Red Creek May 2012 Pictures & Trip Report

[dzJeepChic 2,433]

I have attempted to write a trip report since our return from Red Creek Sunday last week, but the world wants too much of me, so I'm going to quickly chronicle some of my photos in hopes that it'll inspire an awesome article for JPFreek Magazine.

 

Five rigs altogether were on this trip, which turned out to be a good number as far as available camping space. ScottL, JKlee, theksmith, and Number7 with me in Clifford met at Cave Creek & Bartlett Lake Roads, and planning to meet Maddogjeeper along the way, we proceeded north on Cave Creek Road, which became Seven Springs Road, and then F R 24.

 

 

 

A stop along the way:

 

 

We met MaddogJeeper with Randy where F R 24 & F R 269 meet; they'd come down F R 269; the Bloody Basin Road, southeast from Cordes Junction to meet us.

 

 

Then we followed Tangle Creek & F R 269 southeast to well-marked F R 18, where we went northeast, downhill to Red Creek.

 

 

The trail went straight to Red Creek where we went east, ultimately following the creek all the way to the Verde River. But first we found refuge under a canopy of trees where we stopped for lunch. Immediately after lunch we came to the only real obstacle of the trail. The creek became narrow and rocky, with tree roots lining the high bank. There was a a by-pass to the right, but it was very over-grown, so we took the challenging section on the way in and on the way out. The pictures I took are of the way out, so stay tuned.

 

After the gnarly section you find yourself in the pastoral setting of a burbling creek with high-arching trees overhead.

 

 

Then you arrive at an obstacle, which is completely by-passable, although most of our group did the up & over. It was not difficult, but the approach left you at a strange descent angle. Camera challenged as I was, I only recorded video, so you'll have to view my clip to see what it was like. Here's most of the group photographed from the obstacle as George looked back from his walk to see the other side.

 

 

A little further downstream we came to some minor rock-crawling in the creek bed, which made for great video and photography!

 

 

Now the canyon walls were taller, and we noticed this forest of giants standing as sentries above us. These are saguaro cacti, our Arizona state tree, and we encountered many healthy specimen as we approached the Verde River:

 

 

Nearing the Verde, our GPS units said we were alongside the airstrip on the ridge above. But searching up and down the creek, George and I couldn't find a trail to it. Near the Verde we found a trail that goes up on the ridge, but it's closed after passing a fenced off area, and it doesn't look like it goes to the airstrip anyways. Back down in the creek we went along watching closely, but the only trail we found had been long washed out, so we parked and George bush-wacked his way up the sharp ledge. He found the airstrip and a picnic table, horseshoe pits, some tools to maintain the runway and a set of chalks.

 

 

 

 

 

And then we went to where everybody was already set up to camp. It was a pristine area, and they'd save the best spot for us. Our GPS showed us blocking the trail to a ford of the Verde River; however, there was no trail on the other side, and no reason to think anybody would want to try crossing, so we parked and set up.

 

 

The map says this is 'Red Creek Rapids':

 

 

We set up, and some of the brave crew dipped into the cold Verde River water to refresh themselves. Then we sat around and enjoyed each others' conversation while the evening's entertainment of sand-castle building and stick-retrieving unfolded before us.

 

 

 

In the morning we discovered that ants were diligently moving tortilla chips leftover from last night up onto the cliff ledge:

 

 

 

The view:

 

 

Off over in the trees somewhere the guys found this outdoor toilet:

 

 

Heading back the way we came in:

 

 

JKlee called out over the CB that he'd gotten a flat so we all stopped to help him change it. Team Maddog thought it was a Pit Stop at the Indy 500:

 

 

Ouch!

 

We were quickly on our way again:

 

 

Here's the gnarly section I mentioned above as we passed back through:

 

 

Further along:

 

 

George discovered some ruins up the hill, so we climbed up the ledge to go check it out. On top I discovered how successful those ants are:

 





 

 

Up on the hill were the remains of many rooms, these metate carved into the rocks, some pottery shards, the biggest Saguaro I've ever seen, and a grave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On F R 18 on the way out:

 

 

At the intersection of F R 18 & 269, Maddog & Randy split off to go back toward Cordes Junction. We grabbed a quick bite to eat, and then the rest of us headed southbound back the way we came:

 

 

 

We aired up at the Sears-Kay Ruins parking lot.

 

 

It was an awesome weekend. Red Creek is definitely on my list of cool places to re-visit in the future, the camping was great, and I really liked it down there. We had a great group of people, which made the weekend all the more pleasant. Thanks everybody who came out!

 

Link to All my Red Creek Photos

 

See you on the trail!

Diane

 

P.S. I love getting this far into the middle of nowhere!

 

 

[theksmith 3,828]

thanks everyone for coming out!

 

 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

[dzJeepChic 2,433]

Here are a few of my pictures from this weekend. I'll post more when I have time to do a write-up.

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

[ChrisD 24]

Seems like this was a great trip.

[Ladybug 429]

Great pics! Now that you've run this trail, what would you rate it? still difficult?

smiles, ladybug

[Avis 2]

Amazing pictures, looks beautiful. Sucks I couldn't make it Now that you have run it, think a full size truck on 33s and small lift could run this?

[mbuckner 134]

Amazing pictures, looks beautiful. Sucks I couldn't make it Now that you have run it, think a full size truck on 33s and small lift could run this?

 

Yes ..... with traction devices in the axle(s) ....

[theksmith 3,828]

Amazing pictures, looks beautiful. Sucks I couldn't make it Now that you have run it, think a full size truck on 33s and small lift could run this?

 

yes, if you have absolutely no love for your paint whatsoever. there were also some narrow creek areas and several large low limbs and downed trees that would have required very careful lines, so it might have been a bit slow going. diffs would have probably caught a minor beating a few times too with not being as nimble of a turning vehicle.

[Avis 2]

yes, if you have absolutely no love for your paint whatsoever. there were also some narrow creek areas and several large low limbs and downed trees that would have required very careful lines, so it might have been a bit slow going. diffs would have probably caught a minor beating a few times too with not being as nimble of a turning vehicle.

 

 

Paint doesn't bother me, can't get to much worse then it already is. I have a diff guard on the front, Hopefully will get a chance to run it soon. Looks amazing.

[Number7 86]

Great pics! Now that you've run this trail, what would you rate it? still difficult?

smiles, ladybug

 

I would have to rate it a difficult because of the first obstacle, after that it's a moderate. Lift and 33s are your friend on this trail. George:cool: