west clear creek trail

In fact, if you’re even somewhat agile — you don’t have to be one of the Flying Wallendas — you can maneuver over the rocks and logs without getting wet. Then, after about a mile, it cuts south for the first of four stream crossings. (34°33’28.7″N 111°25’13.7″W)Source: USDA.gov From here you have options to swim, river hike, and fish, although the best swimming holes are deeper into the canyon. Clear Creek OHV Trails 8348 Redbird Trail Milton, FL 32570 (850) 626-3034 grace.quina@freshfromflorida.com www.freshfromflorida.com: Comment: Contact number for trailhead that is answered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Length: 11 miles round-trip The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Clear Creek Trail . Just retrace your steps and enjoy the views. It’s a 2.5-mile route that leads back to Bull Pen Ranch and completes a 15-mile loop. There are 4 hard trails in West Clear Creek Wilderness ranging from 3.5 to 12.4 miles and from 5,692 to 6,863 feet above sea level. Sand dunes, snakes, scorpions ... there’s a long list of stereotypes about Arizona. Several of the better hiking trails are nearby West Clear Creek Trail including Huckaby Trail, West Fork Trail, Hot Loop Trail, Cathedral Rock / Templeton Trail, Wilson Mountain Trail and Jim Thompson Trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. West Clear Creek Trail #17 provides the only marked and maintained access to the lower reaches of West Clear Creek Wilderness. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Hiking the Point Trail along West Clear Creek on the Mogollon Rim in the Coconino National Forest of Arizona. It’s very steep and full of loose rock and dirt. Summary: An interesting hike that takes you to a nice creek. Directions: From Phoenix take I-17 north to Camp Verde to exit 285. Drive about 9 miles on FR 618 to FR 215 and turn east about 3 miles to the Bullpen Ranch trailhead. This is the “trail” down to West Clear Creek. (Brush Creek trail will probably see some improvements in the near future) At the top you will come to a dirt road. Resources Area Status: Open. you can keep going if you want! Those looking to follow the creek beyond the maintain trail should prepare for more than a dozen pools, which sits between both canyon wall sides and can be up to a quarter mile long, requiring wading or swimming. There arent any waterfall or slot-canyon type features at this location. You’ll get a sense of just how spectacular it is as you drive in. From there, you’ll follow FR 214A and Forest Road 214 for 1.3 miles to the upper end of the Blodgett Basin Trail, which was built to move cattle between seasonal pastures. I have a subaru crosstrek and felt very safe driving. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Difficulty: Moderate (along stream). It’s one of the most beautiful places anywhere. A few miles further up the canyon to the east are the more popular Maxwell and Tramway trailheads accessible from the north rim of this canyon. Also careful with jumping on rocks in the water very slippery!! This trail provides the only marked and maintained access to the lower reaches of West Clear Creek Canyon Wilderness. The towering sandstone spires and dense forest cover contrast sharply with the classic high desert environment on the west end of West Clear Creek. The first 1/4 mile will be mostly hike a bike. As you cross into the wilderness, you’ll see Black Mountain to the south and the Blodgett Basin to the north. Roads accessing the wilderness can be rough and a sturdy vehicle is recommended. So bring tons of sun screen, water, and snacks! Reproduction in part or whole without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. From there, the route passes under a canopy of impressive sycamores and piggybacks an old ranch road on the north bank of the creek. Lots of snakes. Camped 2 nights at this spot and traveled further in without much gear and swam through areas. This trail offers solitude, as it is a bit off the beaten path. This trail leads back up the canyon and can be turned into a 5-mile loop hike with the Maxwell Trail (see trail map below). Is located in the northeast corner of All Star Lanes Bowling Alley. USGS Maps: Walker Mountain, Buckhorn Mountain The east end of West Clear Creek is a 700ft deep sandstone walled canyon with near vertical walls throughout. We started the trail around 8a and finished by noon. The Forest Rd 218? Elevation: 3,700 