Merritt Draw Riparian Area - Mogollon Rim • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Payson, AZ

Hiking		May 04 2024
		Oregon_Hiker • Triplogs 626

Hiking	5.60 Miles	500 AEG

Hiking	5.60 Miles	5 Hrs 10 Mns	1.08 mph
	500 ft AEG

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[ checklist ] Maverick Canyon - Perennial Spring

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Went on a weekend car camping/hiking trip this past weekend with my Son-in-Law, Lloyd, and Grandson Michael to our favorite Mogollon Rim campsite, Camp Grasshopper Site #3, on FR139C. The earliest time of year for our previous trips has always been Memorial Day Weekend. I drove up the Thursday before to check out the road conditions and found them good except for a pond in the middle of FR139C and an occasional small snow drift across the road. The pond was shallow so driving through the right side was not a problem and Turkey hunters had already broken tracks through the snow drifts. The forest was just starting to show springtime flora but mostly still had the drab winter appearance seen immediately after the snow melts off. The meadows in Merritt Draw however had started to green up and actually had grass about 3 inches long inside the fenced off areas protecting it from the larger herbivores. Outside the fences, the meadow grass is kept at a very short length by the elk and deer, reminiscent of a golf course putting green.

Saturday we hiked the Maverick Canyon - Merritt Draw loop. The upper part of Maverick Canyon is known for its Fall display of Bigtooth Maple leaves but of course the trees were bare of leaves and a thick layer of the now colorless maple tree leaves from last Fall littered the forest floor. But the towering pines, occasional snow drifts and rugged canyon walls of the lower canyon still made this a scenic adventure.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Catclaw Acacia

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

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Jun 17 2023

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

M Rim FR139C.MerrittDraw-MerrittSprLoop, AZ

Hiking		Jun 17 2023
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	1.80 Miles	285 AEG

Hiking	1.80 Miles	1 Hour 55 Mns	1.14 mph
	285 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

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On my fourth Vehicle Camping Day of a planned seven days, my 1st short, easy, and always enjoyable off-trail hike to visit scenic Merritt Draw Riparian Area and Historic/Perennial Merritt Spring.

Our very wet/snowy Mogollon Rim winter and spring 2023 unveiled a gorgeous, lush green area to visit this summer

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merritt Spring

	Merritt Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	First visit in a few years that water was seeping out of the Perennial Spring Box (not flowing out). Inside Spring Box water to filter or treat was approximately 2-3 inches deep.

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

5 archives

Jul 16 2022

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 840
Photos 22,055
Triplogs 1,993

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Merritt Maverick Shop, AZ

Hiking		Jul 16 2022
		chumley • Triplogs 1,993

Hiking	6.05 Miles	1,616 AEG

Hiking	6.05 Miles	2 Hrs 40 Mns	2.27 mph
	1,616 ft AEG

no routes

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Merritt Draw

[ checklist ] Aphrodite Fritillary Bald Eagle Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

Knoll Lake Campground

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John9L

Spent a weekend based at camp grasshopper upr cyn loop 3cpo. As always, a nice part of the world.

Waited for the late arrivers before getting started. Humidity was a bit opressive as the moisture sat in the bottom of the canyon and there was little breeze down there. Not much water despite the early onset of the monsoon.

Butterflies and flowers were the highlight. Along with two of the smallest strawberries I've ever seen!

Headed over to Knoll for a late afternoon paddle. Water wasn't as low as I was expecting. Got to watch some osprey successfully catching dinner, and a baldy watching it all unfold from a higher perch.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Wild Strawberry

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Unknown VV Triangle Marker

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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Jul 11 2022

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

M Rim-FR139C-Merritt Draw-Merritt Spr Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jul 11 2022
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	1.87 Miles	202 AEG

Hiking	1.87 Miles	1 Hour 54 Mns	1.08 mph
	202 ft AEG	10 Mns Break

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From my July'22 Mogollon Rim - Cabin Loop area, 8 day Vehicle Camping Trip, my second of two favorite short area hikes that always bring me back again and again

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

Merritt Spring

Dripping

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

Jun 17 2021

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

M-Rim-FR139C-Out-Back Merritt Draw-Merritt Spr, AZ

Hiking		Jun 17 2021
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	1.80 Miles	217 AEG

Hiking	1.80 Miles	1 Hour 45 Mns	1.03 mph
	217 ft AEG

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EmilyT

This was our first full day (day 2) of a planned 4nt/5day camping-hiking trip to our Mogollon Rim.

