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| 4x4 Trip | 40.40 Miles |
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| | 4x4 Trip | 40.40 Miles | 5 Hrs | | 8.08 mph |
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| no partners | | WOW, what a trip! Like to thank Hank (Grasshopper) and Larry (Oregon Hiker) for inviting me along on this spectacular 4x4 trip down Cherry Creek Road. We made the long trip out to the Northern end of NF-203 but only after a couple of short tours of the mesa above Cherry Creek Canyon. Larry's stock Toyota FJ Cruiser now has lots of new AZ pinstripping from the close quarters and a dent on one of the skid plates from the boulder strewn road.
On top of the Mesa, we found an awesome unnamed canyon that was short but extremely scenic with colorful vertical sides, so steep that we were unable to see the bottom. Later we discovered that this canyon was almost directly above the P B Ranch Cabin.
The drive is not for the faint-of-heart, as soon as you exit Hwy 288 you kiss civilization good-by for the next several hours as you suddenly drop almost 500 feet down the side of the canyon wall. The road(?) has 180 degree switchbacks, curves that almost leave you hanging in space and boulders poking up when you least expect them. But the extreme beauty of the trip and the isolation is why you come here. We only met an ATV with two persons and a dog along the entire length of the trip.
Occasionally Larry would stop so we could get out and explore the vicinity near the FJ. The silence is deafening, all you hear is the birds, and today, a light breeze rustling through the branches of the nearby Pine and Pinon trees.
The trip is slow because we always had to be observant for the high boulders, the wash-outs and even the occasional really large boulder lying in the middle of the road. Yeah, there was more than one time we looked at a large slab boulder in the road and debated whether to go on the high side or the cliff side to get past.
The P B Ranch cabin came into view after negotiating a sharp bend in the road so we decided to make that our lunch spot. Very interesting place and a must stop for anyone traveling down this road. The cabin is in amazingly good condition considering its location and remoteness. There's a log book inside but many just scratch their names into the weathered siding planks. There's a corral in the clearing that's in constant use and lots of "cow pies" in the tall grass.
Since this was our first trip through this remote wilderness, Larry kept the FJ in low range and 4-wheel drive just in case there was a surprise hidden in one of the many water crossings we made. We also passed numerous camping sites at the road-end of the canyons that are suitable for overnight use. We weren't prepared for an extended stay so we kept slowly driving down this super scenic road through history.
We reluctantly passed many canyons with known cliff dwellings but had to continue on as the day was passing and we didn't want to be caught on this road after dark. When we came upon an active ranch along Cherry Creek the road suddenly turned into a well maintained gravel road allowing us for the first time in hours to shift out of low range and back to normal driving. From there to our junction with 288 again, it was a dusty and relatively boring drive. As we crossed the narrow bridge over the Salt River, the sun had set and lights were needed so we had survived our journey.
Thanks again guys that was a day to remember, thanks Larry for sacrificing your FJ, hope it isn't too bad off. |
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| On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip. |
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