West Clear Creek Question

domromer · Post by **domromer** » Mar 26 2006 5:43 pm

I think we decided to backpack overnight into West Clear Creek. We don't plan on doing the whole hike. Just far enough to escape any crowds and find a nice campsite. My qustion has do do with water crossings. I heard there are a few of them. My main concern is how deep are they. I want to bring my dogs, but I don't want them sleeping in the tent if they had to swim across some deep water. Wet dog and down don't mix. If they go camping they need to sleep in the tent otherwise they will keep us up all night barking at everything that moves. Anybody have any idea how deep the water might be this time of year?

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Mar 26 2006 6:10 pm

I haven't been to the lower section in at least seven years so I may be wrong. The crossings seem almost possible but you end up knee deep as the steps are either just too far apart or too slippery.

The water would be pretty darn cold this time of year. No clue on camping. You couldn't pay me to leave my car at that trailhead. But if you do go, this would be preferred over the summer crowds.

The water flow is pretty low right now due to the lack of winter rain, it's in the summer flow range. I think it's still wading.

wetbeaverlover · Post by **wetbeaverlover** » Mar 26 2006 8:12 pm

If you park at bullpen you can travel up WCC for a few miles before you will ever have to swim, even wading can be avoided. I have never had my vehicle messed with there and the place really doesnt get that much traffic compared to beaver creek. Its a great place. : king :

domromer · Post by **domromer** » Mar 26 2006 9:59 pm

is there a trail to follow up wcc or is it all boulder hopping?

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Mar 26 2006 10:09 pm

there's a trail
but I guess I don't remember it cause I don't recall going three miles before crossing

hikeaz · Post by **hikeaz** » Mar 27 2006 1:10 pm

In response to joe bartels' reply:

Excerpted from : http://www.arizonahikingtrails.com/hiki ... dgett.html

...."From the trailhead, West Clear Creek Trail #17 follows a very wide maintained path. Older guides describe the trail going around "private property". That has changed -- the state bought the land and now you walk right across it. About .4 miles in you will see and old cabin that has cactus growing from the roof.

At .8 miles, you will come to the first of four creek crossings. The water is usually cold and at least knee deep. After you cross, you follow the cairns as you walk through a rock area. The second crossing is easy to miss (we did!) But you should cross back rather quickly.

Following the north side of the creek, the trail wanders though a nice riparian area until at about 2.5 miles you cross back to the south side. The trail is a bit overgrown in this area.

The trail stays on the south side for 2.5 miles to the final creek crossing. This one was very tricky. Very deep holes were everywhere. You must pick your route carefully! After the final crossing, there are no good areas to camp, so you need to pick one before this point."......

domromer · Post by **domromer** » Mar 28 2006 6:09 am

hows the fishing in WCC? Anyone have any luck? Should I bring my rod?

AZHikr4444 · Post by **AZHikr4444** » Mar 29 2006 9:46 am

Hey Dom-

I hiked WCC last summer. I don't recall seeing many fish jumping or anything. It seems most people head in about the first mile- there is a really nice swimming area with a slick rock "crack" that is fun- this seems to be the hang out place for the crowds. The little cabin with the cactus roof that Kurt mentioned is there at about .5 mile in- but the roof has collapsed. Its off to your left about 100 yards from the trail.

The trail is very easy to follow and last summer the crossings were all less than knee deep. Joe is correct- they are all very very slippery! I believe after the 3rd crossing, the trail climbs out of the creek bed and goes high-you are overlooking the creek and will barely be able to see it in some places. Then it heads back down toward the 4th and final crossing. Since this is the furthest in, this area is much less crowded. There is a really nice pool here for swimming, but I don't recall any camp sites. After this crossing, the trail heads straight up toward the Rim. I walked the creek a bit further past this crossing. There are some awesome pools and little cascades, but it is very very difficult- I took about 3 spills in that short little jaunt. Slick!

I left my car at Bullpen all day- nobody bothered it, but the TH was hoppin' when I returned that afternoon.
Mike

domromer · Post by **domromer** » Mar 29 2006 10:24 am

thanks for the info, I imagine it will be pretty quiet this time of year as it's not quite swimming weather yet.

At least I hope it will be quiet.

You mentioned you didn't see any campsites? Was that just at the last swimming hole you described? Or the length of the trail?

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Mar 29 2006 12:33 pm

What happens to the cars? Are they broken into, stuff stolen? Or vandalized?

This hike is on my list, I'll get around to it one of these days!

wetbeaverlover · Post by **wetbeaverlover** » Mar 29 2006 1:10 pm

In response to azbackpackr's reply: In 20 years of living near and exploring these canyons in the Verde, I have never heard of a car getting broken into or vandalized except for at various trailheads in Sedona. Thats not to say that it couldn't happen, I wouldn't be leaving valuables in plain view, but i wouldnt fret over getting looted at Bullpen. Its not quite the Phoenix mentality up here yet, (knock on wood), but give it a few more years. The Californification of the Verde is in full swing.

domromer · Post by **domromer** » Mar 29 2006 4:44 pm

i had a friend who who looking looking to hitch a ride from the wet beaver trail head, He found a group of guys to take him, before they took off one of the guys was trying to find open car doors and look for wallets in glove compartments. Before they left 2 guys stole a dirt bike out of the back of someone's truck that was in at the swimming hole. They through it into the back of thier truck and took off. My friend who was getting a ride with them was sitting in the bed of the truck while this all happened. He took down the plate number and reported it to the police the next day. I don't know what happened to the guys who stole the stuff but this is a true story from a reliable source.

moral of the story:

Lock you car, don't leave your wallet in it.
If you are going to leave a dirtbike in your truck un-attended, well at least lock it.

wetbeaverlover · Post by **wetbeaverlover** » Mar 31 2006 7:39 pm

In response to domromer's reply: NO offense, but the Beaver Creek Ranger Station is within 1/4 of a mile from the Bell Trailhead. Your "buddy" didn't seem too concerned about his newfound saviors felonious shenanigans whilst they were looting cars and stealing motorcycles . At least not enough to walk away and report to the BCRS, which has law enforcement personel on the premises. Funny, no? Bet the law wouldn't have considered him just an innocent hitchhiker if they had got caught redhanded. Just don't dig thieves and their compadres much after getting looted and losing all my tools and truck on a 3 hour Lake Pleasent trip in 99. Not courting controversy with you, it's just the latent Matlock gene in me resurfacing again.

domromer · Post by **domromer** » Mar 31 2006 9:43 pm

In response to wetbeaverlover's reply: I think if he would have jumped out of the truck to report them, they probably would have beat him up. Either way. It sucks to have you stuff stolen. I had my mountinbike stolen off my roof rack at a really busy trail head in Colorado. I assumed it would be safe since there was such a steady flow of people. this happened in a national park as well.

West Clear Creek Question

West Clear Creek Question

west clear creek