From Camp Grasshopper, I always enjoy this out and back hike to the Merritt Draw Riparian Area with a continuing short off-trail to check out Historic and Perennial Merritt Spring Box.

This day I was especially looking forward to our hike here as it would give me the opportunity to show my visiting TX Granddaughter how to correctly use a water filter at a spring source like Merritt Spring. She passed with flying colors and is now the proud owner of my old, but still new MSR Waterworks Ceramic Water Filter! Hopefully, she will have more valuable use with it than I ever did

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

	Merritt Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	No water flow outside Spring Box this visit but ~2" deep of H2O in accessible Spring Box (best to use an extension tube type filter, like an MSR to access water within Spring Box).

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

1 archive

May 28 2021

Oregon_Hiker

Guides 9
Routes 473
Photos 8,433
Triplogs 626

79 male

Joined Dec 07 2010
Phoenix, AZ

Merritt Draw Short Loop, AZ

Hiking		May 28 2021
		Oregon_Hiker • Triplogs 626

Hiking	4.03 Miles	416 AEG

Hiking	4.03 Miles	2 Hrs 23 Mns	1.69 mph
	416 ft AEG

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Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim

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This was our first hike of a two night stay during Memorial Day weekend at Camp Grasshopper - Mogollon Rim-C/Site3 with my Son-in-Law and Grandson. We arrived at the campsite late Friday morning. After setting up camp we took this loop hike from camp through the meadows in upper Merritt Draw. We started out taking the closed road FR9735p from FR139C to Merritt Draw then up the draw to the meadows. This seems to be a favorite area for elk and we were not disappointed coming upon a small herd which quickly disappeared. This was a familiar hike for the three of us having done it together at least twice before during family camps on previous Memorial Day weekends and it's always a pleaser. After returning to camp Son-in-Law Lloyd set out a table full of snacks rivaling Grasshopper's after-hike offerings. Not to be out done, Grandpa later prepared a dinner of carne asada fajitas. It was a great start to the weekend.

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May 10 2021

DixieFlyer

Guides 99
Routes 1,484
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,374

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

Pinchot Cabin, AZ

Hiking		May 10 2021
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374

Hiking	13.40 Miles	1,775 AEG

Hiking	13.40 Miles	6 Hrs 2 Mns	2.90 mph
	1,775 ft AEG	1 Hour 25 Mns Break

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11 linked trail guides

Camp Grasshopper - Mogollon Rim-C/Site#2

Merritt Draw Loop (Lower) - Mogollon Rim

Merritt Draw Upper Loop - Mogollon Rim

Merritt Draw Loop (Middle) - Mogollon Rim

U - Bar Trail #28

Houston Brothers Trail #171

Merritt Draw

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I decided to head up to the Rim for a couple of days of hiking and one night of car camping at Camp Grasshopper Site #2. After setting up camp, we hiked over to Pinchot Cabin and back. When we got back to the campsite we decided to climb up the ridge to the west of the campsite and check out the Merritt Draw Riparian Area.

It was a nice day to be hiking up on the Rim. We saw a mountain biker at Pinchot Cabin, but did not see anyone else all day. At Pinchot Cabin we started hiking on the Houston Brothers Trail, thinking that we might go back to the campsite that way. However, after a bit of reflection, I figured that route would be longer than I wanted, so after a short distance on the Houston Brothers Trail, we turned around and went back the way that we came.

The Merritt Draw Riparian Area was really nice and is worthy of some more exploration.

The campsite was clean except for some TP that some moron had left not too far from the fire ring. You'd think that people could do better than that, but I guess not.

This is a nice area, and I hope to get back there later in the summer.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cadastral Survey Marker Cag Shot Camp-fire Fraley Pose

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Pinchot Spring

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Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

Oct 04 2020

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

GH C-Site to Merritt Draw Riparian-Merritt Spr, AZ

Hiking		Oct 04 2020
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	2.10 Miles	238 AEG

Hiking	2.10 Miles	1 Hour 30 Mns	1.40 mph
	238 ft AEG

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blk

MY third and short hike of a seven night / eight day Mogollon Rim Autumn Camping trip down FR139C. Hiking from my campsite, it's always a good choice on an extended week trip, to visit scenic and usually quiet, peaceful "Merritt Draw Riparian Area" to include a short hike to reliable, perennial Merritt Spring.

