Route Editor
Route Scout
Author Full Detail Guide Overview: This section of trail can be hiked as a short trail by itself - for a great view of the surrounding ridges and of the desert valley below - or it can be used as a cutoff trail for the more strenuous Noon Creek Ridge Trail #318. Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community. 2011-12-19 One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
Got on Noon Creek Loop before sunrise.
Watched the sun come up on Noon Creek Ridge.
Exited down on the cutoff trail.
Swift Trail up to Arcadia.
Wet Canyon down.
Swift Trail back to the start for the figure 8.
The Noon Creek trails were great! Very scenic and a lot of fun. The Ridge and Cutoff trails are a little overgrown, but nothing too difficult to follow.
Arcadia and the Swift Trail as beautiful as always.
Wet Canyon ..... WOW ..... it was like hiking down a brand new canyon! Major flooding has altered this canyon beyond belief. I will dearly miss the old canyon that was chocked full of thick foliage and wonderful plant life ..... but this new look of a wider, deeper, boulder blanketed with new waterfalls and now clear of obstructions up & down looked something special to me ..... I think many will like it too. I just hope FS rebuilds the old picnic grounds at the lower bridge.
Another good one on Graham!
Watched the sun come up on Noon Creek Ridge.
Exited down on the cutoff trail.
Swift Trail up to Arcadia.
Wet Canyon down.
Swift Trail back to the start for the figure 8.
The Noon Creek trails were great! Very scenic and a lot of fun. The Ridge and Cutoff trails are a little overgrown, but nothing too difficult to follow.
Arcadia and the Swift Trail as beautiful as always.
Wet Canyon ..... WOW ..... it was like hiking down a brand new canyon! Major flooding has altered this canyon beyond belief. I will dearly miss the old canyon that was chocked full of thick foliage and wonderful plant life ..... but this new look of a wider, deeper, boulder blanketed with new waterfalls and now clear of obstructions up & down looked something special to me ..... I think many will like it too. I just hope FS rebuilds the old picnic grounds at the lower bridge.
Another good one on Graham!
2017-10-06 SkyIslander18
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
Roper Lake Ranger Tuesday Usual.
Lauren traveled to Monument Valley for the day so it was just Chad & Addie day.
The big plan was to show Addie one of my favorite hikes along Pipeline Rd at Bonita Creek.
Arrived at Gila Box to find Spring Canyon & Dry Canyon had flooded across the access road from the 2 big days of storms we have had and Bonita Creek was going to be impossible to reach. Before turning around, we watched about 6 coatis play above Dry Canyon for a bit before heading back.
Plan B was our grand backyard sky island and after putting together a big Noon Creek loop, we were off. It was warm & very humid from the recent rains, but the creeks & waterfalls were flowing great and even though I've done this loop several times, it was very enjoyable to show my good friend this beautiful Noon Creek area!
We ended the Noon Creek trails at Wet Canyon where we rested under a green canopy next to the cold creek. After a snack and cool off period, we then walked the Swift Trail back down to the start completing the loop.
A quick stop & hike down to Johns Dam ended the trip.
A little bummed about Bonita, but plan B ended up being a day very well spent!
Thanks Addie, your pumpkin awesome!!!
Lauren traveled to Monument Valley for the day so it was just Chad & Addie day.
The big plan was to show Addie one of my favorite hikes along Pipeline Rd at Bonita Creek.
Arrived at Gila Box to find Spring Canyon & Dry Canyon had flooded across the access road from the 2 big days of storms we have had and Bonita Creek was going to be impossible to reach. Before turning around, we watched about 6 coatis play above Dry Canyon for a bit before heading back.
Plan B was our grand backyard sky island and after putting together a big Noon Creek loop, we were off. It was warm & very humid from the recent rains, but the creeks & waterfalls were flowing great and even though I've done this loop several times, it was very enjoyable to show my good friend this beautiful Noon Creek area!
We ended the Noon Creek trails at Wet Canyon where we rested under a green canopy next to the cold creek. After a snack and cool off period, we then walked the Swift Trail back down to the start completing the loop.
A quick stop & hike down to Johns Dam ended the trip.
A little bummed about Bonita, but plan B ended up being a day very well spent!
Thanks Addie, your pumpkin awesome!!!
2014-07-08 SkyIslander18
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
Noon Creek Delight
Today I drove up Graham with no real plan, just decided to wing it. Parked at the Round the Mountain trail-head and after going over my maps for a bit, I put together a loop using a small portion of most of the Noon Creek trails.
The route: Truck - Noon Creek Loop - Noon Creek Ridge - Noon Creek Cutoff - Swift Trail - Wet Canyon - Swift Trail - Noon Creek Canyon - Truck.
Overcast & calm day, all the trails looked great, not a lot of spring happening up on the mountain yet & it still looks like winter up in Wet Canyon. I think I may have done this loop before, really enjoyed it and will someday do it again!
