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| South Fork Cave Creek Burro Trail Lower, AZ | |
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| | South Fork Cave Creek Burro Trail Lower, AZ | | | |
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South Fork Cave Creek Burro Trail Lower, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.97 Miles |
920 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.97 Miles | 3 Hrs 41 Mns | | 2.01 mph |
| 920 ft AEG | 13 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | On our second day in the Chiricahuas we hiked the lower South Fork Cave Creek Trail #243 and the lower Burro trail #240. The road along the south Fork was a bit more crowded with Bird watchers, one group had all sorts of cameras set up to photograph a trogan that was in the trees above. I'm not sure what a trogan is, sounds like an alien from the Doctor Who series. Once past the birders we came to the trailhead for the South Fork Trail. Two other cars in the parking area and one of them was leaving. Both the South Fork and the Burro Trails were in good condition. Lots of creek crossings along the South Fork and with the high flow it was difficult to cross without getting wet. After a few crossings we abandon the idea of trying to stay dry. Good hiking weather although a bit muggy but not uncomfortable.
The South Fork Trail is quite scenic through a riparian area with colorful rock cliffs high up on either side. Came upon a skunk early on in the hike and gave it some distance. I can handle bears, mountain lions and snakes but skunks are a different story. Quite a beautiful skunk and kind of cute looking in a skunk sort of way. We also came across two people doing trail Maintenance, stopped and talked to them for a bit. They had just gotten done working on the Saulsbury Trail on the west side of the range. When I passed by the Saulsbury trail yesterday I thought it looked recently worked, much better condition than it was a few years back. I told them that I would mention the rework in the writeup I do on the Saulsbury Trail and they said to make sure I say that the area really sucks and wouldn't waist your time coming. They like the mountains to remain isolated with few visitors. The article that was put in a New York Paper/magazine about how good the birding was brought lots of people to the area. So in keeping my word: this area really sucks and don't come.
We took the Burro Trail up to just past the first saddle to the creek that runs to the south of South Cave Creek and turned around. Took a break at the saddle. Really nice view up and down the South Fork Cave Creek and the creek just to the south of it. By now the clouds above were rumbling with thunder and we decided we better head back before the creek gets any higher. I will have to come back here in the fall or spring and finish the South Fork Trail and the Horseshoe Ridge trails.
A video of some of the many creek crossings. [ youtube video ] |
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