Route Editor
Route Scout
Exquisite by joebartels  Some trails take you to a beautiful spot hidden from society. Few offer never ending beauty throughout. Parsons not only packs a punch the entire trail, it continuously changes. Thick groves of corel bean and globemallow among other wildflowers line the trail. From the trailhead Sycamore Canyon is inviting you to visit. The trail immediately heads down the canyon wall 180 feet to the creek bottom. Within a few steps pass through a gate and close it behind you. Little elevation change is encountered after the initial drop. A junction is encountered and you will be taking the right fork to follow up the canyon. The left option crosses the creek and heads up for a long venture over Packard Mesa to Henderson Flat. The trail starts out very sandy just after the junction. At 1.1 miles Summers Spring is pumping water next to the trail. Trees canopy this area. I saw a red bird of some sort playing in the coverage. This would be a great hike for those looking for a shorter alternative. After the spring the trail cuts across the creek. Huge quarter ton cairns make route finding a breeze. At first I laughed then realized a monsoon rain would wash away anything less. A large rock lodged in a tree is proof of high currents. After crossing the creek the canyon turns to your left. The creek, although not seen here, loops around and you're actually walking away and towards it at the same time. The trail takes off up a ledge on the left wall and you begin to wonder if you're headed in the right direction. Within steps it angles back down and the canyon bends back. Ledges with four foot deep crystal clear water line the path in sections. I saw several small fish. According to the trailhead map you cross the creek five times. I didn't keep count but it seems right. Each crossing has it's own challenges but none to tough. It's not hard to stay dry if that's your thing. I sloshed through the shallow water to cool off. Thick growth covers the running water. Small spiders are abundant on the rocks and logs. Huge Sacred Datura wildflowers are amazing. Just stay away as they are poisonous. A seep crosses the trail. Vegetation is lush including poison ivy! Wild grape ivy dominates throughout the hike. Several small caves line the canyon walls. A hollowed out tree almost big enough to walk through is just off the trail. On the last or second to last (I forget) creek crossing, huge red boulders dot the creek. When the going gets tough the creek ends and it's time to turn around. I couldn't find Parsons Spring. Then again I didn't explore much as 7.4 flat miles isn't my best stride. It was very muddy and the water was cloudy near the point I turned around. Camping No camping for 3.7 miles, end of water.
Coconino FS Reports The hike up the Parsons Trail is a pleasant stroll along a cool, clear desert stream set in a magnificent red rock canyon. Sycamore Canyon is a place sufficiently unique to have been one of the first areas protected as wilderness in Arizona. The trail leads through the lower reaches of this wilderness through a riparian area rich in plant and animal life. Colorful cliffs that are a unique mix of dark columnar basalt, red sandstone, and buff colored limestone enclose the lush green of the oasis. The trail leads 4 miles to a large pool called Parson Springs where this considerable stream springs to the surface from the underground course it has followed through the majority of the canyon. Up canyon from this point surface flow only occurs during snowmelt and after summer monsoons. The limestone layer just above the streambed is riven with small caves. Flat ledges of red sandstone extend to the water's edge. Songbirds flit through the tall cottonwoods and thick mesquite bosques. At a number of points additional springs flow from the canyon walls through gardens of columbine and watercress. All these features combine to make this trail one of the most popular, and one of the most crowded, on the forest. If you visit this truly exceptional place please exercise extra discretion in making sure the impact you create is as slight as possible.
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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.