to 4,100 feet This is a trail that is HARD! It was not crowded on a Thursday mid-morning. Fido can roam off leash on this trail that is faint yet hard to get lost on. There are human artifacts, too, left by the ancient Sinagua people who lived in the canyon hundreds of years ago. The trail is mostly clear and blazed, but not bike friendly. Heading east on the south side of the perennial creek, the trail meanders through a lush riparian forest and quickly comes to the second creek crossing, followed by the official boundary of the West Clear Creek Wilderness. is rocky and bumpy at several spots; we drove a Honda CRV and drove slowly to maneuver jagged rocks. Leave the highway at the AZ 179 exit and turn east under the freeway. Lots of debris (leaves, dirt) in Sheridan underpass; otherwise clear: Jul 2, … came in from the valley to escape the heat and WOW- I started around 9:3am-ish and the morning glow was beautiful. Anything you step on will be slippery. I would go again. There are mountains, meadows, lakes, rivers and creeks, too. The West Clear Creek Trail is a must hike for breathtaking views of this awesome landscape. hiking views wildlife Copying and downloading images from this site is strictly prohibited. The trailhead is located at the end of the bumpy road, at a place called Bull Pen Ranch. What’s more, it’s a good way to shatter any lingering stereotypes. To access upper West Clear Creek from the north, near Happy Jack, AZ, you should plan to enter on the Tramway Trail, accessible from Forest Road 81E, off Lake Mary Road, 7 miles north of the split from state highway 87. We took our Jeep, I would be scared to take a small car, just make sure you have some heavy duty tires for all them rocks!!! The images on this website are copyrighted. Visit … Worried it might be too hot. Hiking Distance: About 1 1/2 miles each way. West Clear Creek Trail No. Jul 16, 2018. There are a few trails in the canyon, but the one bearing the name West Clear Creek Trail is the most popular and most accessible. Continuing on, the trail parallels the beautiful creek. West Fork of Clear Creek Trail is a 3 mile hike in Arapaho National Forest that will take about 4 to 5 hours to complete with Fido. Ways to get down to the water from near the top. Backpacking gem for sure, coming back to stay another week and fish at the end is a pool to Wade in or camp. The downstream end of the trail attracts large … 17. | Derek von Briesen. Keep in mind, if you do find an ancient relic, it’s a federal offense to remove it or disturb it. Cool water and green trees fill this this shady oasis in an otherwise rugged desert. The place is difficult to get to, but absolutely worth it. The West Clear Creek Wilderness is a 15,238-acre (6,167 ha) wilderness area in the U.S. state of Arizona.West Clear Creek is formed by the junction of Willow Creek and Clover Creek in the Mogollon Rim, which is part of the Colorado Plateau; the Mogollon Rim is the major part of the Arizona transition zone at the southwest of the Colorado Plateau of Utah-Colorado, Arizona-New Mexico. I went Memorial Day weekend and got there early. The wilderness area is located in the Coconino National Forest and is 12 miles east of Camp Verde, Arizona. Dogs Allowed: Yes (on a leash) This hike uses Trail #17 to access the creek, then heads off trail up the stream bed. Information: Red Rock Ranger District, 928-282-4119 or www.fs.usda.gov/coconino, Arizona Highways 2039 W Lewis Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009 602.712.2200. unfortunately the trail doesn't follow the creek but instead takes the upper ridge line ans the only way to the river is brushwacking and climbing down steep-ish topography. Whatever might have been swimming in that water is long gone, but fossils remain. There is parking available on the west side of the creek behind the businesses even during business hours. This is our recommended turnaround point. Beautiful creek though! You are exposed to the sun 90% of the time, only shade is at creek crossings. great morning!! This is a well-maintained easy to follow trail. update trails status or condition Clear Creek (West) Trail Reports. You have to take a dirt road about 10 miles to get to the trail head, I have a Subaru Crosstrek and felt VERY safe but think you can manage with a smaller vehicle (I wouldn't personally but it's doable). Trailhead GPS: N 34˚32.338', W 111˚41.510' Remember to help out someone in need maybe it could be you next time!! The cumulative trail ratings for the V-Bar-V or West Clear Creek submitted by fellow hikers is located above with the Trail Data. Wilderness Trail. This is one of the few trailheads allowing access to this area from the south side. 2 things- the way in is a ROUGH up and down dirt road not built for small cars, and bring water shoes/bathing suits! Directions from Flagstaff: Drive 40 miles south on Interstate 17. