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I am thinking of maybe going to Payson for a hike tomorrow. Any suggestions? I like moderate hikes, 4-7 miles. What about See Canyon or Christopher Creek area? Will there be mosquitoes? Do we need to be thinking about the possibility of seeing mama bear with her cubs?

Hi David, if I had to do one hike in the area I'd say do Horton Creek Trail. It's 8 miles total up and back and as I recall it's a gradual up to the spring at the turn around. Easy to follow. See Canyon was more isolated and more of a climb. I don't recall issues with Mosquitoes, but there are bears in the area. Make noise ;) .

Sun Ray wrote:if I had to do one hike in the area I'd say do Horton Creek Trail

David- "ditto" above! Hike up to where the major spring flow starts for a lunch break then head back the way you came. Shortly after you begin the hike, you will be hiking up on an old rocky logging road, but be looking to your right side for a side trail that heads off to the creek area. This side trail parallels the road going up but it stays close to Horton Creek which makes for a much more enjoyable hike with more shade up to your ending point at Horton Springs.

Prepare for the main parking area to be packed, but there are spots you can park along the access road. This will be a very popular hike for tomorrow- Memorial Day.

I am not sure that I would go up there tomorrow the traffic coming back into Payson will be bumper to bumper from Christopher Creek all the way back into Payson. You should have no trouble going up but I think it will be really bad coming back into town. And once in town will take awhile to go thru. Maybe with the bad weather that was on Thursday and Friday may have kept some of the people from going up there but there were people going thru town bumper to bumper on Friday afternoon even in the rain as we left the theatre in town at about 3pm.