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| Peralta to Dripping Springs, AZ | |
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| | Peralta to Dripping Springs, AZ | | | |
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Peralta to Dripping Springs, AZ
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| Hiking | 14.75 Miles |
1,788 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.75 Miles | 8 Hrs 3 Mns | | 2.04 mph |
| 1,788 ft AEG | 50 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | It seems the last time I hiked out Coffee Flat, I turned around just shy of Reeds Water due to time constraints...while we were a bit limited on time, we still had a good day of it and made it out past Reeds Water to the Randolph/Fraser confluence via the longer route out of Peralta TH.
To make the most of our day, J insisted on hitting the TH during morning twilight. I was surprised there were a number of cars in the lot already, given that it was the middle of the week. With the sun not yet risen, the temps were a bit chilly starting out, but things warmed up quickly.
We made good time heading out the dutchman, and were surprised to come across a solo backpacker with a campfire going (or perhaps he was just finishing breaking camp since he came along behind us not too long afterwards...singing all the while). While we headed off the Coffee Flat trail, our serenading soloist continued up the Dutchman towards Miner's Needle. I'm not sure how I always manage to forget how rocky the trails can be, especially out in the western superstitions. I had recalled from my previous visit that I enjoyed the scenery, but somehow completely forgot how rocky the tread underfoot was  additionally, I may have also forgotten how not flat the trail is. The surrounding views though, those I did remember correctly 
As we popped over the saddle where I turned back previously and worked further east, the Reeds Water windmill came into view, with the trees in the area showing a little bit of color. We wandered over to the Windmill area to have a look at the well before continuing on the trail to Randolph Canyon. The drainage clearly had flashed, with the stream bed appearing much wider now and some areas along the banks very much scoured of vegetation with tree roots freshly exposed. Finding the tread was sometimes quite tricky with all the debris and the changes in the drainage.
We eventually made it to the confluence with Fraser - I wandered up to the sign and to have a look up Fraser. The character of the area has changed a lot, with lots of boulders and sand having been moved into the area. Much of the bedrock is now partially obscured, and there's no telling if it will scour clear again in the future. We stopped to enjoy the sounds of the running water for a bit before returning to the trailhead.
Other people: aside from the singing backpacker, there was a pair heading in down the Dutchman as we were heading out, and a group of five equestrians that passed us just as we hit the saddle coming back out near the trailhead. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
the brittlebush are out in force! |
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Reeds Water |
51-75% full |
51-75% full |
| | | you'll need to bring a bucket... | | _____________________
| Happier when hiking....I may not move fast (and I'm often distracted by wildflowers), but I'll get there eventually |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
additionally, I may have also forgotten how not flat the trail is. The surrounding views though, those I did remember correctly 
