Big Dipper - Castle Creek Wilderness Photoset • diablo • 2026-03-31 • HikeArizona.COM

Big Dipper - Castle Creek Wilderness, AZ

	2026-03-31
	12 by diablo

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Big Dipper - Castle Creek Wilderness

Prescott, AZ

Big Dipper - Castle Creek Wilderness

Prescott, AZ

Hiking	4.52 Miles	1,524 AEG

Hiking	4.52 Miles	4 Hrs 10 Mns	1.52 mph
	1,524 ft AEG	1 Hour 11 Mns Break

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Later start than normal for a hike like this as we hit the trail around 9 with very pleasant temps and nice clouds. Made quick time down to the creek and to the top of the Big Dipper! It’s hard to get down to the bottom without either having a risky climb or a bushwhack- we opted for the 2nd option. It’s a beautiful spot but it was partly ruined by some sort of moths that were all over the trees below the falls, jumped all over us if we got near. Headed back and spent plenty of time at my favorite water hole in the area. Not long after we retrace our steps we see a black tail rattler just chilling by a tiny campsite by the creek. #1 of the season! It got scared easily and hid in a cluster of boulders after we photographed it. We crossed the creek after to finish up and probably 20 feet away from the first rattlesnake, it a small Arizona black coiled up under a rock. Have no idea how I spotted it, literally a needle in a haystack! Wasn’t even sure if it was a snake for a second it was so blended in. Love seeing these guys and made the trip worthwhile. Lunch in Crown King but the adventure wasn’t over there! After getting into I-17 my car starts driving very loud and my speed plummets… flat tire

. Didn’t think I had a jack so I called AAA when I found it right after and did most of it. Fitting end to an adventurous day!