Bradshaw Bonanza Photoset • MountainMatt • 2017-02-07 • HikeArizona.COM

Bradshaw Bonanza, AZ

	2017-02-07
	6 by MountainMatt

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Bradshaw Bonanza, AZ

Hiking	6.64 Miles	1,102 AEG

Hiking	6.64 Miles
	1,102 ft AEG		25 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Wolf Creek Falls

Wolf Creek Loop Trail #384

Partners

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This trip was originally inspired by an area of the Hassayampa River I noticed on satellite view that appeared to be a sweet little waterfall and gorge area that I was eager to check out.

Turns out upon my arrival I found out this place has a name!
Ponderosa Park Swimming Hole aka Hassayampa Swimming Hole, to my surprise I headed down the now decommissioned FR that leads to the confluence with Indian Creek and the Yampa which is exactly where the main pools are located.
I was hoping for a 20ft+ waterfall but only ended up finding 2 powerful 10 foot chute waterfalls that were still pleasing but not exactly what I was looking for.

I then made the decision to go upstream when I originally was going to check out downstream as well as the narrows of Indian Creek that I will leave for another day.
I had to portage quite a bit to keep my feet dry as I wasn't just ready to get completely soaked feet from fresh snowmelt so there was a lot of obstacles and up and down bushwhacking but nothing crazy.
For the most part that section of the Upper Yampa is open and scenic with lots of twist and turns and I almost wasn't even going to proceed to WC Falls since I had been there before and did not think it would look any different but boy was I wrong!
Just seeing the amount of water pouring out of WC at its confluence with the Yampa is when I became fully aware that there was something special going on upstream and upon catching my first glimpse of the falls I believe my jaw literally dropped!
It was raging with power and with a mighty roar it stood out so prominently among all the ponderosa pines.
At that point it was a bit of nasty bushwhack the remainder of the way to the falls since I was coming from the opposite way than most but still nothing too bad.

I arrived at the falls at 2pm which was way too early to take photos because of the way the sun beams on this place so I made the decision to hike up to the road and hustle back down to Ponderosa Park, take photos, drive back to WC TH and then proceed to hike back down before sunset.
I pulled it off in time and was rewarded with a very unique spectacle, a setting sun behind me and a near full moon rising and aligning in front of the falls made for a moment I'll never forget!
Truly a great day and another memorable adventure in the Bradshaw Mountains!

***GPS track is 5.26 miles at 738 AEG, my triplog totals include my added track stats from returning to the falls the second time that day.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Hassayampa River - Upper

	Groom Creek	Heavy flow	Heavy flow
	Not sure what Groom Creek usually looks like but as with nearly every creek and drainage out there GC was flowing at a forceful clip.

	Hassayampa River - Upper	Heavy flow	Heavy flow
	Knee deep in the shallowest areas and moving with swift force!

	Indian Creek	Heavy flow	Heavy flow
	Flowing and almost flooding it was pouring over the paved road in the Highland Pines community.

	Wolf Creek	Heavy flow	Heavy flow
	More water than I've ever seen in WC, the falls were flowing at thier peak!

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