Sad ending to the day on the drive back down the mountain. I had just photographed 3 nice white-tail does after sunset along the road, a mile further and I was coming around the last corner onto the straightaway when another doe ran across the road and into the front of my truck then under. Pulled over, checked my truck then turned around knowing it was going to be bad. Another person drove up upon the scene and helped me put her down and get her off the road. After not hitting a deer in 20+ years of driving the Swift Trail, I have now hit 3 in two years and always feel terrible when it happens.
The route: Truck - Noon Creek Loop - Noon Creek Ridge - Noon Creek Cutoff - Swift Trail - Wet Canyon - Swift Trail - Noon Creek Canyon - Truck.
Overcast & calm day, all the trails looked great, not a lot of spring happening up on the mountain yet & it still looks like winter up in Wet Canyon. I think I may have done this loop before, really enjoyed it and will someday do it again!
Sad ending to the day on the drive back down the mountain. I had just photographed 3 nice white-tail does after sunset along the road, a mile further and I was coming around the last corner onto the straightaway when another doe ran across the road and into the front of my truck then under. Pulled over, checked my truck then turned around knowing it was going to be bad. Another person drove up upon the scene and helped me put her down and get her off the road. After not hitting a deer in 20+ years of driving the Swift Trail, I have now hit 3 in two years and always feel terrible when it happens.
2014-02-24 SkyIslander18
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
Noon Creek Ridge - Wanted to hike this one today because it has the most Leding's hedgehog cactus on it I've ever seen and know they are close to blooming. I found a few blooming, but they need another week to explode! Turned around at peak 6557.
Noon Creek Cutoff - A few more Leding's and a lot of Skyrockets on the south side.
Wet Canyon - Out & back to the climbing wall, the canyon is now very green with many yellow columbine. If I would have know how green it was, I would have made this my main trail today up to Arcadia.
Swift Trail - Took the ST from Wet Canyon back to my truck then decided on one last trail.
Noon Creek Loop - I had just enough time left for an out & back to the first creek crossing and was glad I decided on this last minute idea! For the first time on this trail, I hit it at the right time of the year as there were HUNDREDS of frogs in the pools mating. I couldn't believe my eyes & ears as there was at least one frog every square yard and the numerous mating calls at times became deafening! It was all I could do not to step on one hopping from boulder to boulder. Returned back to my truck after sunset knowing that I had just saw & heard something I may never witness again, Awesome afternoon trip on Graham!!!
Noon Creek Cutoff - A few more Leding's and a lot of Skyrockets on the south side.
Wet Canyon - Out & back to the climbing wall, the canyon is now very green with many yellow columbine. If I would have know how green it was, I would have made this my main trail today up to Arcadia.
Swift Trail - Took the ST from Wet Canyon back to my truck then decided on one last trail.
Noon Creek Loop - I had just enough time left for an out & back to the first creek crossing and was glad I decided on this last minute idea! For the first time on this trail, I hit it at the right time of the year as there were HUNDREDS of frogs in the pools mating. I couldn't believe my eyes & ears as there was at least one frog every square yard and the numerous mating calls at times became deafening! It was all I could do not to step on one hopping from boulder to boulder. Returned back to my truck after sunset knowing that I had just saw & heard something I may never witness again, Awesome afternoon trip on Graham!!!
2012-05-12 SkyIslander18
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
Noon Creek bonanza today! I combined a little of all the Noon Creek trails along with the Swift Trail to form a real nice loop. Noon Creek is flowing strong right now from all the snow melt, all 3 trails are in great shape and still have a little snow on them in the northern sections & everything is really starting to green up now. Very windy on top of the ridge trail, but overall a nice day for hiking!
2012-03-02 SkyIslander18
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
With the week long warm temps melting half of the snow off the mountain, I thought the Noon Creek Ridge trail up combined with the Arcadia trail down would be doable and make a fine loop for the day. Started from the Noon Creek Cutoff trail, which is in great shape, and took it up to the Ridge trail. The first mile of the Ridge trail is also in great shape, but the next mile has become quite a mess in the last couple of years and is difficult to follow through the deadfall & overgrowth. I then started to hit snow on the north side at 7000 ft and soon after many locust bushes covering the trail. I bushwacked on a little further up until it was clear that the snow was just getting to deep and I was not going to be able to complete the loop and had to turn around. Still a great hike and the first time I have ever been on the upper trail with snow on it, very pretty!
2012-01-05 SkyIslander18
Noon Creek Cutoff Trail
Started from the Noon Creek loop south TH down to the creek, then back up to the Noon Creek ridge trail and took it around the mountain to the spur trail down to the Swift Trail and up to Wet Canyon, out & back along Wet Canyon to the climbing rock then back down to my truck via the Swift Trail to form a loop. Highlight of this trip was seeing my first ever Pinaleno mountain kingsnake on the ridge trail!
2011-10-11 SkyIslander18
