Canyon Creek refresher

[Thoreau]

So I'm planning a backpacking trip into Canyon Creek in a couple weeks. I've been there once before, but was more or less on autopilot and following the more experienced members of the party, so aside from the visuals, navigation recollection is pretty weak. Looking at the GPS route for the hike, it doesn't look to cover the good parts that I remember, but instead looks to terminate before them.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder=928

A photo of one of the areas that looks very familiar is:
http://hikearizona.com/photo=32826

It's not uncommon for the people I hike with to freelance a trek and have us end up someplace other than the original/mapped route. I'm looking at the aerial views of the area and the best guess I have is that the side canyon that provided that kind of view had to be further south, perhaps Valentine Canyon?

Any tips or pointers would be much appreciated. I've been on tons of backpacking trips, but this is the first time I've been leading one, so I don't want to miss the best parts.

[chumley]

The two posted GPS tracks go south only 3 miles. Te-wa's photo you linked to says it was taken at mile 5, so yes, it is farther south than the GPS tracks posted. Valentine canyon is at about the 3.5 mile mark. Just past the 5-mile mark, Canyon Creek crosses onto WMAT land, which may or may not allow access, and if it does you definitely need a permit.

Things are slowly coming back after Rodeo Chediski. It's now been 12 years since that fire had a severe impact on the area.

[Thoreau]

My last run to the area was august of 2010, and even then it was a beautiful area for sure. Fishing was crap, but I suspect my lack of skill contributed greatly. =) id imagine another 4 years of recovery can only do good for the area.

So it sounds like we were still on forest land the last time as that pic is, as I remember, just a hair past where we camped. Staying off of reservation land will definitely be a key point, especially given the sidearms we all carry. (I really wish most reservations didnt prohibit sidearms, but given history I certainly cant blame them one bit.)

Looks like I may finally have a reason to learn the proximity alarm function on my garmin =)

[chumley]

Note that camping is prohibited along Canyon Creek from the campground south to at least Valentine Canyon. I'm not sure how far downstream from Valentine Canyon the camping ban extends, or if it is specified at all.

[te_wa]

the tall basalt canyon walls is near the end. i never did see the fence creating the boundary of the apache res.
perhaps i did not go far enough, perhaps there is no fence.
however, there lies some pretty easy to reach solitude. this is a good hike for packing a small fly-rod, some craft brews, and some close friends.
tune out the dirt road leading from Valentine above, stay on the east side of the creek, and you get shots like this: http://hikearizona.com/photo=68087

[Espi]

The fence and boundry is just further than the route in the link above. It is just south of Valentine Canyon. (as Chums mentioned)

the fishing down there is good.. the fish are easily spooked. Stealth is key.. post pics when you get back. I have been itching to get back and explore that area some more.

[te_wa]

^ Espi Noza thing or two about feeshin'