Turkey Creek Trail #155, NM

This trail has a great diversity of scenic beauty and ecosystems including rugged desert mountain, riparian habitat, and alpine forests.


Trail 155 can best be described broken into two segments. The first segment is 17 miles long beginning from the trail head at the mouth of Turkey Creek to the saddle between Turkey and Little Creek. Except for a three mile section that follows a ridge from Skeleton Canyon to Sycamore Canyon, the trail stays in the canyon bottom. The vegetation is lush and the creek forms many pools and small waterfalls. This segment is difficult for pack animals.The second segment of the trail, about 11 miles, is from the saddle at the upper end of Turkey Creek to the West Fork of the Gila River. This segment crosses over the Diablo Range and into McKenna Park. The Park is a gentle sloping terrain of old-growth Ponderosa Pine. On the topos this segment of #155 is called the Little Creek Trail.

The trail up the Gila River to the Turkey Creek trailhead #155 begins at the end of Forest Road 155. There are no facilities and parking is limited to a few pull-offs along the road. Because this is a very environmentally sensitive area, it is strongly advised not to cross the river in a vehicle. It is very easy for a vehicle to become stranded in the river.

From the end of the Forest Road 155 follow the trail up the Gila River about 1.3 miles to Trail 155 at the mouth of Turkey Creek. There are three river crossings but crossing isn't advised if the river is at flood stage.

Water
There is water in the length of Turkey Creek. Water is also available in the upper portion of Little Creek. The springs in McKenna Park are seasonal but water can usually be found at the spring in Johnson Canyon on the west side of McKenna Park. Water quality is not tested therefore it cannot be guaranteed to be drinkable, it is advisable to filter or treat all drinking water.

2018-07-14 HAZ_Hikebot