Hells Gate in July? Hammocks at the bottom?

[surfer349]

So I'm new to the forum. Hi.

Anyway, I've got all the gear and we (Fiancee and I) are both able-bodied and fit. I know that the Hells Gate is marked as DIFFICULT and some even say dangerous. I'm aware. I'm looking to hike in Saturday morning, camp that night, hike out Sunday morning.

Anyway, I've never done it before. Does anyone know what the water situation is like in July? Is it all dried up? Is it all stagnant and nasty?

What about camping at the end of the trail? What's the tree situation like? Is there enough to put up two hammocks or should I bring a tent instead?

If its going to be crummy, any other recommendation for an overnight hike/camp/hike trip around the Payson area?

Cheers

[JasonCleghorn]

Welcome to HAZ. You can use the Map function to look for hikes. There are several ways to do it. You can click on Map, then zoom to a given area then click hikes, or routes. You can also find information on water sources from springs based on reports made by HAZ members!

[te_wa]

there is an exposed sandy beach opposite side of tonto creek. i imagine that is hella hot. hammocks can be strung up where the trail reaches bottom. hiking is exposed in parts (no shade). without bottom insulation a parachute hammock will be much cooler than anywhere else around you. welcome to HAZ, hanger.

[chumley]

There will be plenty of cool refreshing running water. But it will quite possibly be turbid due to runoff from monsoon storms.

As others have said, it will be very hot. Both at hells gate itself and the hike in. If you attempt this in summer I highly recommend hiking very early in the day.

One of the two creeks that come together at hells gate is Haigler. I was there a couple weeks ago. You can see the water quality from my photos. http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=36021 If you plan to filter for drinking you'll clog your filter in no time.

[surfer349]

Thanks for the tips. So where else would yall recommend I go for some water and hike/camp with the girlie? I've never done any of the rim stuff before and do not know what's good. Yea yea yea, I can read the guides, but most don't have specific details other than trail directions. Nothing talking about the turbid water or clogged filters or trees for a hammock.

Is WaterWheel good in July? Should I go elsewhere than the Payson area?

[ddgrunning]

If you want water; several good campsites, and plenty of trees for hanging a hammock, Horton Creek is a good option. Probably won't have the kind of solitude you might at Hells Gate, as HC is pretty popular.

[te_wa]

maxwell/tramway loop is good fun. clean water, short hike but explore up into willow valley and don't forget to HANG your food! haigler is nice too. just an in'n'out. my favorite creekside hike in the rim country are the canyon loops, take Ubar trail from barbershop and then go down into barbershop canyon, for a lasso-loop. if you don't mind the warmer weather and want a place to cool off during your hike, you should look at Hanging Gardens in W. Clear creek. wow!

[toddak]

The West Clear Creek is a huge drainage with year-round water that seems to stay clean most of the time, and there's lots of foliage, hammocks should be doable. Check out any of the following descriptions for access points and routes:
Clover Canyon
Toms Creek Canyon
Willow Valley
Tramway Trail
Maxwell Trail
Point Trail
Calloway Trail
White Box & Hanging Gardens

[JoelHazelton]

I'd go for East Clear Creek, via Kinda Crossing, Horse Crossing, Macks Crossing... Relatively easy hikes in, not too ridiculously hot to hike, but definitely hot enough to swim, plenty of hammock camping, and plenty of exploration. I've taken my girlie to both Kinder and Macks. Kinder is a much more pleasant hike in, but Mack's offers more solitude, in spite of the fact that the trailhead is in a neighborhood.

[surfer349]

I love the tips guys! Yea, I've never done any of these Rim hikes before, so its all unfamiliar territory. I guess I'm just looking for a nice overnight hike for Saturday to get away with the Fiancee, somewhere that's not too crowded and we won't die from the heat. A friend recommended Ellison Creek, but that looks like a regular crowded place.

@Jason Cleghorn: damn...that map is impressive. Any tips on narrowing down hiking plans? It's got soo much stuff on it.

@Te-wa: WOW, hanging gardens looks amazing, but I don't think I'm going to be driving that far up to Page this weekend. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=900

@Toddak: AMAZING. thank you for the tips! I looked through all of them and here's the one's that I think I/fiancee can do.
Clover Creek: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2110
intro to canyoneering?

