily fee per vehicle. The dirt roads are accessible by sedan.

INFORMATION: www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott (928) 443-8000

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Hard-core hikers are easy to spot. They’re the ones finishing up when casual trekkers are just showing up at the trailhead. They also know the “good spots” and the best times to visit them. In addition to having unobstructed sunrise views, Lookout Mountain trail is usually much less crowded than nearby Camelback and Piestewa Peak trails.
LENGTH: 1 mile roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 1,579 - 2,054 feet
GETTING THERE: the trailhead is located on 16th Street south of Greenway Parkway in Phoenix
INFORMATION: ci.phoenix.az.us/PARKS/hikelook.html

STILL AVAILABLE BY PHONE ORDER!

PHOENIX MAGAZINE JULY 2009



Still looking for more summer hiking destinations in Arizona?
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Sky Harbor Airport
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WEB SITE: http://www.phoenixmag.com/

ORDER BY PHONE: 480-664-3960

LAGOON LOOP

LAGOON LOOP
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Short in length but jam-packed with fun this wide dirt trail swings around a lagoon built by channeling Verde River water into a cove surrounded by colorful cliffs and views of the ore-rich hillsides of Mingus Mountain and Jerome. Level enough to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, the trail stays close to the banks of the lagoon for up-close encounters with ducks, chattering warblers and swarms of red-winged blackbirds. Higher elevations, cool breezes and easy access to restrooms, drinking water and shaded picnic areas make this a popular destination for fishing, camping, and biking.

HIGHLIGHTS: Kid-friendly, watch able wildlife, close to civilization
LENGTH: Quarter-mile loop
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 3,300’

GETTING THERE:
From the park entrance, the trail is accessed from any of the lagoon parking areas.
Information:
Visit pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/deadhorse.html or call (928) 634-5283
Fee: There’s a $6 day use fee per vehicle.

FATMANS LOOP

FATMANS LOOP TRAIL
Coconino National Forest
Named for a narrow rock passage on the foothills of lava dome volcano, the Fatmans Loop #25 is one of the most popular hiking trails in Flagstaff. A great destination for kids because of its short length and continually changing points of interest, the route gives the feeling of being “out there” without cutting the umbilical cord to civilization. The highlight of the hike is Fatmans Pass, where hikers must shimmy through a set of narrow boulder passages in the shadow of Elden Mountain. Because of the easy-to-follow path, terrific vista views, and lots of cool shade, the fact that the “golden arches” are visible on the horizon doesn’t sully the experience in the least.

HIGHLIGHTS: Close-to-town, easy-to-follow and great views of Flagstaff.
LENGTH: 2-mile loop
RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 6,900’ – 7,500’

Driving distance from Phoenix: 150 miles one-way
GETTING THERE:
From Flagstaff, travel north on Highway 89 to the signed “Mt. Elden Trailhead” which is located just past milepost 419.
Information: (928) 526-0866 or fs.fed.us/r3/Coconino

WALNUT TRAIL

WALNUT TRAIL
Tonto National Forest
On warm summer days, a faint vanilla-butterscotch fragrance rides on the canyon updrafts along the Walnut Trail #251. The sweet aroma comes not from the wildflowers or blooming shrubs, but from the bark of very old trees. At roughly 120-150 years of age, the dark bark of Ponderosa pine trees begins to crack into rough yellow-russet plates that emit the scent when warmed by the sun. These gigantic trees thrive on the slopes of Oak Spring Canyon near Pine-Strawberry. In addition to the candy-scented air, this trail features excellent views, abundant wildlife and two springs that support tiny pockets of Arizona walnut, sycamore and canyon grape.

HIGHLIGHTS: Hike features dozens of species of native plants, including robust stands of native Arizona walnut trees.
LENGTH: 7 miles round-trip
RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 6,000’ – 5,180’

Driving distance from Phoenix: 125 miles one-way
GETTING THERE:
From Payson, travel north on Highway 87 for about 13 miles to just south of the town of Pine. Turn left onto Hardscrabble Road (Forest Road 428), and follow it for 2 miles to the trailhead for Pine-Strawberry Trail #15.
Finding the route:
From the trailhead, follow the Pine-Strawberry trail #15 south for .10 mile to the junction with Walnut Trail #251. From there, go right and continue downhill into Oak Spring Canyon.
Information: (602) 225-5200 or fs.fed.us/r3/tonto

RAPTOR HILL

RAPTOR HILL
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
A hike up Raptor Hill drives home the important impact the Verde River has on the surrounding landscape. Climbing the arid hillsides above the river, startling contrasts between the high desert scrublands and the green river gorge below assault the senses. The abrupt transition from a moist, burgeoning oasis to a parched lunar-scape happens in just 500 feet of vertical hiking. From high points along the trail, the ancient ruins of Tuzigoot National Monument and remnants of 20th century mining operations dotting the mountainsides frame unobstructed views of the Verde’s rare and fragile ribbon of life.

HIGHLIGHTS: Visual vantage points above the Verde River
LENGTH: 6 miles round-trip
RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 3,350’ – 3,850’

GETTING THERE:
From the park entrance, follow the main road to Flycatcher Road (2nd road on the left) where there’s a “Tavasci Marsh” sign. Follow this road less than a mile to the signed parking area.

Information:
Visit pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/deadhorse.html or call (928) 634-5283
Fee: There’s a $6 day use fee per vehicle.

BROOKBANK TRAIL

BROOKBANK TRAIL
Coconino National Forest
UPDATE: AS OF JULY 2010, THIS TRAIL IS CLOSED INDEFINITELY DUE TO THE SHULTZ FIRE.
Built by an early Flagstaff settler to provide a route to the alpine meadows that define the upper reaches of the Dry Lake Hills, this old wagon route is a favorite destination for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Buried in deep layers of snow in winter, the bowl-shaped meadows become soggy, seasonal lakes in spring. Water lingers in these high-altitude ponds into early summer when they dry out and are transformed into a riot of wildflower color. On the sun-drenched summit plateaus, patches of aspens and whispy, thigh-high grasses frame peek-a-boo glimpses of the San Francisco Peaks.

HIGHLIGHTS: Close to town, alpine meadows, conifer forests and up-close views of the San Francisco Peaks.
LENGTH: 5 miles round-trip
Rating: moderate
ELEVATION: 7,700’ – 8,400’s
Driving distance from Phoenix: 165 miles one-way
GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, travel 3 miles north on Highway 180 to Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420). Turn right on FR 420 and continue for roughly a mile, then veer left on Elden Mountain Road (Forest Road 557). Continue on FR 557 for 3 miles to the signed Oldham trailhead on the right. Park there and hike up the road about a tenth-of-a-mile to the Brookbank trailhead on the west (left) side of the road.