MOGOLLON RIM

Gordon Creek Falls - Hunter Creek Circuit

8. Gordon Creek Falls – Hunter Creek Circuit
Payson
This double-header hike combines two informal, creekside trails for an off-the-beaten-path outing. The first stop, Hunter Creek, begins in a sun-dappled meadow with fruit trees abandoned by early settlers. The main attractions of this quiet destination include a terraced waterfall, several easy creek crossings, a spring that spills silky sheets of cool water down a 30-foot-tall cliff, and a shallow cave at trail’s end.

The second stop, Gordon Creek, is a more rugged route, starting on old dirt roads leading to the creek. Once at the water, the trail uses the creek bed and informal footpaths on the banks to bring hikers to a rocky flume, where the going gets more difficult. Walls of jumbled stone converge on the waterway, creating a half-mile scramble among boulders and debris to reach a pine-ringed chasm, where a 25-foot-tall waterfall puts on its best show after monsoon rains.

Length: 5 miles round trip (Hunter Creek) or 3 miles round trip (Gordon Creek)
Rating: easy-moderate
Elevation: 6,100-6,160 feet (Hunter Creek) or 6,020-6,260 feet (Gordon Creek)
Dog rating: ###  
Kid quotient: ###
Distance from Phoenix: 125 miles one way (2 hours)
Directions: Hunter Creek: From the SR 87/260 intersection in Payson, go 25 miles east (right) on Highway 260 to Colcord Road (Forest Road 291) near milepost 277. Turn right on Colcord, continue 0.3 miles and park on an unmarked, primitive dirt road on the right where there’s a barbed-wire gate visible roughly 40 yards farther up the road. Hike up to the gate, go through (close it behind you) and descend a ravine to the creek. [Tip: It’s a good idea to mark this spot, as it’s easy to miss on the way out.] From here, go west (right) following the water and informal footpaths. Gordon Creek: From the Hunter Creek parking area, drive 1 mile farther down Colcord Road and park in a turnout near a green gate on the right just south of some power lines. To get to the falls, hike down the road a few yards to a road that’s (sometimes) blocked with a “road closed” sign. Shimmy under the fence (it’s legal) and hike down the dirt road. Pass through a gate and go left at the crossroads. At the second fork, go right. Turn left at the third junction and continue to the creek. From here, go right and follow the creek to the falls.
Facilities: none
Info: Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 928-474-7900, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto

Dripping Springs

9. Dripping Springs
Pine-Strawberry
Aptly named, Dripping Springs is a duo of seep areas in a muddy embankment held together with a lattice of roots and vines. Unlike the typical gushing mountain spring, these natural water tanks – lodged beneath dirt parapets topped with ponderosa pines – work like giant earthen sponges issuing a steady dribble of moisture. Slick with moss and algae, the nutrient-rich ooze of these “weeping cliffs” sustains a green valley that spills into the hamlets of Pine-Strawberry below.

From the Pine trailhead, pick up a trail beginning at the southeast end of the parking lot near the corral. Follow this winding path a short distance to the Highline No. 31/Pine Canyon Trail No. 26 junction. Veer north (left) on Trail No. 26 and hike 0.5 miles to the Pineview Trail No. 28 junction and stay straight on Trail No. 26. From here, it’s 1 mile to Lower Dripping Springs and another 0.15 miles to Upper Dripping Springs.

Note: To extend this hike, continue 6.25 miles uphill on Trail No. 26 to the 7,200-foot crest of the Mogollon Rim.

Length: 7 miles round trip
Elevation: 5,420-6,100 feet
Rating: moderate
Dog rating: ## 
Kid quotient: ##
Distance from Phoenix: 105 miles one way (2 hours)
Directions: From the intersection of SR 87/260 in Payson, go north to just south of the town of Pine, turn right at the sign for the Pine Trailhead and go 0.25 miles to the parking lot.
Facilities: restroom
Info: Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 928-474-7900, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto

East Webber Trail No. 289

10. East Webber Trail No. 289
Payson
Feral and remote, East Webber Trail No. 289 squiggles through a shady pine forest, culminating in an array of springs where icy water pours from a canyon wall at the base of the Mogollon Rim. The first three miles follow pine-shaded, connecting trails that skirt the perimeter of Boy Scout Camp Geronimo. Past the camp, the trail transitions from open meadows to shady streamside exploration.

Hugging the banks of Webber Creek for its entire length, the trail presents a variety of water-themed adventures, including more than a dozen creek crossings, from balance-beaming across fallen logs to rock hop-scotching to ankle-deep splashing. As the trail plows deeper into the forests beneath the Rim, the air cools and the canopy funnels sunlight into shafts that play upon the crystalline waters and riparian vegetation, such as columbine, wild raspberry and yellow monkey flowers.

Near the end of the trail, the path gets very steep and difficult to locate. However, it’s well worth the effort to follow the sound of rushing water up the canyon to visit the springs, where silken sheets of white water spill over tufts of vibrant green grasses into the creek below.

