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| Hiking | 5.60 Miles |
800 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.60 Miles | | | |
| 800 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | With all the recent record-breaking monsoon activity I was looking for a waterfall hike outside of our flash flood-prone canyons and chose Bridal Wreath Falls in Saguaro National Park East. Perhaps the biggest flood risk on this hike is the possibility of getting trapped by Monument Wash during the drive out on far east Speedway Blvd. With clear skies this morning and a favorable morning weather forecast, John and I decided to give it a go. We figured we would be done and gone before the proverbial "mainly after 11am" storms moved in, and we were.
After almost an hour drive to the Douglas Spring Trailhead our boots hit the trail at 7:00am. Although it was only 76 degrees it was uncomfortable with high humidity, no breeze and the sun in our face. Bugs were annoying at the trailhead but not so much on the trail. On the way up we passed two impressive (by desert standards) waterfalls before reaching the Bridal Wreath Falls junction at the 2.5 mile point.
Before reaching Bridal Wreath we ran into a Southern Arizona Hiking Club group that was returning from the falls. This particular group normally hikes Blackett's Ridge every Monday morning but could not do so today because Sabino Canyon's parking lot was closed when they got there, so this was their plan B. The Guide indicted that it was the "best" she has ever seen Bridal Wreath Falls.
The final bushwhack up the boulder-strewn creekbed to the base of the falls was somewhat challenging due to relatively high water level. With the robust flow of water this morning I think upper Bridal Wreath may have been more impressive than the lower tier. Quite frankly, there was not quite as much water as I expected but it was the best that I have ever seen it.
Video of lower Bridal Wreath Falls: [ youtube video ]
After a leisurely break at the falls, we dunked our hats in the cool tea-colored water and began our hike back to the traihead. As we were getting into our car a group of three hikers approached and asked some question about the trail. They had not heard of Bridal Wreath Falls but seemed interested. We tried to discourage them from taking a long hike as it was now getting hot (with humidity, sun and no breeze) and we could see monsoon cumulus clouds building over the Rincons. They replied "We're use to it, we're from Riverside".
...just another crummy day in the Sonoran Desert! |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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