Washington Park and Box Canyon

Last week (the 7th of Sep) Randy and I joined the Payson Packers for a hike in Washington Park. This is an area north of Payson, going up the Mogollon Rim. In the late 1800's, some bright company thought a railroad line from Flagstaff south to Phoenix would be a good idea and they started the project woefully low on funds and with the idea to put a tunnel throught the rim. Unfortunately, before they got 100 feet into the cliff face, they were out of money and the whole project went belly up.

So on the 7th, the group gathered together and car pooled through a quite lovely area of northern Gila County to an access point on the Arizona Trail. We hiked, all uphill, about 1.6 miles to a side trail that leads to the tunnel. What was really nice about this part of the hike is that a stream runs along the trail nearly the whole way to our turn off. What a treat that must be for any AZ Trial thru hiker after the dryness of the southern half of the state. After a short rest at a circular "ruin" most of the group proceeded up the rim face to the tunnel. Let me explain the "ruin". It is a circular wall of stacked stone, recently done by hikers and campers through the area.

The hike up the rim face was made a little exciting by the downed trees obstructing the path. While it was steep, I didn't think it was excessively so. Once up the the tunnel, we could walk inside. Evidence of people using the tunnel mouth as a camping site was plain to see but the site was clean. After a short walk around the area, we clambered back down the rim face and back to the "ruin" where most of us had left our packs for the climb up.

We pressed on back down the trail and, it being downhill the whole way, we made much better time than when we were going up. Only one person slipped on the pebbly trail. He scraped his arm up pretty good but was otherwise unhurt.

Since the hike to the tunnel was so short, we decided to pick up a side trail on the way out and go to a spot where geodes are abundant. So, a couple miles down the road on the way out, we turned onto an unmarked dirt road (ATV trail really) that leads into a open woodland. Hiking about 15 minutes in from where we parked the cars, we came to an area where there were geodes all over the ground. These ranged in size from golf ball to softball sizes. When split open, they weren't totally hollow nor did they have the amythyst crystals. However, there was a bit of hollow to them and a brownish crystalline structure which was pretty in it's own right.

Done with our geode gathering, we all headed back to the parking lot and the end of that hiking day.

On Tuesday the 14th, we joined the group for a hike to a box canyon, a few miles east of Payson on Highway 260. At mile marker 271, we pulled off to a small area where 6 or 7 cars could park. Since the hike to the canyon would be a short one, we crossed the road and hiked up a well used dirt road and trail to nowhere in particular. We crossed a nice stream, probably spring fed, as it did not run all the way to the highway. Once we'd gone in about 1/2 to 3/4 mile, we turned around anc went back to the highway.

Once across, the trail to the box canyon was again, thru pretty open woodland.
Lots of pine trees, holly bushes and some scrub oak. The trail eventually lead to a rocky path down the side of the canyon to the bottom. Of course, there were several very breathtaking views on the hike down.

Once at the bottom, we rested and had snacks next to a very nice stream.
This is a popular location for families and teens to come on weekends and during the summer as the stream has pools good for swimming. Despite the popularity, the area was very clean and tidy.

Once done with our rest, we continued downstream thru the canyon bottom (a grassland), to the local boy scout camp. Here we cut thru the camp on the driveway leading back out to highway 260. Along the way we met a grey mare. Since we didn't appear to be threatening, her colt came out from behind the trees to investigate us. Neither mare nor colt were restrained. As we were getting acquianted with the mare, the camp keeper and his grandson drove up to us. We all had a nice chat about the horses. Turns out the mare was a rescue from a failed ranch. She's the camp pet and roams freely around the camp.

Finally, we got back underway and once up to the highway, walked back to the parking area. Everyone picked up trash along the road as we went. Back at the cars, we had a short discussion about the upcoming trip to Sedona and where the planning meeting is to be held. Then it was back to the mall parking lot and the end of another successful hike.