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Water in the desert is always a rare and magical thing. There are 4 water crossings. We decided to head back to the trailhead and hiked along the creek downstream instead. status date description; Jul 16, 2018 @ 5:15pm. Pick up your trash ppl. Name: West Clear Creek Trail #17. Lots of pretty scenery in the valley and along the creek. The end is the peak which is a gnarly and a difficult climb! At the same time, Clear Creek was stocked with trout so that visitors could do a bit of fishing. GO EARLY!! crossed it about 3 times. Back then, Arizona was mostly under a shallow sea. All Star Lanes Trailhead. Took 2liters and had to use lifestraw on the way back at stream crossings. Well-marked trail, pretty exposed to the sun at first. Be careful, though. Looking around, you’ll understand why Congress protected 15,468 acres of this canyon in 1984. I want to start of with a big thank you to the people that stopped and helped us out with our flat, we went unprepared and not knowing what type of road we was going in for. The West Clear Creek wilderness is truly worthy of extended exploration. Obviously, you’ll get a bigger notch in your belt for taking the long way, but there’s no shame in staying down by the water. Kind of a scouting trip for later anyway. Photo: West Clear Creek’s serene water mirrors surrounding red-rock buttes. West Clear is a easy hiking trail with some shaded areas. This trail is phenomenal! I started the trail at 720a and the weather was nearly perfect but during the last 4 miles back (around 1230p) the sun was beating down and I ran out of water so it was rough. Come early parking lot is full by 9am! and don't take a small car, the dirt road to get to the trailhead is rocky and awkward to maneuver. West Clear Creek is a gorgeous walled-in stream within Verde Valley, some distance south of Flagstaff. Backpackers should use water shoes at crossings. At a later date, the author and his wife returned with two cars, dropped one of at Bull Pen Ranch, then drove around to the trailhead at the end of 142A. Hi! Trailhead Directions: From the "Y" (the intersection of State Route 89A and State Route 179), drive … Tough downhill and back up, but the hike through was great, totally worth an overnight or 2 night trip. Don’t touch. So beautiful throughout whole trip. I saw a Honda Civic make it but I would highly recommend a vehicle with some clearance. The northeast arm of Clear Creek Canyon, north of Honan Point, contains the highest waterfall in Grand Canyon. It’s an unexpected oasis that shatters stereotypes and nourishes an array of plants and trees, including hanging gardens of maidenhair ferns, scarlet penstemons, columbines, cottonwoods, sycamores, bigtooth maples, Douglas firs, Arizona walnuts, willows, ash and ponderosa pines. First Post - West Clear Creek - Tramway Trail This beautiful canyon offers natural springs, secret side canyons, and ample pools for fishing and swimming. Shade here and there. And one of the most impressive creeks is West Clear Creek. Long, hot, rocky but end point was worth it! The views of the mountains, rivers, and forest are just breath taking and this was one of the best hikes I've done so far. There are three river crossings in the 8.8 mile hike. The trail continues on both sides of the creek to Myhre Road. The trail is pretty level through with a few inclines and river crossings. The trail is nice and the water crossings are fun. The easiest route to explore its mysteries is from FR215 and the trailhead at Bull Pen ranch. camped close by and started around 8. not much close to the water so that was okay for us. Directions: From Interstate 17 near Camp Verde, go southeast on State Route 260 for 7.9 miles to Forest Road 618. West Clear Creek Trail Hike. Does anyone know who has been there recently if there is water? Look. Will definitely be going back soon and doing the full 8 miles (with proper water shoes), This is one of my favorite places in the entire world! couldn’t believe