Sunset Point to Agua Fria • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Mar 18 2024

FOTG

Guides 37
Routes 556
Photos 10,872
Triplogs 1,052

43 male

Joined Jan 21 2013
AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Mar 18 2024
		FOTG • Triplogs 1,052

Hiking	13.51 Miles	2,763 AEG

Hiking	13.51 Miles	8 Hrs 38 Mns	1.66 mph
	2,763 ft AEG	31 Mns Break

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I used this trail to access Perry Mesa and visit some sites. The trail was surprisingly pretty nice and I enjoyed this new to me descent route to the Agua Fria.

It was very steep going up to Perry Mesa from the Agua Fria, but I knew my route would go from past experiences looking down from the mesa. I found a crested saguaro during the steep ascent, which made my morning. The first one I have found organically, or by accident. After visiting a few spots on the green mesa, I found another break and continued on to some exploring along the Agua Fria. I turned around at the confluence of Lousy Canyon and the Agua Fria. I got stormed on pretty good on my way out, hail for nearly the last mile and a little thunder and lightning. I checked the rain gauge at Sunset Point when I got home, the area got four-tenths of an inch of precipitation in an hour, which explains the trail turning into a flowing creek.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Saguaro - Crested

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
A few patches of poppies along the Agua Fria.

Lousy Canyon

Light flow

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2 archives

Mar 25 2023

batman1

Guides 4
Routes 5
Photos 8
Triplogs 2

male

Joined Jun 14 2011
Phoenix, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Mar 25 2023
		batman1 • Triplogs 2

Hiking	2.35 Miles	843 AEG

Hiking	2.35 Miles
	843 ft AEG

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I hiked down (and back up) this trail with my daughter and son-in-law in the late afternoon. The trail was slightly damp (borderline muddy in a few spots) from the rain earlier in the week. Much of the trail was covered in green grass, weeds, flowers, etc from the wet winter and spring. (The trail could use a little more traffic to keep from becoming overgrown.) Wildflowers were in bloom near the bottom of the trail, but not yet in the higher elevations.

When we arrived at the river, it was flowing pretty hard with muddy water. But the astonishing thing was the evidence of how high the river had been earlier in the week. In the included pictures, it can be seen how high the freshly deposited driftwood was.

We returned back the way we came and arrived back at the car safely, but well exercised.

Wildflowers Observation Substantial
Blooming well at the lower elevations. Yet to come at the higher elevations. The desert is very green this year.

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Jan 28 2023

batman1

Guides 4
Routes 5
Photos 8
Triplogs 2

male

Joined Jun 14 2011
Phoenix, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Jan 28 2023
		batman1 • Triplogs 2

Hiking	2.35 Miles	843 AEG

Hiking	2.35 Miles	2 Hrs 40 Mns	0.88 mph
	843 ft AEG

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I took a hike down to the river to see how much it was flowing after rain the previous week. The flow was a little higher than the normal trickle, but not as much as I had expected.

As I went down the trail, I could see horse tracks etched into the trail. They only appeared to be going one-way, down. I guess that the owners of the few cattle that had been in the canyon this winter were herding them out, down to the Agua Fria and then downstream to the ranches near Black Canyon City. I was a little surprised because this trail is a little rough and I would expect it to be difficult for horses. And then the first 1/2 mile downstream on the Agua Fria is quite rough. But I guess cowboys and their horses are tough.

The trail was in pretty good shape as far as this trail goes. It could use more people walking on it to maintain it. I recommend long pants due to catclaw encroachment.

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Apr 11 2022

MEWhiteman

Guides 47
Routes 96
Photos 850
Triplogs 385

81 male

Joined Dec 24 2005
Phoenix, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Apr 11 2022
		MEWhiteman • Triplogs 385

Hiking	4.84 Miles	1,086 AEG

Hiking	4.84 Miles	2 Hrs 38 Mns	1.84 mph
	1,086 ft AEG

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hiazny10

We decided to take advantage of the cooler weather near Phoenix and did this hike to see where one could come out of the Agua Fria river gorge if hiking south from Badger Springs. The trail was rocky so hiking was slow but was marked by flags where the tread was faint which was very helpful. Brush was cut back as well. Thanks to whoever did this. There was water flowing in the river and we found a large boulder near a pool for a turnaround rest stop. Good hike.

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Sep 15 2019

rcorfman

Guides 1
Routes 226
Photos 1,675
Triplogs 1,867

65 male

Joined Oct 17 2008
Phoenix, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Sunset Point to Agua Fria

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Sep 15 2019
		rcorfman • Triplogs 1,867

Hiking	10.33 Miles	1,402 AEG

Hiking	10.33 Miles	6 Hrs 19 Mns	1.64 mph
	1,402 ft AEG

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The plan was to find three geocaches. We took the "Sunset Point to Agua Fria" trail to the Agua Fria, then travelled south on the Agua Fria to near Lousy Canyon where we found the third cache and turned around and headed back out.

The trail was surprisingly good. Someone or some group has been giving it some love. There are reasonable cairns and flagging along it. Bushes, trees, and cacti have been trimmed back. It was enjoyable to walk along.

On the way down, we stopped and I hung off a rock wall to find the first cache. After that we celebrated with a beer. Once we reached the river, I climbed the hill across the way to find the second cache. Lots of staghorn cholla and other brush made the ascent (and descent) tricky. Near the bottom, on the way down, a rattler buzzed at me. I had to go around some brush so wasn't too concerned. Went around the brush and it started buzzing again. I wasn't even near it at first but went to check it out, a nice Black Tail. It must be used to a secluded life because it was really grumpy and kept buzzing for the longest time, even after I was well away from it.

Next we followed the river bed downstream. We left the riverbed to check out an abandoned corral. There was a cabin nearby but we skipped that. That might be on the agenda once it cools off some more. We got back on the riverbed and followed it to the last geocache on our list. There was a lot of rock hopping and going around brush. The usual fair for riverbed walking. At least there was no water flowing or it would have been extremely difficult. We were the first to find this geocache and there was a nice shady spot nearby where we celebrated with another beer. After that it was late in the morning and we decided it was time to scoot back up onto the mesa.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Black-tailed Rattlesnake

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Go find a LonelyCache

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.

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