Peralta to Dripping Springs Photoset • 00blackout • 2025-12-10 • HikeArizona.COM

Peralta to Dripping Springs, AZ

	2025-12-10
	27 by 00blackout

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Peralta to Dripping Springs, AZ

Hiking	15.36 Miles	2,165 AEG

Hiking	15.36 Miles	8 Hrs 1 Min	2.34 mph
	2,165 ft AEG	1 Hour 27 Mns Break

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DesertNymph

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Having prior obligations in the early evening, I was a bit restricted on what we could get ourselves into, so we settled on a trip out to the Randolph/Fraser confluence, which I usually start from Elephant Butte Rd, but we were looking to add some mileage on, so we decided to hit it starting from Peralta. About a dozen cars were already at the TH when we arrived just before sunrise, with the temp showing 39 I put on the long sleeve to start. The Dutchman is well documented, so no need to get into specific conditions, as they are the same as always. Near the Coffee Flat junction, we smelled a campfire, then heard loud singing from a solo backpacker, who continued to sing even after seeing us. We took a quick break at the Coffee Flat junction to hydrate and remove our long sleeves, and then we continued, with the singing backpacker now heading up the Dutchman; we could hear him from a good quarter mile away. I hadn't hiked this section of Coffee Flat in a while, and it reminded me why, with its rocky terrain and constant ups and downs, which my ankle and plantar fasciitis did not appreciate. It had been roughly 80 years since S had been to Reeds Water, so we made a quick stop there before making the left turn up Randolph Canyon

. The big October rainstorms were immediately evident as the canyon had flashed pretty badly. Any part of the trail close to the creek was gone as the width of the creek doubled in size in some spots, carrying down tons of sand and boulders. We made it to the confluence and took a break, stopping by Dripping Spring on the way out. The confluence had changed after the Woodbury Fire, and it has gotten even worse now, with more sand and boulders all along the creek, with very little of the red rock that made the area beautiful left. Uneventful hike back to Peralta, where we passed two hikers heading down into Barkley Basin and a group of five on horseback that passed us near the TH. A bit of a somber day seeing one of my favorite places in the Supes forever changed, but it's always good to get out in the wilderness. Thanks S, for joining.