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Has anone been to Deer Creek lately? I've heard the trail (south fork) was all overgrown and no water is present. Any info?? :

Hi GeorgAZ.

I was there last winter and would find it hard to believe that the So. Fork trail would be completely overgrown. With the dry winter there was no water then either, but the trail is so nice its great anyway.

Deer Creek trail runs up Deer Creek proper which is the main canyon just north of the south fork. I didn't find it near as nice as So. Fork. Tr.

Off the top of my head I can think of several Deer Creeks, which one are you talking about?

You're right! I was just assuming GeorgAZ meant the Deer Creek in the Mazatzals since there is a "South Fork Trail" right next to it. Hope I was right :

Was on the Deer Creek (as oposed to the South Fork of Deer Creek) recently and the trail is as open as it always has been. I enjoy the Deer Creek Trail for a nice day hike 'cause it winds through a ranch early on with interesting water works, and after about two miles it comes upon the grave of "Arizona's Scottsman", Davey Gowan. The grave is maintained by the Forest Service, and it has a well inscribed headstone. If memory serves....1845 to 1929 (or thereabouts).

A real interesting character that Davey Gowan. He was born in Scottland, was shanghaid into the Royal Navy. He jumped ship in the Gold Coast of Africa (Ghana), signed on as comon seaman to a slaver, jumped ship again in the USA, just in time to be press-ganged into the US Navy during the Civil War. After the war and an honorable discharge, hitched a ride on a frigate to the West Coast, where he worked in the gold fields for a while before he walked! (yes walked) to Arizona to find his fortune.

He was the first European to discover the Natural Arch in Pine whilst running from Appaches during the 1870's, and staked a claim there. His ancestors were just recently bought out by the US Park Service. He died in the Mazatzals (on the Deer Creek Trail), where he was buried by the cowpunchers of the Chilson Ranch (the same Chilsons after whom Chilson Springs are named on the Divide Trail).

The Deer Creek trail continues up into the Mazatzals and connects with both the Davey Gowan Trail as well as with the start of the Divide Trail at the foot of Mt. Peeley, and the upper end of the South Fork Trail. Seven miles straight up, with a nice 14 miler loop, returning on the South Fork Trail to the parking lot.

A great hike.

Very impressive AZHiker! Thanks for the history. I really love reading that stuff. Where on earth did you manage to dig the facts about such an obscure person?

It was two years ago when I chanced upon the gravesite during a day hike. I became intrigued by the mystery of it. Who is Davey Gowan, and why was he buried in the upper reaches of Deer Creek? Who maintained the gravesite? It became a challenge and lead to a search of the history of it. I checked with the Forest Service who now maintain the grave, but they knew nothing (typical beaurocrats; no intellectual curiosity) so after searching on the internet and finding some intriguing clues, I was able to finally reconstruct the story from both reference books I found in the library as well as a chance find of a book in the old musty, dusty bookstore called Guidon Books in Old Scottsdale which had references to Davey Gowan. One thing led to another until I had the complete story.

To clarify; the two trails are signed as: "North Deer Creek" and "South Deer Creek".

I remember years ago while hiking the South Deer Creek trail in January, I came across a guy who obviously had just finished spending a bundle at the Orvis website. He was frantically casting into the fast moving waters of Deer Creek, changing flies every 5-6 casts. I didn't have the heart to tell him that 8-9 months of the year, Deer Creek was dry as a bone.

Tonto Natural Bridge had information on Mr. McGowan and I think the grave was cleaned up as part of a boy scout project. Guidon Books is also a great source of out of print/rare books on Arizona History.

As a matter of fact I've been told by close relatives of the owners of deer creek ranch that there
are some german brown trout that hide out in some of the pools along deer creek (mazatazal).
although I also recognize the fact that the creek does seem completely dry at times. I was told
by one of the old-timers who also mentioned that way back when all those creeks in that area
ran year round and that it has only been in the last 30 years or so that they started drying up. I would tend to believe that, seeing how the deer creek ranch had owned water rights to the creek
until a few years ago. still i dont know if the stories hold any water. though you have to assume
if the creeks once ran year round its possible they were once stocked or had native species.