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Where is the saying Joe posted on this site:

seclusion
short car drive from to Phoenix
near water features

pick any two.

For crowded areas, perhaps somewhere along the Salt River before there are too many tubers?

I think there are a few hikes ssk posted that talk about narrow areas of the Verde river near lake roosevelt. Depends where you are in phoenix though to get there in <2 hrs.

Too late. Tubers out in force this afternoon.

I just posted my trip to Gordon Creek Falls today and it might work for you. It's 1.3 relatively easy miles and offers what girls of all ages love; pretty wildflowers and nice dog tolerant horses (when they're around). It's 25 miles east of Payson off Colcord Road.

@Cultjam
Nice!
I added the listing so others can map directions and estimate their drive.

@HippyHaley
Ellison Creek Cascades is a little closer and perennial
Still just over two hours from your listed location. Yet there is no escaping the valley heat with much of a shorter drive. When your daughter gets a little older Christopher Creek Gorge is a fun one.

Lynx Lake Loop Trail is just under two hours. A cool hike around the lake with big pines. However swimming isn't permitted...

@nonot, booo to the Salt too many drunks and "dumb kids", there are some lovely picnic areas to get away but theres always someone on the other side of the next tree I'll wait on The Salt until my little girl is 10 or so, although we "adults" are having our usual 3rd of July float. whoo! No kiddos for their own safety!! Verde River is amazing...where is there to swim/yak/picnic out near Roosevelt along it??

@cultjam awesome!! that' looks great, we'll have to try that one out next!

@Joe, I LOVE Christopher Creek, my dad use to take me out there all the time when I was younger
Is kayaking allowed at Lynx Lake?
I've never heard of Ellison Creek Cascades, gonna have to try that one also! Thanks Joe! (btw Pueblo Canyon Ruins trip this weekend, very excited! )

I had this ingenious idea to look up The Verde River, i've always wanted to kayak it! So we discover The Verde River Greenway up in Cottonwood, PERFECT!
Heading up there right now!

HippyHaley wrote:I've never heard of Ellison Creek Cascades, gonna have to try that one also!

When we went up there last October the the whole area was closed due to a bad fire. Not sure when the fire happened, nor do I know if it's opened back up, but the whole area around the "second crossing" was badly burned and torn up. However, it's still a very pretty drive once past the burn, and you can get to the Christopher Creek area via that road.

Sometimes people will call the area Water Wheel since the campground by the same name is a short ways downstream.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=42
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=141

Update on the status of the Water Wheel/Ellison Creek Cascades area. Attached is the original area closure order which includes a map. There is no online posting that this order has been rescinded, however I just spoke with the Payson Ranger district on the phone and was told that the area is open to day use only. There is a forest concessionaire in charge of the area and you will have to pay the concessionaire to park. The Tonto Pass is NOT valid for this area. Parking fees must be paid to the concessionaire.

The fire occurred in 2009, so the effects will likely still be quite visible. I haven't been there since it burned, and I haven't seen any photos. Hopefully it will recover quickly.

@joe bartels
I posted some nice photos from Gordon Creek back in '09 under the title "Gordon Canyon Creek" (I thought 'falls' seemed a bit generous). http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=8319
Is there some way you could put my photos under your new listing?

P.S. I feel slighted. ;)

HippyHaley wrote:Is kayaking allowed at Lynx Lake?

I see the little kayak icon. I remember lots of paddle boats. What makes it nice is motor boats are not allowed. Goldwater Lake is even more quaint, yet it's another half hour of driving.

@paulhubbard good point, I forgot about that fire
Was it east or west of Houston Mesa Road or both sides?

@snakemarks you feel slighted

Edit photoset name: click the pencil icon right of the state abbreviation
Edit triplog: click "Edit" in lower right corner of triplog

snakemarks wrote:@teva joe
I posted some nice photos from Gordon Creek back in '09 under the title "Gordon Canyon Creek" (I thought 'falls' seemed a bit generous). http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=8319
Is there some way you could put my photos under your new listing?

P.S. I feel slighted. ;)

It is generous to call them falls. It's nice to picnic there without being drowned out by the noise.

Cultjam wrote:It is generous to call them falls.

Unless I've got the wrong spot, the USGS calls them falls. Though from the picture, I tend to agree with your assessment over some official geological cartographer folks.

joe bartels wrote:Was it east or west of Houston Mesa Road or both sides?

In this topic Dawn posted this perimeter map.
If true, Ellison Creek Cascades wasn't scorched. Anyone know?

Joe, I can't confirm personally, but that map also lists the acreage at 771, and the final fire size was 773, so it's gotta be pretty accurate. Also the closure order never included the cascades (see my attachment above), just the parking area and part of the access road (420). So I'm quite confident that the area there is still just fine.

See historical information on the Water Wheel fire here: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1872/

I converted some GIS files, looks like it's worthy of checking out
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?QX=715

The water should be clear

joe bartels wrote:Was it east or west of Houston Mesa Road or both sides?

The directions list: "Turn right onto FR420 (at the message board) and follow short 0.2 mile to unmarked Cold Spring Camp Grounds."
It was at this turnoff that the signs were posted everywhere about "Area Closed" and the fire looked to have consumed the forest on both sides of the road.

@Cultjam
Nice. I think I might head up to Gordon Creek in acouple weeks with my boy. Nice pics. I love the horses.

Good ideas, but FYI I don't think you can get there in 2 hrs with the construction.