From the trailhead, cross to the west side of Forest Road 440, hop the creek and follow Highline Trail No. 31 (marked by white diamonds) for several yards to a junction sign, veer right and continue uphill roughly 0.15 miles to a three-way junction with no signs. Directly ahead, the road dips toward a gate that leads to the scout camp, but do not take this road. Instead, veer left, where you have two choices. The footpath heading uphill is the continuation of Trail No. 31, which will intersect the Geronimo Trail in about 0.1 miles. The wider road to the far left is the Geronimo Trail No. 240 proper and is marked by blue diamond tree blazes. Either option works. Once on Trail No. 240, follow this wide, old road (stay on the main road; ignore the many crossroads) to another three-way junction, signed for East Webber, West Webber and Turkey Spring. Head right, following the blue diamonds until you reach a wooden “Webber” sign. From here, follow the yellow tree markers for East Webber Trail No. 289. The path is usually clear enough to easily hike 1.5 miles. After that, though, be prepared to hurdle downed trees and overgrown brush to get to the springs.

Note: Boy Scout Camp Geronimo is private property. Some outdated books and online sources wrongly claim it’s OK to hike through the camp to get to adjacent trails. Follow these directions to stay legal.

Length: 12 miles round trip
Elevation: 5,760-6,550 feet
Rating: difficult; route-finding skills are required
Dog rating: ###  
Kid quotient: ##
Distance from Phoenix: 110 miles one way (2 hours)
Directions: From the intersection of SR 87/260 in Payson, go 12 miles north on State Route 87 to “Control Road” (Forest Road 64) near milepost 265. Turn right onto Control Road and continue 6 miles to Webber Creek Road (FR 440). Turn left (north) onto FR 440 and go 2 miles to the signed Geronimo trailhead on the left. 
Facilities: none
Info: Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 928-474-7900, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto
 

West Webber Creek

11. West Webber Creek
Payson
Because of its convoluted circuit and rugged terrain, even experienced hikers with decent route-finding skills and proper gear will find this trail challenging. Creek crossings and lush thickets of alders, maple and walnut trees towering over an under story of ferns, canyon grapes and brambles define the lower portion of the hike. That all changes at the Turkey Spring junction, which marks the start of the climb to Milk Ranch Point, a promontory atop the Mogollon Rim. Rife with toppled trees and devoid of signage, this final clamber rewards tenacious hikers with seldom-seen vistas and hard-won bragging rights.

Follow the directions for East Webber Trail to the East Webber-West Webber-Turkey Spring junction. Go left (west) on Turkey Spring Trail No. 217, hike 0.25 miles to the West Webber No. 228 junction, head left (southwest) on No. 228. From here, signage is unreliable, and the extremely steep route is sketchy. Proceed with caution.

Note: Boy Scout Camp Geronimo is private property. Some outdated books and online sources wrongly claim it’s OK to hike through the camp to get to West Webber Trail. Follow these directions to stay legal.

Length: 10.5 miles round trip
Elevation: 5,780-7,300 feet
Rating: moderate (difficult in the last 2 miles)
Dog rating: ###  
Kid quotient: #
Distance from Phoenix: 115 miles one way (2 hours)
Directions: From the intersection of SR 87/260 in Payson, go 12 miles north on SR 87 to “Control Road” (Forest Road 64) near milepost 265. Turn right onto Control Road and continue 6 miles to Webber Creek Road (FR 440). Turn left (north) and go 2 miles on FR 440 to the signed Geronimo trailhead on the left.
Facilities: none
Info: Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 928-474-7900, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto
 

See Canyon Trail No. 184

12. See Canyon Trail No. 184
Christopher Creek
One of the most popular hikes below the Mogollon Rim, See Canyon Trail No. 184 starts as an easy stroll but soon degrades into an insanely fun quagmire of logjams and sheer inclines on its 1,700-foot uphill haul. Because of the claustrophobically narrow, deeply wooded route, hikers like to bandy about the adage “all you see is the canyon” when describing this trail. However, to regard this as a deficit is to miss the point. Although majestic vistas are notably lacking on this trip, running water, wildlife and a wide variety of vegetation zones within the canyon make for a stunning visual journey.

Part of the adventure involves finding the trail. Here’s how: From the parking lot, descend through the wooden fence located to the right of the parking lot trailhead sign. Bear left and head down toward the creek. Rock-hop over the water, head up the bank and then veer right along a faint path to the signed intersection for the Highline and See Canyon trails. Turn left at the junction and hike north on No. 184. The first mile of the trail crosses Christopher Creek several times before it leaves the streamside environment and enters the aforementioned fray on its way to the crest of the Mogollon Rim.

Length: 7.5 miles round trip
Elevation: 6,160-7,860 feet
Rating: moderate-difficult
Dog rating:###   
Kid quotient: ### first mile,  # beyond that
Distance from Phoenix: 110 miles one way (2 hours)
Directions: From the intersection of SR 87/260 in Payson, go 20 miles east (right) on 260 to the Christopher Creek Loop exit. Continue on Christopher Creek Loop to Forest Road 284, which is located directly across the road from the Tall Pines Market. Follow FR 284 for 1.6 miles (ignore the many dirt spur roads; stay on the gravel) to the signed circular parking area.
Facilities: restroom
Info: Payson Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 928-474-7900, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto


Bonus Side Trip:
SEE SPRING TRAIL No. 185
This short jaunt, which branches off Trail No. 184 at the 0.65-mile point, stays close to the water and away from the difficult terrain.
Length: 2.6 miles round trip
Elevation: 6,160-6,640 feet
Rating: easy
Dog rating: ###  
Kid quotient: ###  

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