Tomkins Trail #513 • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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The_Eagle

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Bruce said he was game for whatever. I was packing my bags for Lion Mountain when he pulled a bait and switch. We settled on a previously hiked loop with Ryal. I suggested we reverse the loop because descending Tompkins was etched in my mind as a half-mile river of ankle-buster rocks at the top.

Lucky Canyon Trail #515
More aptly, just Lucky Canyon. The trail is long gone and we were only along a portion of its alignment.

With fresh laundered socks, we jumped the fence at the trailhead and darted over to Lucky Canyon. We were immediately greeted by a sea of ripe foxtails and a steep-cut ravine to cross.

I pre-planned a route that would avoid a ridge we glissaded down in 2021. The semi-gentler ridge worked out well. With little hiking in recent months, the steep ascent to Tompkins was cursing my world.

Tomkins Trail #513
Albeit steep and a rocky mess, it was not as bad as memory served. That said, if this was the first trail you hiked in your life, you would never hike again.

Once you top out it is an enjoyable flat road. This was the first ounce of sanity I've experienced in months... Lol

Box T Trail #511
Parting way with the nice flat Tompkins Trail was a bummer but the ascent on this one is reasonable. Once this sucker started descending, it was the river of ankle busters I recalled on Tompkins in 2021.

Ryal Canyon Trail #521
It seemed like we would never get to this choice trail of the area with its oasis on top. When we reached the Ryal Water vicinity, one side of the unofficial trail through the riparian area was muddy. Yellow Columbine was abundant and the birds were chirping. The geology of Ryal Canyon to the east is the other highlight. It was nice to revisit Ryal but it didn't grasp my attention as it did when we hit the geology sweet spot at sunrise.

Synopsis
The loop is unlikely to draw repeat visitors. The majority will want to go like and get liked photographing sunrise/sunset midway up Ryal. Bruce is still in denial of agreeing to hike Lion. A few more miserable hikes oughta do the trick.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ - Hike HAZard

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Upper Lucky Canyon Spring

Ryal Water

Quart per minute

_____________________

- joe

May 09 2024

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Lucky Ryal Loop, AZ

Hiking		May 09 2024
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	14.57 Miles	3,410 AEG

Hiking	14.57 Miles	8 Hrs 13 Mns	2.12 mph
	3,410 ft AEG	1 Hour 21 Mns Break

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joebartels

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

We headed out to Camp Verde for a redo of a hike we did in 2021. Both of us had memories of different parts of this hike that weren't so enjoyable, with a sweet spot in the middle. Joe wanted to do this counterclockwise this time, so we were off. We should have known right from the get-go, looking at the massive amount of foxtails someone had weed-whipped down inside the parking lot, what we were in for.

The first obstacles were the deep crevices we dealt with at the end of the hike last time. Next time (There won't be one), go out to the road to bypass these.

Joe found us an easier way up the glissade than we came down last time, then all we had to do was jump on the Lucky Canyon #515 Trail. This trail does not exist other than on a Topo Map. We followed the wash up the best we could until we started making the climb to an actual trail.

Tompkins Trail #513 is an old, steep, rutted, rocky road that was a godsend to be on. We wound around on this trail past Tompkins Tank, where we took a lunch break.

We hopped on the Box T Trail #511 and were still climbing. At the top, the Verde Valley (and 2 wildfires came into view). From here, neither of us remembered how steep and rocky this section was. Y Bar's got nothing on this trail.

We both were looking forward to the gem of the hike. At the intersection of Box T Trail #511 and Ryal Canyon Trail #521 is the prettiest little section of heaven. Green trees, pretty flowers, birds chirping, water flowing. From the Ryal Canyon TH trailhead, this is the destination that most sane hikers are aiming for. From here, it's 1.75 miles and down 1600' to where we began. The geology and views are the highlight of this part.

Wildflowers Observation Light

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Dec 15 2021

toddak

Guides 13
Routes 38
Photos 1,651
Triplogs 577

60 male

Joined Nov 15 2005
Jackson, CA

Camp Verde, AZ

Camp Verde, AZ

Hiking		Dec 15 2021
		toddak • Triplogs 577

Hiking	15.00 Miles	3,500 AEG

Hiking	15.00 Miles	7 Hrs	2.14 mph
	3,500 ft AEG

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Following yet another fine loop put up recently by @The_Eagle and @joebartels, a bit obscure maybe but good fun. An excellent, steady climb to start, rocky ranch roads on top with big views, easy canyoneering in Lucky Canyon to return. Nice to have a little fresh snow at the upper elevations.

_____________________

Dec 04 2021

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Ryal Canyon - Tompkins - Lucky Canyon, AZ

Hiking		Dec 04 2021
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	16.05 Miles	3,524 AEG

Hiking	16.05 Miles	8 Hrs 34 Mns		2.13 mph
	3,524 ft AEG	1 Hour 2 Mns Break	14 LBS Pack

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joebartels

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

We'd never hiked out of the newly created Ryal Canyon TH in Camp Verde. I through together this loop to go check out the area. It's a nice TH complete with a clean vault toilet and a couple of small ramadas with grills.

41 degrees to start with the sun still behind the Mazzy's. The Ryal Trail #521 starts innocently enough before it climbs steeply for 5 miles, 2750' to the high point of this hike on the Box T Trail. There are very few switchbacks so it's a workout. On the way up, the views get increasingly vast.

At Ryal Water, you reach the intersection with the Box T Trail #511, which takes you back down the east side of the mountain. Ryal Water is an picturesc riparian area. We were at least a couple of weeks late for what would have been prime fall colors.

