HikeArizona.COM

any good hikes with creeks within 2 hours of phoenix? i know of wet beaver and west clear creek... looking for something to hike this weekend while it's still hot. i would like to avoid huge crowds if possibly [like normal summer party spots]. don't have 4x4 either!

Cibecue's fun, but costs 15 bucks and is only 2 miles round trip. Or, you can try accessing the Tonto Narrows via Houston Creek and then write it up here. I'm certainly curious about it. West Fork of Oak Creek past the 3 mile mark is nice and the crowds will thin out once you get back there.

Horton Creek, and of course, Fossil Springs.
http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=62
http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=183
Canyon Creek might take a little over 2 hours depending on vehicle and traffic, but worth a look.
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=928

Of course, its good to remind people about TrailDEX. Select "perennial" from the pull-down menu for "creek" and then select the area of the state you are willing to go to. Start with "Phoenix" for the closest, but you might look at Payson, Prescott, Sedona, or even Tucson areas for hikes within 2 hours. Some of the hikes in those regions are further than two hours, but there's plenty to choose from.

TrailDEX is accessed from a link on the top of the page, and takes you here:
http://hikearizona.com/interestDEX.php?ID=34

thanks! i'm going to hit the Narrows this weekend... and then possibly some of the others the following weekends.

I almost tagged onto that one. However the best part is swimming up the creek to the waterfall!

joe bartels wrote:I almost tagged onto that one. However the best part is swimming up the creek to the waterfall!

well it's supposed to get up to 116 thereabouts on the desert floor... i'm going to see how far i can get before my blood begins to boil in or out of the water. besides, i don't have a drypack so i'm going to have to get creative and only bring things i don't mind getting wet!

Are you going in from Houston Creek? Any other access you're looking at?

azpride wrote:Are you going in from Houston Creek? Any other access you're looking at?

i'm only going to follow the write up from joe. where do i access houston creek to get into the narrows? further north up the highway? i don't mind doing a little adventure hiking but i certainly don't want to try something that is going to damage my car

The reason I suggested Houston Creek was because the normal access to the Tonto Narrows (which goes through private property) is closed. Apparently there's a sign there suggesting accessing from Houston Creek.

azpride wrote:The reason I suggested Houston Creek was because the normal access to the Tonto Narrows (which goes through private property) is closed. Apparently there's a sign there suggesting accessing from Houston Creek.

yeah i read that. i assume you can still go through it without being shot if not, i'll have to read the maps and figure out where to access houston creek. i don't want to end up parking my car on the side of the highway!

ok... now reading more it does seem illegal to cross the normal area on private property. however, i see two options... taking sandy wash up to the north and connecting with Houston Creek [seems shorter than driving to Payson, but i'm not sure about road conditions] and the other is that alternate road along Gisela Road. i think i may drive the 'beast' up there and try some off roading if it isn't too sandy... the honda should be light enough to make it around some of that area. anyone have any other options or suggestions?

sarichter wrote:ok... now reading more it does seem illegal to cross the normal area on private property. however, i see two options... taking sandy wash up to the north and connecting with Houston Creek [seems shorter than driving to Payson, but i'm not sure about road conditions] and the other is that alternate road along Gisela Road. i think i may drive the 'beast' up there and try some off roading if it isn't too sandy... the honda should be light enough to make it around some of that area. anyone have any other options or suggestions?

If you tryi going down gisela when it fork to the right down to the creek please post and let me know how it turns out.. Plannig on going this way in august... Not sure if your aloud to park along this road. If you cant we will just get dropped off at this road a picked up..