HAZ- blk and I hiked back to camp from Merritt Draw Riparian Area to be greeted by HAZ- Oregon_Hiker [ photo ] for some wild tales from his just completed over two weeks of adventures, hiking and vehicle camping in the Colorado high country in prime Autumn. He camped with us for 4days/3nights. We did two area day hikes together on 10/5 and we both exited for home on Wed-10/7/20.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

	Merritt Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	This visit, reliable, perennial Merritt Spring was actually more than dripping, was seeping outside of the Spring Box;

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

3 archives

Aug 12 2018

BiFrost

Guides 4
Routes 491
Photos 10,890
Triplogs 1,257

55 male

Joined Nov 20 2012
Phoenix, AZ

Barbershop Merritt Loop, AZ

Hiking		Aug 12 2018
		BiFrost • Triplogs 1,257

Hiking	12.77 Miles	1,213 AEG

Hiking	12.77 Miles	5 Hrs 58 Mns	2.35 mph
	1,213 ft AEG	32 Mns Break

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Barbershop Trail #91

Barbershop Cyn Upper - Merritt Draw Upper Loop

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John9L

After hiking in the heat of the Supes on Saturday I joined John for some hiking in the cool Pines on Sunday. Drove up to FR300 then to FR 139 and the Barbershop TH. We went down Barbershop Canyon the normal route enjoying the scenery and pools. Several pools were probably deep enough for a swim and certainly good enough to filter. Everything was bit wet from recent rains and the clouds were already building quickly in the late morning. Eventually we reached the Barbershop and U Bar Trail junction. Since we were already getting some light rain with thunder we decided to change the original plan of going up Dane Canyon. Instead we decided to off off trail over to Merritt Canyon and head up that drainage instead.

It was a good alternative and new area for both of us. Wide scenic meadows and a couple of springs to check out. Eventually we made it back to FR 139 and the vehicle. Great to spend a relatively relaxing hike in the cool pines!

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Arizona Treefrog

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2 archives

Aug 12 2018

John9L

Guides 6
Routes 183
Photos 5,612
Triplogs 1,647

male

Joined Mar 12 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Barbershop Merritt Loop, AZ

Hiking		Aug 12 2018
		John9L • Triplogs 1,647

Hiking	12.77 Miles	1,213 AEG

Hiking	12.77 Miles
	1,213 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

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Barbershop Trail #91

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BiFrost

Met up with Karl for a nice hike up north. We left Scottsdale at 6:30am and headed up to the rim. The drive took some time because FR300 is chewed up from the recent storms. Nothing major just lots of annoying ruts & potholes. We started hiking around 9am and headed up Barbershop. We made good time as we rock hopped back and forth over the creek. We really enjoyed this stretch!

After some time we arrived at the U-Bar junction and talked about our options. Our original plan was to loop back on Dane but we wanted something new. We looked over Route Scout and decided to make a CCW loop by hiking up to FR139C and then dropping down in Merritt Draw. This turned out to be a fun option and worked well. We really enjoyed seeing some new terrain and Merritt Draw was nice & scenic. We eventually arrived back to the Beater and then enjoyed a cold one and returned to Phoenix. It was a nice day in the high country.

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Jul 18 2018

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Houston Brothers Trail - Aspen Spring Access

Payson, AZ

Car Camping		Jul 18 2018
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Car Camping

Car Camping		6 Days

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BEEBEE

Lukesm

Six nights / Seven days at my favorite place to be on our Mogollon Rim. Monsoon Rains on Wed-7/18 arrival day 10:30am which made for a more challenging "Camp Grasshopper" setup, but got it all done before sunset

Lots of cooking with R & R at 7435ft and cooler temps with only three short area hikes planned. Nice to visit again with HAZ-BeeBee (Brian) who arrived on Sat-7/21 afternoon to Sun-7/22 late morning. Brian towed in his very cool custom built camping trailer with custom, high end pop-up tent.. an impressive setup that Brian designed and built.

