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| Hiking | 3.00 Miles |
1,807 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.00 Miles | 3 Hrs 30 Mns | | 0.86 mph |
| 1,807 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I did this hike starting from the lower end at the Bullpen parking area on Forest Road 215. This meant I was hiking uphill at the beginning of my hike and downhill at the end.
There are two starting paths. The Coconino National Forest website as well as the Friends of the Forest map that they hand out at the visitor center suggest you start by hiking east on West Clear Creek trail. After going 1/2 mile you turn left on an unmarked social trail that goes up the hill and connects to the Blodgett Basin trail. I do not recommend this approach. West Clear Creek trail is a wide, gravel road at this point, so this is fairly boring and the turning point can be difficult to find if you don't have a GPS. The social trail can be difficult to follow. I don't know why they describe this route; maybe it is an old route.
The official Blodgett Basin trail starts near the parking lot at the end of the road, about 150 feet west of the vault toilet. There is a sign at the trailhead; you can't miss it if you know to look for it. It heads up the hill immediately; you do not walk near the creek and water. This route is a narrow hiking trail rather than an old road, with fewer people.
The trail climbs a couple of hundred feet, then goes up and down as it travels east paralleling the creek for about 0.5 miles with nice views of the creek area. At the 0.5 mile mark it meets with the social trail from West Clear Creek trail and turns northeast and heads up the hill. You climb steadily for about 1800' over 3 miles, with increasingly great views. The trail is quite rocky and steadily uphill but there are no steps or serious climbing.
If you follow this official trail route the trail is clear and obvious, and no route-finding is required. There are a few cairns along the way, but mostly just follow the worn footpath.
It's an out-and-back hike. The return trip is nice because you are facing downhill and can appreciate the good views.
My GPS showed 3.2 miles one way, 6.4 miles RT.
The drive down FR 215 to the trailhead is rough and a high clearance vehicle is recommended (though you could probably make it, slowly, in a regular car). You don't need a permit to park here. In the off-season you can park at the end of the road. During busy periods parking may be more difficult due to people coming to spend time in the creek. There is a swimming hole down (east) West Clear Creek trail which will attract visitors on hot summer days.
You can also do this trail from the top down, starting on FR 214. That road is in better shape and you can usually drive it in a non-high-clearance vehicle.
I did this hike in February, and saw no one on the trail, nor was anyone else parked in the parking lot at either the bottom or top of the trail. A nice visitor-less hike to do during the pandemic! |
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