Lower Parker Canyon Overlooks, AZ

Overview:
Looking at topo Lower Parker Canyon looked quite interesting, so we walked along some HC/4WD roads due to doing this trip in a Subaru and then went a bit past them. Road conditions are listed under driving directions. This is mostly hiking along dirt roads, so perhaps not quite a hike, but there's some scrambling around to cool viewpoints and there are some great views for minimal effort so it seems to fit in with some other short "viewpoint" type entries here. :)


"Hike"
FR140 takes you to a junction with FR2819 first - this leads down to the best viewpoint of the canyon. There's an easy scramble down to rock you can stop at, or continue past next to the tree below it for a better view. It's important to have a good grip here and step slowly, as you're on loose rock. There's no knife-edge exposure, but an un-arrested fall would be fatal.Heading back to FR140 takes you to FR2818. The view here of the canyon isn't quite as interesting, but you get a nice view out to Roosevelt Lake sandwiched between both ends of the canyon.

The end of FR140 itself would give you the best view of the overall Teddy Roosevelt Lake area.

Note
On Fridays or Saturdays (maybe more in peak season?) you'll probably see some pickups at the end of each of these roads. On the Thursday we walked it, we were the only ones there. On Saturday evening, when we drove out there were 2-3 on each FR. The area is scattered with fire rings, not much trash (we packed out some), but a lot of TP poking out from rocks or on cacti. :( If I can pack out my TP on a 10-day backpacking trip, you'd think folks that camp a few feet from their truck would be capable of the same.

2021-11-23 eru