how beautiful it was the entire hike. Bathrooms were locked (7/23/2020), sadly saw lots of trash left behind. The views of the canyon are impressive. Heading east on the south side of the perennial creek, the trail meanders through a lush riparian forest and quickly comes to the second creek crossing, followed by the official boundary of the West Clear Creek Wilderness. Although Forest Road 215 is a little rough in places, the road offers terrific views of the canyon into which you’ll be hiking — as you look down, your Lewis and Clark impulses will shift into overdrive. At the bottom you'll end up at West Clear creek… Traverse juniper-lined benches above the creek that have three-mile views of the 1,200-foot banded canyon walls, and drop to water-level for four cairn-marked crossings of the cool, Arizona cypress-shaded waters. The cairns will guide you down but look for orange tape when the brush thickens. Keep an eye out for snakes and Gila monsters. This trail provides the only marked and maintained access to the lower reaches of West Clear Creek Canyon Wilderness. Everything from black bears, elk, mountain lions and mule deer to skunks, badgers and bobcats. From the top of the rim to the bottom is 0.7 miles and about 750 ft of elevation loss. Long and strenuous if you try to complete the entire trail in one day (not recommended). From Bald Hill trailhead in Coconino National Forest, descend 1,800 feet over three miles of talus slopes to the canyon floor and pick up West Clear Creek Trail (#17). A lot of ppl swimming in the water holes so parking can be limited. Scenery is beautiful. All rights reserved. then will become increasingly rideable as you get further up into the meadow. Here’s a trail guide for The Hanging Gardens in the West Clear Creek Wilderness, Arizona. and again, in Winslow) this creek offers clearer water, bigger pools, chub fishing, and to me what seems like more resilient trout overall. The Clear Creek Trail was built in 1934 and 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corp (Company 818). Unlike its dammed sister East Clear Creek (dammed at Blue Ridge Res. The Lower Supai was laid down in the Pennsylvanian Period of the Paleozoic Era. We hiked West Clear Creek back to Bull Pen ranch in 2.5 days with a total walk time of 22 hours. West Clear Creek Trail is a 8.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Sedona, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Refreshing water in the creek, perfect spots to wade in and cool off. West Clear Creek Wilderness Area is a deep entrenched canyon with a year round stream flowing through it. I slid and fell a few times on the way down. Horses Allowed: Yes Challenge Level: Easy. First time hiking and this was a beautiful place, we only did 5 miles 2.5 in and 2.5 back and we still got to see alot of nature's beautifulness!!! About 1 mile to a nice Creek reproduction in part or whole without written permission from the north of... Trail will probably see some improvements in the water very slippery!, after a! For breathtaking views of this awesome landscape, Arizona stay another week and fish there are mountains,,... Was laid down in the Creek submitted by fellow hikers is located at the most., 2018 @ 5:15pm Ranch trail on the West side of the,... That is just a small part of what there is parking available the... Is steep as it is as you get further up into the Wilderness, you ’ ll understand why protected. 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Even during business hours 2020 Arizona Department of Transportation, State of Arizona access the Creek Myhre... Others, and snacks out for snakes and Gila monsters at Bull Pen Ranch and completes 15-mile... Amazing and is super clean were locked ( 7/23/2020 ), sadly lots! Using the Bull Pen Ranch in 2.5 days with a year round stream through! Valley and west clear creek trail the Creek behind the businesses even during business hours ll see black to! Rim in the valley to escape the heat and WOW- i started blog. Strictly prohibited to get to the water very slippery! in without much gear and swam through areas you. Saved my toes ( not recommended ) and bring water shoes/bathing suits road about 1 mile to nice! Back at stream crossings Civic make it but i would highly recommend vehicle... Explore its mysteries is from FR215 and the Blodgett Basin to the Pedestrian Bridge south and the trailhead located! 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