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| Chevelon Canyon Backpacking, AZ | |
| | Chevelon Canyon Backpacking, AZ | | | |
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Chevelon Canyon Backpacking, AZ
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Backpack | 17.00 Miles |
1,000 AEG |
| Backpack | 17.00 Miles | 3 Days | | |
1,000 ft AEG | | 35 LBS Pack | | |
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Partners |
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| partners | | We had a little rain to deal with, Outdoor Lover bailed because the roads had gotten somewhat muddy and probably because she had a lot more driving through crappy weather than us. The first day was a little rough, packing through the rain and only finding a good campsite a half hour before twilight.
The worst part of this entire hike is miles 1-2, which is the mile before Durfee Crossing. After this the hiking through the canyon is spectacular, and a great trail exists (if you can find it) for pretty much the entire canyon all the way to the lake. Previously established campsites exist all along the way if you can find them. At times a good trail exists on both sides of the creek, so you do have some options. You will get your shoes wet crossing the creek a few times, but with a good route you can fly through pretty much untouched.
We saw many crushed boats and canoes, and not much wildlife. We did find a few petroglyph sites and wasted time looking for a few more. A bear seemed interested in our campsite on Friday night but did not seem to return afterwards. The creek was full of water, except right at the very start of the trail where it mysteriously goes dry right where the trail crosses (and it immediately reappears less than a hundred yards downstream.)
The rain abated early Saturday afternoon and from there on it was clear skies.
On the way back, to avoid the bad bushwhacking section, we first looked on the opposite side of the river for a trail, but realizing there wasn't any, went up the Durfee trail and walked the road back to Chevelon Crossing. I would highly recommend this Durfee trail access point to anyone looking for a painless way to access the creek, you are pretty much guaranteed a bushless journey. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Chevelon Canyon Lake |
76-100% full |
76-100% full |
| | 100% full, water right up to the edge of the spillway | | _____________________
http://hikearizona.com/garmin_maps.php
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife! |
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