West Chevelon Canyon, AZ

Overview
West Chevelon Canyon starts at FR 34, extending 31 miles north, until it empties into Chevelon Canyon, in the scrubland just below Mormon Crossing. At least initially, West Chevelon Canyon is located between Willow Ridge and Porcupine Ridge, just a few miles west of Woods Canyon Lake.


Hike
This hike describes the upper 3.5 miles of West Chevelon.If you decide to start somewhere along Porcupine Ridge, FR 34B is car-drivable as far as the FR 34H intersection. FR 34H is SUV-drivable for about another 1½ miles. The final ⅔ miles of FR 34H, to the bottom of the canyon, is strictly high clearance, 4x4. If you want to explore further down the canyon, that will save you miles and time. Instead, I started from the same trailhead I used for hiking Willow Creek, the next canyon to the west.

The canyon portion of this hike can be divided into three parts: 1) The first 0.5 miles is relatively wide, shallow, and uncongested. In other words, smooth sailing. 2) The next 1.5 miles are more congested, with decent size deadfall that can either be ducked under, or routed around on shelves. I only had to low crawl once. 3) The final 1.5 miles to FR 34H, have very little congestion, but is fairly rocky, with tiny pools, and also with occasional shelves. There is nice mid-day shade on the shelf at the bottom of FR 34H. It's a good picnic spot.

On the topo, FR 34H ends 150 ft. upslope, but I suspected it ran down to the canyon bottom, and that is indeed correct. As you approach the canyon junction, turn back and to the right. That "creek bed" is FR 34H. Follow it and FR 34B back to where you started.

2023-07-08 kingsnake