We stopped at Box T Tank after cresting. Now on the Tompkins Trail #513, this one rollercoasters northish. Views open up now to the Bradshaws to the West and Campe Verde/Sedona/Flagstaff to the north. We took our lunch at Tompkins Tank to take in all these views.

Tompkins takes a steep, rocky drop right after the tank. We followed this to the area on the FS Topo that showed the Lucky Canyon Trail #515. This might be a decommissioned trail. We found the beginning of the trail, some markers and trail tread for the first 1/2 mile or so. After that we jumped into the canyon the rest of the ay down. It was mostly easy hiking in the canyon with a few dry falls to bypass.

All in all, I'm glad we did this hike. Perfect temps and views to die for.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Plains Lubber Grasshopper

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Box T Tank

Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Dec 04 2021

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,797
Photos 14,494
Triplogs 5,894

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Ryal Canyon - Tompkins - Lucky Canyon, AZ

Hiking		Dec 04 2021
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	15.05 Miles	3,541 AEG

Hiking	15.05 Miles	8 Hrs 35 Mns	2.02 mph
	3,541 ft AEG	1 Hour 7 Mns Break

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The_Eagle

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Bruce suggested this a month or so ago. I was semi-eager to check it out because the Black Hills have been on my to-do list for a few years.

Ryal Canyon Trail #521
0.75-mi/500 ft up this trail at sunrise offers remarkable views. It would be too hot for most in warm weather as there is little shade and it's a steady ascent all the way. The Ryal Water vicinity is a mini slice of heaven for the area.

Box T Trail #511
This was the ticket to make the upper end of the loop work. My expectations were ready for total blah. It was neither memorable nor undesirable. Being a pleasant day, it was enjoyable. Signage may not last but there was weathered signage in our 3.6-mi middle stretch of this trail.

Tomkins Trail #513
The upper end has "nice" distance views. The highlight is 0.5-1.5, magnificent views of the Mogollon Rim with Sedona and Humphreys Peak. Unfortunately, the steepest segment is a half-mile of a river of ankle busters. A half-dozen ~10ft 2x4's sandwiching a foot wide sheet of rubber perplexed at first. When the grade and river of rocks eased up a bit, they were functioning waterbars/treadbars? instead of tossed to the side.

Lucky Canyon
We utilized the essence of Lucky Canyon Trail #515 to close the loop. There was a hint of the tread to begin but even that doesn't agree with FS Topo. For the most part, it was moderate-easy descending the canyon with minimal unfriendly vegetation.

Flora expert Bruce identified aspen below 4,000 feet. The bark was white-ish but with the grooved texture of cottonwoods. With tamarisk and prickly pear cactus nearby, I cracked jokes until even I got annoyed.

Limestone Soil Glissade back to square one.
We slid down a game trail created by nature into an unnamed tributary that quickly reaches the Verde River.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Crucifixion Thorn Fremont Barberry Palmer Oak Skunkbush

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Box T Tank Tomkins Tank

Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
2+ weeks past prime for the Ryal Water vicinity, just one species of bush turning colors now.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Spring lingers on or is upon us, take your pick. Very isolated but healthy Asteraceae.

Box T Tank

1-25% full

	Lucky Canyon Tanks	Dry	Dry

Tomkins Tank

Dry

_____________________

- joe

Jul 28 2015

cactuscat

Routes 85
Photos 3,718
Triplogs 486

female

Joined Oct 15 2002
Rimrock, Arizona

Camp Verde Trail #545

Camp Verde, AZ

Camp Verde Trail #545

Camp Verde, AZ

Hiking		Jul 28 2015
		cactuscat • Triplogs 486

Hiking	6.00 Miles

Hiking	6.00 Miles

no routes

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Same as yesterday only better.
Wildlife sightings began before I even got there - as I closed my gate, a handsome coyote ran across my driveway ... I called out "Sinawava!" as a salute as he dashed away.
A few minutes into the hike I crossed paths with one of my favorite birds, the Western Tanager - I imagine that even non-birders must be stopped in their tracks by the stunning colors of these beauties!
Shortly after that I passed the only person I would see out there. Yesterday I saw two.
The tarantula hawks were hard at work today, and there were also teeny-tiny baby lizards everywhere.
I took 545 up the hill, then crossed over to 136 for a while. Saw a couple jackrabbits up there, then three quails.
The good news is that I am finally figuring out the lay of the land - the trails out here are not well marked, and they are a bit confusing. I thought I was on trail 513 a while back, but I was wrong ... I actually did take it today - and it is one rocky, uphill, pumpkin of a trail that I cannot recommend. I climbed that beast for about a mile and a half before I had enough of it (and the gnats!).
Two good things happened on 513 - first I came upon an adorable cow family ... black dad, brown mom, and two black babies. They somewhat reluctantly yielded the trail to me, and by the time I got back down to 136, they were already there and heading for the small pool of water I saw yesterday. Right before I turned around, I saw not one, not two, but three roadrunners hanging out together in an area about the size of a basketball court. I'm pretty sure I've never seen more than one roadrunner at a time, so the sight of this little family of crested tail-bobbers pleased me greatly.
There was a good deal of cloud-cover all morning, so temps stayed reasonable. The gnats, however were super annoying - even after I applied OFF, they were still persistent and made stopping for any length of time impossible.
I brought home a couple of prickly pear fruits, and later gathered some wild blackberries yum!

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cow

_____________________

Jun 09 2015

cactuscat

Routes 85
Photos 3,718
Triplogs 486

female

Joined Oct 15 2002
Rimrock, Arizona

Camp Verde, AZ