On the Merritt Draw Riparian Area hike Sat-7/21am, prior-to reaching perineal Merritt Spring, there was a large cow elk that managed to lock itself into the first large Riparian enclosure [ photo ] along this hiking route. It appeared to have been in this large rectangular, 8ft high enclosure for a number of days with enough vegetation to eat, but with no water source available. On my unplanned and unexpected drive to/back from Strawberry, AZ, this same Sat-7/21 afternoon, on FR95 (my late afternoon drive back to Camp G/H), at around 4pm I was able to stop a Ranger from the Mogollon Rim Ranger District and communicate this cow elk's location details. He said he would later contact AZ Game & Fish with the details. Two kind, courtesy kudos for me this day

the first of which driving to Strawberry, AZ, turned-out to be very stressful & risky for me.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merritt Spring

	Merritt Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Minimal spring water present in the constructed old spring box but enough seepage to filter with an extended filter tube;

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

7 archives

Jul 22 2017

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

FR139C-CSite3-Out-Back to Merritt Draw-Spring, AZ

Hiking		Jul 22 2017
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	1.70 Miles	303 AEG

Hiking	1.70 Miles	1 Hour 30 Mns	1.70 mph
	303 ft AEG	30 Mns Break

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ReneeG

A short, enjoyable, and easy "off-trail" hike with my friends from Scottsdale to visit the lush green middle section of Merritt Draw to check-out the water status of historic, perennial "Merritt Spring" Box.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Coulter's Lupine Indian Paintbrush

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

	Merritt Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	a seeping water pool was visible this visit

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

Jun 17 2016

rwstorm

Guides 1
Routes 136
Photos 22,415
Triplogs 1,041

77 male

Joined Feb 28 2003
Tucson, AZ

Merritt Draw Short Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jun 17 2016
		rwstorm • Triplogs 1,041

Hiking	3.63 Miles	381 AEG

Hiking	3.63 Miles	2 Hrs 58 Mns	1.83 mph
	381 ft AEG	59 Mns Break

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Oregon_Hiker

Larry and I had to do something other than sit in camp all day Friday, so he suggested this short loop. Up and over the ridge and then down into Merritt Draw. Upstream for awhile before cutting back over the ridge and walking road 139C back to camp. Checked out an absolutely fantastic camp spot (very well shaded) on the road walk. I liked the old hydrologic equipment in Merritt Draw. We checked out Merritt Spring, but pulled up out of the draw before reaching Whistling Spring (apparently fenced off anyway). What a delightful area to just wander around in.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bigtooth Maple

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merritt Draw

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

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Aug 15 2015

Oregon_Hiker

Guides 9
Routes 473
Photos 8,433
Triplogs 626

79 male

Joined Dec 07 2010
Phoenix, AZ

Maverick Cny - Merritt Draw Loop, AZ

Hiking		Aug 15 2015
		Oregon_Hiker • Triplogs 626

Hiking	5.13 Miles	596 AEG

Hiking	5.13 Miles	4 Hrs 56 Mns		1.04 mph
	596 ft AEG		12 LBS Pack

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This was another hike out of Camp Grasshopper on the third day of a seven day camp at this location. GH and I had planned on doing a loop hike up Maverick Canyon since it was about the only canyon near Camp GH that we had never been to. Unfortunately GH was compelled to remain in camp so I was on my own. I followed the abandoned FR9735P from its intersection with FR139C near Camp GH towards Merritt Draw. I've always liked the hike down this old road. It passes through a fern and grass covered forest glen with Ponderosa Pines towering overhead, a couple small clusters of Aspen and a sprinkling of what look to me like the Blue Spruce common to the Cascade Mtns of Oregon.

I dropped down into Merritt Draw about a mile from camp following a string of ancient cairns placed there long ago by GH as a guide. Once reaching the bottom of Merritt, I headed up the draw to where Maverick Canyon forks off to the right. Continuing up Merritt Draw from this point is very difficult because cliff walls narrow down to a log filled nightmare. I was afraid Maverick Canyon would have the same barriers but it ended up being a pleasant stroll although my feet did get soaked from the wet grass. This time I was wearing my non-Gortex desert hiking boots so my feet were quickly soaked. However on the plus side, these boots dried out quickly once back at camp while my heavy duty Gortex backpacking boots were still wet 5 days later.

The hike up Maverick was not strenuous and I took my time enjoying the scenery. It's nice to have a bushwhack hike once in a while that is this easy. I continued to the upper end of Maverick and crossed over FR9734P and down into the upper end of Merritt Draw near Whistling Spring. The upper end of Merritt Draw is one long continuous meadow with the grass grazed down by elk to the height of the grass on a golf course green in some areas. Large clusters of sunflowers added color to the meadows. I took my time and had a relaxing lunch break in the shade of a towering pine tree before heading over the ridge on the east side of the draw to Camp GH. The afternoon thunderstorms were starting to roll in and I was hesitant to go over the ridge top but got back to camp before the storm started.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Unidentified Mushroom or Fungi

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Northern Flicker

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merritt Spring

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Jun 14 2013

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Middle-Upr Merritt Draw Figure 8 LOOP, AZ

