Water Canyon Creek Upper Fork • Canyon Trip • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

login for filter options

Aug 01 2009

azbackpackr

Guides 27
Routes 518
Photos 5,861
Triplogs 883

72 female

Joined Jan 21 2006
Eagar AZ

Water Canyon to Sipe, AZ

Mtn Biking		Aug 01 2009
		azbackpackr • Triplogs 883

Mtn Biking	31.00 Miles

Mtn Biking	31.00 Miles	5 Hrs	6.20 mph

no routes

Linked

linked

Overland Trail

Water Canyon Creek Upper Fork

Rudd Creek

Murray Basin

Partners

none

no partners

This was one dirt road mountain bike ride I had thought about doing for a long time. From my house in Eagar I rode up Water Canyon to Milligan Valley to Sipe Ranch and back home again. Turned out to be about 31 miles. It's pretty steep going up Water Canyon but the rest of the route made it all worthwhile. Once I had turned off onto Milligan Valley Road (FR 85) it got pretty dreamy, with a lot of gradual coasting downhills through the forest, wildflowers, etc. I saw no vehicles once I was on FR 85. One of my rest stops was next to Rudd Creek, where there is a car campsite, a running creek, and lots of flowers. I saw only one group of people camping all along Milligan Valley Road, though. They were camped next to Benton Creek. At the back gate of Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area my odometer read 20 miles. Stopping at Sipe for a break, I then rode the Sipe road back to 180/191. I took a detour on a side road I knew about, that would get me back to Saffel Canyon and Water Canyon, but I turned around, deciding to do that on another day. Back on the Sipe road, reaching the highway, I went straight across and caught the old highway down to Eagar. You take the first left through a barbed wire gate. It almost looks like someone's driveway because there's a new house up there on top of Picnic Hill. The old highway has slowly been reverting to dirt for many years, but still has some pavement and painted lines.

Directions: Starting in Eagar, ride up Water Canyon Road (FR 285) to Milligan Valley Road (FR 85), (a 7-mile, 1000-foot grind from my house near 260.) Turning left to Milligan Valley, follow it to Sipe. There is one Y turn a few miles in that you have to watch for (not the first one that goes to private property.) The right hand of the Y says 85A. Take the left, which is unsigned and is heading slightly down hill.

Eventually, after passing the nice old log cabin, you'll get to the back gate of Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, owned by Game and Fish. Beautiful place. Then on out to 180. Crossing straight across 180, take the first left through a gate. This will put you onto the old highway down to Eagar. Once you are back on 180 you can ride the ATV path alongside the highway--fun bumps!

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Wooden Dwelling

_____________________

There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.

Mar 12 2009

azbackpackr

Guides 27
Routes 518
Photos 5,861
Triplogs 883

72 female

Joined Jan 21 2006
Eagar AZ

Water Canyon Creek Upper Fork

Alpine, AZ

Water Canyon Creek Upper Fork

Alpine, AZ

Hiking		Mar 12 2009
		azbackpackr • Triplogs 883

Hiking	6.00 Miles

Hiking	6.00 Miles	2 Hrs	3.00 mph

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

Overland Trail

Murray Basin

Partners

none

no partners

This area is easy to find on the Eagar 7.5" map. Without the map, forget it, there are no signs for this hike. Just go up Water Canyon Road, FR 285, which is easy to find by the old sawmill on the south end of Main St. Go along up there as far as Elderberry Springs, then park at the turnaround and hike to the west on the old (closed) 8070C. When you get down into the creek bottom, after hiking about 1/4 mile, you then have a choice of hiking up the west or the east forks. The west (main) fork has more water in it, and that's the one we did yesterday. You'll want to cross the main creek to start your hike. If you have gone too far up you will have to cross two creeks.

Yesterday's weather was a combination of sunshine and clouds. As we followed the VERY faint trail along Water Canyon Creek, we saw a lot of wolf, bear and elk scat. There were patches of snow in the shade. There were little waterfalls and pools, and as we gained elevation there were aspen trees. There is this one HUGE Doug fir up there, just about the biggest one I have ever seen in AZ. The area is very thickly forested, with little glades suitable for backpack camping, which I have done there in the past. You can follow this all the way to Water Canyon Reservoir, but the trail is faint to non-existant. It is necessary to bushwhack a bit. Best kind of hike, in my opinion!

You can also get to this same faint trail by following the Overland Trail, Water Canyon Trailhead, which DOES have a sign. But after following the Overland Trail for about one mile, when it starts to go uphill, then you need bear to the left to follow the creek instead of the trail. The Overland Trail goes up to the right (west) and tops over the rim.

_____________________

There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

username		X
password		X