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| Hiking | 7.01 Miles |
1,130 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.01 Miles | 3 Hrs 50 Mns | | 1.93 mph |
| 1,130 ft AEG | 12 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | | Was planning on hiking Weatherford trail in Flagstaff, but questionable weather north of valley diverted our trip to someplace closer. A return trip to Indian Mesa Ruins had been on my mind for some time, so that became our destination. A quick download of the track to Route Scout and we were ready! Table Mesa road in from I-17 was in very good shape. The trailhead has changed a bit from my last visit 3 1/2 years ago. 4 RV spots have been installed below the staging area and beyond the locked gate. We followed the road down to the Agua Fria river and found a wide stretch of water and mud and frogs! It took quite some time to navigate a route across, but we were successful in staying mostly dry and mud free. Once across the river and back on the road we made good time. The road has a lot of welded steel fencing lining both sides until reaching a large open area containing an abundant supply of cow pies. The source of the cow pies was evident all along the route. Continuing on, we tried to follow the GPS track, which was also the way I followed last time I visited the ruins. This route had us bushwacking through shoulder height reeds. We could hear bands of burros stomping and rustling through the tall reeds with only the ears of the largest poking above the dense foliage. The noise all around us was a bit unnerving in the overcast dim hours of the early morning. Eventually we cleared the thick reed section and started climbing out of the river bed. Fish bones lined the beginning of the road up. The old road is now washed out with deep channels, but easy enough to hike up. There's a large cairn on the left side of the road that marks the trail up to Indian Mesa. Great 360 degree views of the surrounding area and rubble outlines of large rooms across the top of the mesa. On the way back we took a different route that bypassed bushwacking through the weeds, but deep silt slowed us down a bit. Also found a better way across the river by staying just south of the road coming down from the trailhead. Great burgers and beers at the Wild Horse Saloon afterwards. |
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