Hiking		Jun 14 2013
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	4.70 Miles	481 AEG

Hiking	4.70 Miles	3 Hrs 25 Mns	1.94 mph
	481 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

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Merritt Draw Upper Loop - Mogollon Rim

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One of the enjoyable perks of my Mogollon Rim vehicle campsites is often not having to drive to a hiking TH. This Figure 8 Loop hike is one of those

Over the past three years I've hiked this family friendly and very pleasant, simple off-trail route finding section of Upper and Middle Merritt Draw loop hike a number of times. This trip I planned to check-out the three riparian enclosure sections within this area of Merritt Draw and report on the perennial flow status of a couple of the named map springs that were located on my planned hiking route (Whistling Spring and Merritt Spring).

As an unexpected benefit today, I located three (3) additional springs along my figure eight loop that are unnamed but had what appeared to be a perennial water flow. I have way point documented all these springs within my posted and geocoded GPS Route and further documented them via my posted picset with captions and tag notes.

The only disappointment to report on is that last year I was able to walk right up to the perennial flowing cement spring box of "Whistling Spring" (located in Upper Merritt Draw). This trip I noticed that over the past year some enclosure work had been done to reinforce and build-up the Riparian Enclosure around this spring with a seven foot high fence with "no" access

I don't understand why they fully enclosed the cement spring box without having some type of human access. On my exit day 6/17, I stopped by the Hwy 87- Blue Ridge Ranger Station and leaving without a reason why..?

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bigtooth Maple Quaking Aspen

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Balloon Trash Hauled Out

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merritt Draw Merritt Spring Whistling Spring

Wildflowers Observation Light

	Merritt Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	appears to be a perennial water flow with a cement spring box

	Whistling Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Appears to be a perennial water flow with a cement spring box "but" is presently inaccessible for filtering or treating due to being enclosed within a 7 ft high fenced-in riparian enclosure.

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

Aug 12 2012

nonot

Guides 107
Routes 249
Photos 2,067
Triplogs 514

male

Joined Nov 18 2005
Phoenix, AZ

BarbershopCynMerritDrawLoop, AZ

Hiking		Aug 12 2012
		nonot • Triplogs 514

Hiking	13.50 Miles	1,250 AEG

Hiking	13.50 Miles	6 Hrs 30 Mns	2.08 mph
	1,250 ft AEG

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Merritt Draw Loop (Lower) - Mogollon Rim

Barbershop Cyn Upper Loop - Mogollon Rim

Barbershop Cyn & Dane Cyn - Mogollon Rim

Merritt Draw Upper Loop - Mogollon Rim

Barbershop Trail #91

Barbershop Cyn Upper - Merritt Draw Upper Loop

Barbershop Canyon Upper

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Parked along the Barbershop trail and headed down into Barbershop Canyon. Down Barbershop Canyon is initially easy, with good elk trails on benches. After awhile the going gets a bit tougher, but Barbershop Canyon is wonderful, with plenty of flowers, intermittent water, and two impressive springs along the way.

With monsoons clouds forming at the time I started the hike, it wasn't surprising I got rained on. After getting a bit wet, I finally found a spot out of the rain to wait out the second half. Thoroughly wet, I continued down the last part of Barbershop, where the elk trails got much better, and found the Ubar intersection.

Barbershop canyon is a true gem on the rim, probably the best hike anywhere in the area.

I went up Merritt Draw, which initially wasn't too bad but quickly required scrambling, bushwhacking, and crawling over many, many downed trees. After awhile of this the elk trails began to improve and I headed up the draw at twice the speed. Reaching Hank's "best entry point", I surprised two elk. One of the elk spotted me and ran away. The other elk didn't see me, but panicked when the other ran.

The elk happened to end up running right at me, not having spotted me. This was good and bad - the bad part was that I had 600 pounds of animal barreling right at me at 15 mph and about 1.5 seconds to react. What to do? Dive behind the tree! While moving, grab the camera, fire off a shot! I haven't checked, but I think I go it!

The rest of the trip wasn't as eventful, I used an elk trail to bypass a portion when I wasn't having any fun climbing over tree after tree and bushwhacking. I think I skipped about a quarter mile. The upper part of Merritt Draw has lots of fences to keep the elk out.

It was pleasant walking through the vast meadows of Merritt Draw. This part is an easy hike that anybody can do, and it goes on for quite a ways. Lots of flowers and green fields. Very nice indeed!

