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| Hiking | 7.40 Miles |
1,410 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.40 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 1.23 mph |
| 1,410 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | We started at the Waddell trail head near the juncture with the Ford Canyon Trail. The route I like to take is counter-clockwise. So we start out heading north towards the technical loop bike trail. After about a mile, it goes more steadily to the west, bearing gradually upward. At around the 3 mile marker. You will see the sign warning that past this point is 'hazardous'. Many people turn around here our slightly past this point. If you do this , you are missing out on the most scenic part of this hike. You will steadily gain elevation now and the trail gets more rocky. Straight adhead you will see some large rock outcroppings on the mountain across the canyon as the trail now starts up the canyon and you turn southwest. As you go along the narrow trail as it traverses the left side of the canyon you will start seeing the big white slabs that give the mountains their name. Some standing pools of water will be visible in the bottom of the canyon and if you hit it right, running water. You will continue in a westerly , southwest angle up and across and through the creek bottom. I always think that the low water dam is here, but after some clamboring and bouldering you will make your way up and over several of these 'slab' areas, until you reach a more sandy bottom to the creek bed and then the low water dam. After this just follow the creek bed and it's rocky/sandy bottom, with many interesting rock formations and different strata. Notice some of the quartz veins etc;. At about 4 miles you will turn left in the creek bed and head mostly south southwest. Stay left in the creek. Eventually you will see the signage leading up the first set of switchbacks. Just before exiting the creekbed is a good lunch stop for most folks. Continue up the switchbacks , looking back for some good photo ops. You will go over 3 different ridgelines and multiple switchbacks before coming down to the junction with the Willow Canyon trail. We always take this route back it will be heading east, and then when you reach the empty tin water tank and pass the bed springs ruins, don't turn left...I repeat...DON'T turn yet. keep going right down around some trees to the place I refer to as the 'grotto'. This is a nice little spring and has a usually nice pool of water. Another great place to stop for lunch. When leaving here go back out and bear right on the trail and it is another 2-3 miles of generally 'rough' trail going steadily downhill and back to the parking lots. The downhill portion of this hike is infinitely tougher than the uphill portion if you don't have GOOD hiking boots and still a little strenous on the feet if you do. Overall about a 9 mile loop depending on where you park. It can be done faster than 6 hours, if...you don't eat, don't drink, don't stop to take pictures or rest, and your middle name is JackRabbit.  |
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