Meandering hike along East Clear Creek

HORSE CROSSING TRAIL

Coconino National Forest

A leisurely amble through the pristine and complex canyon
system of upper East Clear Creek reveals wonders that even the most well
traveled Arizona hikers will find astounding. There’s the epic views from the
coniferous forest rim, a scenic drop into the canyon along a fossil-encrusted
limestone trail, and an emerald-green riparian environment along the water.

Sandwiched between two reservoirs, East Clear Creek slices
into soft sedimentary pediments leaving behind a meandering sheer-walled
canyon.  This 50-mile-long ribbon
of life-giving water flows northeast from Blue Ridge Reservoir to Clear Creek
Reservoir near Winslow where it merges with the Little Colorado River.  Although traversing the entire length
of this gorge would involve technical climbing skills, swimming and rafting,
all that’s needed to hike the Horse Crossing trail #20 is a pair of boots and a
day pack.  Exploring the
mid-section of the creek, Horse Crossing is hemmed in by hard scramble rock
escarpments.  At the bottom of the
canyon, running water sculpts sandstone walls
that look like dunes tilted on their sides in layer-cake formation.  Tens of millions of years ago, the
landscape surrounding East Clear Creek was part of a vast ocean and the
fossilized remains of sea-dwelling algae, coral and brachiopods are strewn
about like scattered bones.  Like
all of the “crossing” trails on the Mogollon Rim, this one continues up the
opposite side of the canyon. However, it’s more fun to bush whack and
wade for several miles up or downstream where clouds
reflected in mirror-like pools in the worn sandstone gives the impression of
walking on the sky.

LENGTH: 3 miles round-trip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 6,900’ – 6,400’

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 170 miles one-way

GETTING THERE:

From Payson, travel north on AZ 87 to Clints Well.  From there, continue on AZ 87 for
another 9.4 miles to the turn off for Forest Road 95 (between mileposts 299
and  300).  Turn right (east) on FR 95 and drive 4
miles to Forest Road 513B.  Go left
(east) on FR 513B and continue 2 miles to the trailhead.  A high-clearance vehicle is required on
FR 513B.