Willow Valley: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=614
looks a bit more intensive canyoneering

Point Trail: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2248
intro to canyoneering?

Calloway Trail: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=428
very short, but easy?

White Box & Hanging Gardens: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2113
Intro canyoneering?
"best experienced when it's hot outside!"
WOW --> this looks amazing

OK, so here's my questions then about this. Am I SOL if I only have a sedan? I don't have a lifted jeep or anything. As for the canyoneering recommendations, I'm an outdoorsy guy, done a lot of stuff, but I'm not looking to do anything with harnesses or ropes. Is this going to scare the fiancee away? She's up for almost anything (as long as I give her a nudge ;)) but I've see pics of canyoneering where its rapeling and constant swimming. What about camping? The recommendations are all day hikes right? Are there usually spots to stop and camp out if we brought hammocks?

That White Box & Hanging Gardens thing looks amazing! I really like it. Ok, one last stupid question. What do you do about your pack and wading through the water the whole time? I mean, these packs arent' water proof. Just get small dry bags for the important feces?


OK, and one final question, then I promise I'll stop bugging yall: what about Fossil Springs? I found this review and it looked cool. An 8 mile roundtrip where they hiked to the spring head. How's that compare?
Fossil Springs? http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=183

[chumley]

With a sedan you are limited. The best choice is the Kinder Crossing trail. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=426

The road gets rough but you can park early and hike the last half mile just fine. Great camping, swimming, and hiking with no need to float your pack.

You can head downstream to the Horse Crossing trail if you want to explore some more. http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=431

This is an excellent destination and I think you'll both enjoy it!

[nonot]

Kinder Crossing, recommended above, makes a good intro to backpacking and has a nice stream at the bottom, and I'd back up the recommendations made above to potentially make it a loop with Horse Crossing Trail.

Point Trail is steep but is not canyoneering. I do not think it should be marked as a canyoneering route. When you get to the bottom you are in West Clear Creek Canyon, but the trail to the bottom is straightforward.

Both of these options are very good choices if you are vehicle limited and looking for a relatively moderate difficulty trip with water.

I'll throw one more trip in there and that is Chevelon Canyon: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=782

[nonot]

Fossil springs is outrageously crowded and definitely won't meet all your criteria.

When backpacking through water, you put the important stuff in drybags, like your sleeping bags.

You will not get anywhere close to the White Box trailhead in a car. If you are willing to walk many miles over 4x4 roads it is possible, but might be a bit advanced to start with.

[surfer349]

Awesome.

OK, so I've secured the use of a friends lifted F150 if needed.

OK, so with your help, its narrowed down to Whitebox/Hanging Gardens or Kinder Crossing. Man, i'm leaning on the Whitebox. yea?

So I've got both tents and hammocks. What would yall bring for either one of those?

[chumley]

The truck will help get you to the point trail or horse crossing more easily but I wouldn't recommend driving a vehicle that isn't yours on the road to white box. That is a terrible, awful, miserable road.

Also I would suggest white box as a trip to do with somebody who has been there first. Especially if you are planning an overnight. That part of the canyon has very few places to camp and you will spend a lot of time swimming (not play swimming, hard work swimming!) and keeping your gear dry is a challenge if you haven't practiced somewhere more forgiving ahead of time.

West clear creek from Point, Calloway, Maxwell, or Tramway would be a better option if you don't go to Horse or Kinder Crossing.

[te_wa]

go to Horton, then. paved the whole way. and a disclaimer: i have camped there four-five times (twas also my first backpacking trip) and i have only seen one or two other very small groups. dayhikers frequent the area, yes, but i rarely saw overnighters and they are always up for company, if you show up with cans of craft beer. Protip #37!!! lol

[surfer349]

well feces. i just got home from the ER. I was playing lacrosse and broke my collarbone. No hiking trip for me this weekend.

[FOTG]

@surfer349

That broken bone may have saved your future marriage with the "girlie" It sounds like White Box & Hanging Gardens may have been a little much for a beginners trip...flash flooding, potential for lightning, deep water, long swims..ect..Heal up, get back on the trails soon, you certainly have the enthusiasm for this stuff...