Water sources in the Chiricahuas

[johnny88]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the HAZ forums. I'm planning a 3 day, 2 night backpacking trip to the Chiricahuas next weekend. I've never been there before, so I was wondering if any one knows of any reliable water sources? I have read that Anita Spring is reliable. What about Bear Spring near Monte Vista Peak? Or Juniper Spring?

I plan to start off at the Rustler Park trailhead and hike along the Crest Trail, going to Monte Vista Peak one day and Sentinel Peak the next. Any advice or suggestions? Right now, I'm thinking my longest day will be about 12 miles.

[chumley]

Hi Johnny-

There might be somebody who will respond to you with personal experiences (which I can't help with in this case), but I've used the TrailDEX map located on the website and zoomed in on the Chiricahuas. There's an option to "Find Springs".

Here's the link to my results, though you can zoom in or move to a more specific location and re-run the find function to narrow it down a little bit.
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?QX=672

Of the 24 springs found, there are 8 where a spring report has been posted. I recommend reading all of the spring reports and you'll get a good feel for what you'll find. Make sure to note the time of year the spring report was generated.

There's a wealth of information on this site, and not all of it is easy to find unless you use the site a lot. Hopefully this feature helps answer some of your questions.

When you get back from your trip, please share a triplog with us, and add your own spring reports to help the next hikers out. I hope you have a great trip!

[chumley]

I have read that Anita Spring is reliable

Just in case you don't get to reading the spring reports, there are a couple that state that this previously reliable spring has dried up.

[johnny88]

Hi Chumley,

Thanks for the reply - that spring report link was really helpful!! I didn't know you could do that with TrailDex. I'm still figuring some things out about this site. I will definitely have to revise my trip a little based on some of those spring reports.

-John

[chumley]

Hopefully somebody who has been down there recently will reply here. Keep in mind that it has been an especially dry winter in that part of the state, so you may want to plan for the possibility of less water than in previous years.

[writelots]

I haven't been to the Cherry-cows yet this year, but I was in New Mexico over Easter and talking to rangers there. It seems that southwestern NM and southeastern AZ were BONE DRY this winter, averaging less than 1.5" of precip for the whole year to date. This means that most springs are running very low or entirely dry, and that reliable perennial creeks are often stagnant or absent. With this in mind, I would not count on finding any reliable water outside of developed areas in the Chiricahuas. That range tends to be pretty dry anyhow, and with such abyssal rainfall levels, it's going to be crispy up there.

[johnny88]

You are definitely right about this being a dry year. I actually just called the Ranger's office in Douglas and the person I spoke to said that she had gotten reports a week ago that Tub Spring has water, Anita Spring is very low, and that any springs south of Anita Spring were basically dry. Seeing as how no rain is expected in the next week, I don't think I want to rely on the "very low" Anita Spring, unless any one else has recent first-hand experience.

Another trip I was considering was the Eastern half of the Highline Trail (http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=757). I tried looking up spring reports along the trail but could not find any. Would I have better luck finding water there? Any other trails within about 4 hours of Tucson I should consider?

[chumley]

There's ample water on that hike at this time of year. VERY reliable water at Christopher Creek, Horton Creek, and Tonto Creek. Like "let's go swimming" reliable.

[writelots]

There's water in the canyons of the Gila Wilderness: Middle and West Fork are running well and are beautiful hikes http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1827. You even get to see some similar geology to the Chirichauas. Then there's Whitewater Catwalk on the west side. Eagle Creek up near Morenci is a nice one, too. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=3070

[johnny88]

Thanks for the replies everybody! Now I'm having trouble deciding whether to do a part of the Highline Trail or the Eagle Creek - Painted Bluffs trail. Writelots, do you happen to know if Black River Rd leading up to the Eagle Creek trailhead is accessible by car? And what if any permits I would need to park there? It also seems like I could do an out and back just along Eagle Creek or branch off to the GET if I make it that far?

[GrottoGirl]

FYI, The last spring report for Anita was in 2009. I wouldn't call that reliable a reliable source of information. If I were leading a trip, I'd call the Douglas Ranger Station and ask for conditions. In the rare event that Anita is dry, there are several other springs in the area around the same elevation. The trails to them can be obscured by downfall but it makes for an interesting side trip - e.g. Headquarters and Ojo Agua Fria. The SAHC is heading out there this coming weekend - I'm tagging along as it is one of those special places that you have to return to each year. Some of the best sunset photos can be obtained from the Crest trail.