Copper Creek Loop, AZ

Another hike starting from Glen Oaks -- a trailhead without fees or crowds.

Start off heading south along the jeep trail, which parallels Board Creek. At about a half-mile, Board Creek turns north into a small canyon; follow it. The creek bottom travel is very easy -- much, much easier than bushwhacking the very grab & grabby stabby local hillsides.

1.0 miles: Board Creek turns south, towards the Hassayampa River. To your left will be a small rock wall. You can either climb it or head up the slope slightly right, to the mining claim, on the jeep trail. Left on the jeep trail heads back to the trailhead; right is south, back towards downstream Board Creek. Go straight across the intersection, towards a small saddle. The trail turns into an easy to follow foot/animal trail, which descends into a tributary of Copper Creek. Like Board Creek, following the creek bottom is much easier than cross country. At 1.3 miles will be the 10-15 foot waterfall.

1.9 miles: You've reached Copper Creek. All that's left of the buildings on the topo is a foundation. Turn left/north up FR 54, which you will follow for the next ~4 miles. All of the other buildings on the topo, along the jeep trail, are now non-existent. For the most part, FR 54 is smooth walking, and probably drivable by a car -- if you could figure out how to actually get one down there. It's a slow, steady climb, past a couple of corrals, through a tunnel, up to FR 54's intersection with Copper Basin Rd. / FR 53.

6.0 miles: Turn left / southwest on FR 53. Initially, it is as nice as FR 54, climbing up to the hike's highpoint at about 6.8 miles. But, as FR 53 begins descending towards the multiply-signed mining claim, it will get rockier.

7.8 miles: Intersection, that if you turned right/west would proceed up to USMM 3275. (See "Glen Oaks - Peak 6276" hike description.) Continue on the main trail, FR 53, which will get rockier and definitely not car drivable. It's not bad, as far as rocky goes, but watch your footing anyway. Stay low on the jeep trail as it approaches Hwy 89, crossing through the second graffiti tunnel. Turn right/south a few hundred yards to the trailhead at Glen Oaks.

9.7 miles: Fini.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

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2014-08-30 kingsnake