Difficulty: Easy The West Clear Creek Trail is a must hike for breathtaking views of this awesome landscape. 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. Or turn east off FR 618 on FR 214 about 8 miles from the highway and turn east 4.7 miles to the Bald Hill Road. Can’t wait to go way back in sometime. There are three river crossings in the 8.8 mile hike. 2 things- the way in is a ROUGH up and down dirt road not built for small cars, and bring water shoes/bathing suits! There are human artifacts, too, left by the ancient Sinagua people who lived in the canyon hundreds of years ago. We hiked West Clear Creek back to Bull Pen ranch in 2.5 days with a total walk time of 22 hours. This trail provides the only marked and maintained access to the lower reaches of West Clear Creek Canyon Wilderness. Remember to help out someone in need maybe it could be you next time!! 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. Kind of a scouting trip for later anyway. The cairns will guide you down but look for orange tape when the brush thickens. Name: West Clear Creek Trail #17. Anything you step on will be slippery. then will become increasingly rideable as you get further up into the meadow. | Derek von Briesen. Worried it might be too hot. The images on this website are copyrighted. West Clear Creek is a gorgeous walled-in stream within Verde Valley, some distance south of Flagstaff. Because of that, I decided to head further north, out of the concrete jungle, up to West Clear Creek. 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. 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. Then, after 5.5 miles and a fourth creek crossing, you’ll come to a point where the trail veers north, away from the water. 17. Wilderness Trail. The wilderness area is located in the Coconino National Forest and is 12 miles east of Camp Verde, Arizona. © Copyright 2020 Arizona Department of Transportation, State of Arizona. I made the classic mistake of not bringing enough water and by 10a it was nearly 100deg. This is our recommended turnaround point. I slid and fell a few times on the way down. As you cross into the wilderness, you’ll see Black Mountain to the south and the Blodgett Basin to the north. (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. Total Nerdery. Hike up West Clear Creek using the Bull Pen Ranch trail on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. Well-marked trail, pretty exposed to the sun at first. The trail is mostly clear and blazed, but not bike friendly. Pick up your trash ppl. Lots of pretty scenery in the valley and along the creek. But my dog couldn’t get out of there quick enough, between the hot pads on the feet and fox tail burrs all over him he was very stressed. 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. you can keep going if you want! Your trail feedback and ratings are an important resource for fellow hikers and provide a personal account of your trail experience from which others may learn. The dirt road to get there is bumpy and only wide enough for a single vehicle in places. Dogs Allowed: Yes (on a leash) From its western terminus at Bull Pen Ranch at the canyon mouth, the trail leads upstream into the deep, narrow gorge which medium-sized West Clear Creek has cut into the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. West Clear Creek Trail No. Photo: West Clear Creek’s serene water mirrors surrounding red-rock buttes. This is a trail that is HARD! I saw a Honda Civic make it but I would highly recommend a vehicle with some clearance. Arizona Office of Tourism, 2702 N. 3rd St., Suite 4015 , Phoenix, AZ, 85004, Phone: 888-520-3434, Fax: 602-240-5432, mfioritt@pni.com. From the top of the rim to the bottom is 0.7 miles and about 750 ft of elevation loss. Camped 2 nights at this spot and traveled further in without much gear and swam through areas. 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. Long, hot, rocky but end point was worth it! Looking around, you’ll understand why Congress protected 15,468 acres of this canyon in 1984. Beautiful water pool! Turn left onto FR 618 and continue 2.2 miles to Forest Road 215. At the same time, Clear Creek was stocked with trout so that visitors could do a bit of fishing. And there’s wildlife, too. There are mountains, meadows, lakes, rivers and creeks, too. The West Clear Creek Trail (the longest and most-used trail within the wilderness) has four crossings that range from knee-height to impassable depending on time of year, weather, and flooding. The Clear Creek Trail was built in 1934 and 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corp (Company 818). Long and strenuous if you try to complete the entire trail in one day (not recommended). Bathrooms were locked (7/23/2020), sadly saw lots of trash left behind. Refreshing water in the creek, perfect spots to wade in and cool off. Keep in mind, if you do find an ancient relic, it’s a federal offense to remove it or disturb it. Vehicle Requirements: A high-clearance vehicle is recommended. Look. Also careful with jumping on rocks in the water very slippery!! Challenge Level: Easy. At the bottom you'll end up at West Clear creek… Come early parking lot is full by 9am! