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| Hiking | 6.70 Miles |
1,783 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.70 Miles | 5 Hrs | | 1.68 mph |
| 1,783 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| partners | | From my first triplog visit in April'08 to hike this Trail#124 which still applies for this second visit-
"Another grand day and trail hike in our Tonto NF-Sierra Ancha Wilderness. This Coon Creek and springs area offers some excellent perks, like: relatively easy off road access to remote Oak Creek TH at 4715' elev(via a high clearance vehicle) with stellar views for the entire ~4.7ml drive to the TH; Along the way and close too this TH are a select few campsites, some nicely oak shaded, and an old historic wooden cabin that has been restored for camping (with major scenic area views, a full roof, entrance door, repaired walls, clean cement floor, and with replaced windows).. an excellent "first come-first serve" and FREE weekend camping escape with a view!"
I invited Randal Schulhauser (hike description author) to join me and then I asked him if he would also consider driving us in his fancy new, roomy 4-door Ford F-150 4x4. Thank you Randal. For our 2 hour and 45 minute one way drive, thanks too for your interest in asking me to name the
"Ten Essentials" of hiking which allowed me all the time I needed to  these ten and "beyond the ten".. I know you were relieved when we finally arrived at the TH 
There are thirteen published Tonto NF hiking trails in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness and this one is in my top four. I particularly enjoy this hiking area for the reasons stated above and for its remoteness and numerous classic Sierra Ancha rugged canyon views which must hold some ancient Salado Indian Ruins yet to be discovered in our 21st century (maybe  ) not to mention the extra nice, large oaks and Alligator Junipers located mid-way along our hike at the perennial Coon Spring riparian area.
For this second hike visit I was particularly interested in capturing in photos some of the off trail, more remote, and rugged canyons for intended return visits to check out areas for possible cliff dwelling sites. Approximately 3.6 miles into our planned 4.6 mile out and back hike, we had reached the section of hiking trial that did not offer much additional canyon views so we stopped for our lunch break. While I was semi-enjoying my normal trail lunch of beef jerky with peanut butter crackers and cheese, Randal mentioned to me that he normally does not have a filling trail lunch since he most always looks forward to a nice TH ending day Bar-B-Que. I looked up hill at the additional one mile we had to hike to arrive at trail end at the Bull Canyon TH and then looked down at my beef jerky and.. off we soon headed back to the nice setting with Coon Butte as a backdrop at our beginning Oak Creek TH..
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=245233
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=245325
Randal, thanks again for your company, for driving, and for feeding me too.. an awesome day! |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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Coon Creek Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | Appears to be a perennial spring; Main spring source flow was not visible, so perennial flow could be more than a quart per minute; | | _____________________
| (Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!") |
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