I continued all the way to the top of the draw, cross country to find the trail, and crossed through Barbershop canyon again to finish the loop.

Spring reports - the springs in Barbershop were flowing quite well. They are amazing, but not on the map!

Couldn't tell with the Merritt Draw springs - too many fences in the way.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Richardsons Geranium Western Wallflower - Orange Yellow Coneflower

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Elk

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Maverick Canyon Merritt Draw

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

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http://hikearizona.com/garmin_maps.php

Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!

May 12 2012

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		May 12 2012
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	3.60 Miles	330 AEG

Hiking	3.60 Miles	2 Hrs 5 Mns	2.06 mph
	330 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

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Trishness

.
Why drive a total of 6 hours and spend $75.00 on gas to only hike a total of 3.6 miles?

Because:
.. it was 100F+ in my residence area today at 1215ft elevation and it was a very pleasant high of 75F at this Merritt Draw hiking area at 7450ft elevation

.. this is a very enjoyable area to visit within our Mogollon Rim- Cabin Loop Hiking Area;
.. enjoyable company to join me and good conversation

.. after the hike, a planned picnic lunch that by itself was worth the trip..thanks Trish!

I hope to return again for a week stay this coming June, July, August, and September

.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

	Merritt Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	A perennial spring with spring box;

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

1 archive

Sep 30 2011

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Payson, AZ

4x4 Trip		Sep 30 2011
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

4x4 Trip	4.40 Miles	170 AEG

4x4 Trip	4.40 Miles	1 Hour 45 Mns	2.51 mph
	170 ft AEG

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Since my first visit in July-2011 to this somewhat hidden Merritt Draw Riparian Area with its summer lush green and very pleasant meadow area for individual and family hiking which also includes a number of perennial springs, I had been very curious wanting to locate the original driving route(s) in and out.

This 9/30 visit I 4WD explored one of the original forest service roads in and out (FR9734P..Ref my posted 9/30 GPS Route). I discovered that this original road is still open, in decent shape as of this posting, and stock 4WD passable from its beginning intersection with FR139 for the 2.2ml drive in to enter middle Merritt Draw Riparian Area to begin hiking (Ref the first 4 pics with captions in my posted 9/30 picset).

On my drive out on FR9734P I stopped for a pleasant, impromptu 1ml R/T hike on "closed to vehicle traffic" FR9739V (Ref pics 5-12 with captions).

My next 9/30 driving stop--> McFarland Spring (to check-out the area and to confirm the spring status).

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Balloon HAZ Decal HAZ Rides Trash Hauled Out

Autumn Foliage Observation Light

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

Aug 16 2011

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Aug 16 2011
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	5.10 Miles	841 AEG

Hiking	5.10 Miles	5 Hrs 10 Mns	1.61 mph
	841 ft AEG	2 Hrs Break

Linked

linked

Partners

partners

AZLumberjack

tibber

I first had the chance to explore this very pleasant "Merritt Draw" and "Merritt Draw Riparian Area" this past mid-July while car camping in this area.

I had some unfinished exploring I had hoped to complete and with Jack and Angela's kind offer to drive and join me for a revisit, I was able to share my new area finds with them both and also complete some of my unfinished exploring that I had hoped to accomplish:
..to confirm the perennial source locations of both Drift Fence Spring and Merritt Spring (Thank you Jack for your keen eyes in locating both of these perennial spring sources)!

..to hike and post a revised GPS track to include a new hiking section of closed to vehicles, old logging road FR9735P( http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=205911 ).

Thank you both for a very enjoyable day on our Mogollon Rim-Cabin Loop Area at 7400ft+ and an opportunity for me to give you both a grand, scenic driving tour up via Hwy87 to FR95 and driving out via the Rim Road FR300 to Hwy87. Angela's dinner recommendation at "El Rancho Mexican Food" in Payson was also an excellent choice!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mexican Silene

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Police Car Moth

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cairn HAZ Rides Route - finding Labels Trash Hauled Out

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Drift Fence Spring Merritt Draw Merritt Spring

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

	Drift Fence Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	A perennial spring with nice, clear water pooling just down from the spring source.. http://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=591088

	Merritt Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Appears to be a perennial spring with a small hand made spring box.. http://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=594133

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

Jul 17 2011

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Jul 17 2011
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	6.10 Miles	975 AEG

Hiking	6.10 Miles	5 Hrs 20 Mns	1.79 mph
	975 ft AEG	1 Hour 55 Mns Break

Linked

linked