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. You’ll get a sense of just how spectacular it is as you drive in. Went in about 7:30am May 18, from Bull Pen with my LabDood. West Clear Creek Day Hike; when: Trip Report: June 1, 2013 : where: West Clear Creek Canyon Wilderness east of Camp Verde: the hike Flowing for 30 miles east of Camp Verde through the spectacular West Clear Creek Wilderness area, West Clear Creek is … A lot of ppl swimming in the water holes so parking can be limited. update trails status or condition Clear Creek (West) Trail Reports. Shade here and there. 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. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. This trail provides the only marked and maintained access to the lower reaches of West Clear Creek Canyon Wilderness. Horses Allowed: Yes There arent any waterfall or slot-canyon type features at this location. Continuing on, the trail parallels the beautiful creek. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Although it’s less than 2 miles wide, the canyon winds for nearly 40 miles through some of the most scenic and least visited terrain in Arizona, making it the longest of the many canyons that cut through the Mogollon Rim. Thinking about doing this trail next weekend. Don’t touch. GO EARLY!! The parking lot was overcrowded later in the day. The first mile, or so, of the trail is exposed with no shade, but when you start hiking along the creek it is all shades with tons of options to stop and swim to cool off for about the next mile. This trail provides the only marked and maintained access to the lower reaches of West Clear Creek Wilderness. This trail is phenomenal! It was not crowded on a Thursday mid-morning. Backpacking gem for sure, coming back to stay another week and fish Beautiful creek though! This is one of the few trailheads allowing access to this area from the south side. 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). so much contrast on this hike. It’s very steep and full of loose rock and dirt. couldn’t believe how beautiful it was the entire hike. West Clear Creek Wilderness Area is a deep entrenched canyon with a year round stream flowing through it. The trailhead is located at the end of the bumpy road, at a place called Bull Pen Ranch. Wear a wide rim hat and long sleeve sun shirt! I use quotes because this isn’t much of a trail at all. We decided to head back to the trailhead and hiked along the creek downstream instead. Difficulty: Moderate (along stream). Hi! The views of the canyon are impressive. status date description; Jul 16, 2018 @ 5:15pm. 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! the trail requires some river walking and the water also feels amazing and is super clean. All Star Lanes Trailhead. 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. (Brush Creek trail will probably see some improvements in the near future) At the top you will come to a dirt road. Cool water and green trees fill this this shady oasis in an otherwise rugged desert. The easiest route to explore its mysteries is from FR215 and the trailhead at Bull Pen ranch. The trail is nice and the water crossings are fun. Be careful, though. However, if you’re in excellent condition and you want to extend the hike, follow the trail north through a draw that climbs almost 2,000 feet in 2 miles. Directions: From Phoenix take I-17 north to Camp Verde to exit 285. is rocky and bumpy at several spots; we drove a Honda CRV and drove slowly to maneuver jagged rocks. Unlike its dammed sister East Clear Creek (dammed at Blue Ridge Res. Sand dunes, snakes, scorpions ... there’s a long list of stereotypes about Arizona. Tough downhill and back up, but the hike through was great, totally worth an overnight or 2 night trip. I would go again. Stayed at about the 8th site, you will know it by being 2 tiered and having a stone table, stone fire pit and stone chairs. The northeast arm of Clear Creek Canyon, north of Honan Point, contains the highest waterfall in Grand Canyon. Follow this primitive road about 1 mile to a rock-pile cairn that marks the trailhead. 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. Trailhead Directions: From the "Y" (the intersection of State Route 89A and State Route 179), drive … We started the trail around 8a and finished by noon. Took 2liters and had to use lifestraw on the way back at stream crossings. and again, in Winslow) this creek offers clearer water, bigger pools, chub fishing, and to me what seems like more resilient trout overall. Make sure you take a hat, WATER, and hiking boots they really saved my toes. Back then, Arizona was mostly under a shallow sea. The trail is pretty level through with a few inclines and river crossings. An out and back hike from the north side of West Clear Creek to a nice waterfall. Hiking Distance: About 1 1/2 miles each way. at the end is a pool to Wade in or camp. The first 1/4 mile will be mostly hike a bike. This hike uses Trail #17 to access the creek, then heads off trail up the stream bed. Everything from black bears, elk, mountain lions and mule deer to skunks, badgers and bobcats. 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