Ash Creek and Oak Flat?

[jaybird]

Backpacked into Ash Creek last weekend. Past the horsepack detour, then past where the detour hooks back into the main trail and still couldn't find Oak Flat. We set up camp on a saddle not far from the big falls and hiked down to the creek for water (another 30 minutes) and still no Oak Flat. What's the deal. We didn't find Oak Flat on the main Ash Creek trail, someone told us it was on the horse pack detour. Anyone????

Did we just not hike far enough? We were on trail for 2.5 hours so I'm reasonably confident that we covered 5 miles downhill and still didn't see aything that looked like Oak Flat.

[azbackpackr]

A quick glance at the Webb Peak topo map shows that Oak Flat is a good couple rough miles or more past the falls, downstream from the falls, if you were to follow the creek. But it looks as though the trail goes to the north side of the creek and down about a gazillion switchbacks before it gets to Oak Flat. Looks like you would have had to hike a bit further. I haven't been there, but from what you described you had some ways to go. Also, the HAZ write-up says "you can't miss it."

[RedRoxx44]

Oak Flat is below the falls, you pass the Shingle Mill trail juncture at sort of a saddle then head down some steep switch backs, where you pick up the trail in a narrowed stream bed. A nice campspot or two near little waterfalls there. The trail continues down near the stream but starts to widen and the stream bed goes away from the trail. Oak Flat is indeed a small flat with a small meadow ringed with poison ivy and a nice campspot which would have some shade. The trail leaves in some dense vegetation, actually climbs some, good views then starts a downhill run in high desert scrub oak and manzanita on one side of the canyon. Stellar views to Safford playa. Rocky, no shade and goes down to meet Jeep trail. Can be very hot in here.
Sounds like you just didn't go far enough. The hiking here can be slow if you are looking at everything and don't know the trail so maybe didn't make as many miles as thought. I do that all the time.

[jaybird]

In response to RedRoxx44's reply:

"you pass the Shingle Mill trail juncture at sort of a saddle then head down some steep switch backs"

I think this is where we camped. There was a sign for the Ash Creek trail 307 pointing down and a small saddle to the left. We camped on the saddle since there was a fire ring and some flat ground. We did hike down the 307 trail, down some nasty, washed out switchbacks to the creek to get water but didn't see oak flat. Of course it was pouring at the time and maybe we just didn't go far enough.

[azbackpackr]

Then from what you said, looking again at the topo map, you would have had to follow that creek trail downstream almost another mile.

It's on the Webb Peak topo.