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| Blue Wash to Maricopa Trail and Beyond, AZ | | -
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| | Blue Wash to Maricopa Trail and Beyond, AZ | | | |
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Blue Wash to Maricopa Trail and Beyond, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.00 Miles |
1,240 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.00 Miles | 4 Hrs 55 Mns | | 1.42 mph |
| 1,240 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | I started planning this day hike with FOTG. We would start at the Blue Wash TH and follow it to Camp Creek then follow the Maricopa Trail out to the vast expanse of foothills on the east side of that creek to do some off-trail exploring. By the time our planning was completed the day before departure, FOTG had added a couple more hiking partners in addition to Katie and their 2 dogs. The next day we gathered at the trailhead at 8:00am with only 3 other cars in the parking lot. Both the trail down Blue Wash and this section of the Maricopa trail have a good tread on reasonable grade so we made good time with the exception for stopping to take photos. We soon headed off-trail up to the top of a ridge which we explored at a leisurely pace before descending back to the Maricopa Trail for the return. The off-trail experience was pleasant with a minimum of prickly things blocking our route. Some evidence of ancient habitation may have been encountered.
We decided to follow the bottom of a dry wash back to Camp Creek with its confluence a short distance below Camp Creek Falls. The wash has a smooth sandy bottom with a trickle of water here -and-there which made for easy walking on a gradual descent besides offering an opportunity for the dogs to cool off and a scenic slot canyon section. I highly recommend making a lollypop loop hike encompassing the parallel section of the Maricopa Trail and the bottom of this wash. This provides both long distance scenic views of this area and the beauty of this small canyon bottom with a short detour to see Camp Creek Falls for a total distance of about 5 miles starting and ending at the Blue Wash TH.
When we reached Camp Creek we took a short detour upstream to look at the falls. The place was a real zoo with people and their kids and dogs all over the place on this sunny spring day. We took a few photos while John9L explored above the falls. He returned with the news that he had encountered a Diamondback rattlesnake. A warning that these critters are already out-and-about this early in the year (Feb 20). Returning to Blue Wash we started the slog uphill to the TH. The youngsters in the group (everyone except me) took off like horses returning to the barn while I maintained a "more measured" pace. It had been an enjoyable hike with good company and a chance to catch up with John9L who I hadn't seen since the Haunted Canyon HAZoween Hike in October, 2014. Also was a pleasure to meet Michelle, a friend of Katie's. |
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Route Editor
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