Walla Valley, AZ

Overview
Google Maps classifies this valley as a ravine, but it really doesn't have steep sides and isn't deep and narrow. On many topographic maps, there is an approximately two-mile road marked. Ninety-nine percent of this old road doesn't exist anymore, but many orange/red blazes are still affixed to trees along the route. I'm not sure if this was once a historic tourist area, the boundary of the park, or if it was just a fire road. I could not find much information about the Walla Valley Peninsula, except that there was a wildfire here in June 2014. I found no evidence that the valley burned intensely, in fact, it seems to have been beneficial to this forest area.


Hike
The best way to describe this hike is Shinrin-yoku Steeplechase, sans water jumps. There aren't wide-open views of distant vistas and stunning panoramas, but there is a lot of deadfall interspersed with thick fern beds, Quaking Aspen, plentiful wildflowers, spiny Locust and Grand Canyon Rose. There are also easier sections of grassy meadows with several beefalo wallows.The most striking aspect of this landscape is the very large ponderosa pines. The trees here don't quite rival some of the massive ponderosa pine growing along the Widforss Trail, but they are still very impressive. This hike goes about one mile past where the blazes end. There is a natural turn in the valley with an obvious small, northwest-projecting hill. This just seems like a good place to turn around, but one could hike the length of the valley, eventually transecting the Point Sublime Trail before its final extension out to the point.

Synopsis
When the inner canyon is dangerously blazing hot, this hike is an acceptable, much cooler alternative form of preventative care. I've completed it twice (autumn and summer), both times after more difficult inner canyon hikes and/or climbs and before exiting the park (AKA Reentry). It's a long, rough, taxing wheeler to Point Sublime, so why not make the most of it...

2023-07-09 pseudalpine