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I just wanted to give everyone a heads-up. If anyone out there has ever been curious about visiting the Black River or maybe have wanted to try some new spots, I just recently added three destinations to the HAZ database with detailed driving directions.

Black River at Wooden Crossing
Black River at Lost Basin
Black River at Whites Crossing

The segments I have added are areas that I particularly enjoy. Wooden Crossing and Lost Basin are probably my favorite due to being considerable less known, however Whites Crossing has a great camping area along the river. With the season soon approaching, now it the time to start planning your trip. June through September is the time to go.

During all my years of visiting different segments along the Black River, I have come to find that every location is uniquely special and typically very different. Vegetation varies considerable as you drop in elevation. Many people visit Whites Crossing and Ten of Diamonds because of the heavy ponderosa pine that can be found in those areas. Wooden Crossing is a stunningly rugged canyon segment while in contrast; Lost Basin is broad and open with pleasant hiking. As far a fishing goes, both location are good, however Lost Basin requires much more walking between holes due to long stretches of shallow water. Most people associate the Black River with fishing. Fishing is not required. Hiking along the river is absolutely beautiful. Most all accessible areas along the river have a defined trail that can be easily followed. Some segments are more user friendly than others but there is almost always a visible trail.

Yes, visiting the Black River is expensive. A three-day weekend will cost each person about sixty bucks. As terrible as that sounds, you will likely be hooked for life if you go. Visiting the remote areas within the San Carlos Reservation is like going back in time. It doesn’t even feel like the same state. Driving to Point of Pines seems like another world. There are no people anywhere. You sometimes wont see anyone until you reach the river. Your about 50-70 miles from a cell phone signal at most all areas along the river. If there was ever an area to bring a SPOT, the San Carlos Reservation is it. All areas along the river are extremely isolated and not to be taken lightly. Between the rugged terrain, poison ivy, rattle snakes, numerous black bear, and mountain lions you definitely need to stay on your guard. The high country areas within the San Carlos Reservation are truly wild and untamed. A weekend at the Black River is an adventure you will not soon forget.

Sold!

Thanks for posting these areas. I will have to get myself onto the rez someday.

But here is my 2c-worth on reservation hiking: Hiking the Black River is FREE and no permits required whatsoever if you backpack the sections which are NOT on the reservation, which comprise dozens of river miles. I myself seldom venture anywhere on the rez, since I still have not hiked every canyon or climbed every peak in the NF I figure the rez can wait. The A-S NF also contains the Black River forks: East, West, and North Fork of the East Fork (yes, really). A lot of the hiking is bushwhacking, so you won't run into too many people.

Just another perspective on the Black River...

In this week's storm the Black crested at about 33,000 cfs two days ago, whereas it had been running steadily at below 100. This morning I checked and it is back down into the 2,000s and dropping:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv/?s ... 0065,00060

That's for the new trip writeups! I probabably should go thur your triplogs to find out, but how is the Black River in terms of swimming holes, waterfalls, cool side canyons, anything technical you can remember? I'm a HUGE fan of West Clear Creel because it has all of those things, tough to get to so it keeps the masses away, and its free...

Don't know about ssk44's newly posted sections, but there are several good swimming holes on the Mainstem of the Black River between Beaver Creek and Wildcat Crossing. But that is all I'm gonna say about swimming holes. I have taken groups to them with varying success: many people think the water is too cold. Dang wusses!

Vaporman wrote:how is the Black River in terms of swimming holes, waterfalls, cool side canyons, anything technical you can remember?

Brian, my best recommendation for what you are seeking is definitely Wooden Crossing. The canyon in that area has a lot of character and the river bottom is mostly made up of large granite slabs and boulders rather than gravel and rocks. Deep holes for either swimming or fishing are everywhere you look. Most of the holes are thick with young smallmouth bass that literally attack when you get in to swim. Hold still for a couple of minutes and you will have about fifteen of them in a circle around you. And yes, they will nip at you! The aggressive small fish actually make it difficult to catch the larger fish that lurk in the bottom of the holes.

4.5 river miles downstream from the camping area is a section that got narrow enough for it to cliff up on both sides with no shore bypass. That spot is as far as I went and is actually the best place to turn around. The water looked very deep and we didn’t feel like risking our fishing gear. Don’t expect to find any waterfalls at Wooden but you will find many drop sections with swift white water. You can cut about 1 mile off the return route if you take a shortcut across the narrow neck on the third bend (see map). Hiking the river in that area is a real pain in the #%% but the benefits are worth the hassle. Nothing technical, but still a pain. In regards to side canyons, I really can't say because I never looked. I will gamble that the main event will keep you preoccupied...

I one time went hiking on the black river near sheeps crossing.(I forgot the name). But my family and I it was Late July and the water temp was 62f. That was freezing to what they were use too, and we all left in a hurry. It not too fun to swim that high up but the fishing is unbeatable.

The Black is not by Sheep's Crossing, that is the Little Colorado, west fork. And yes, it is icy!

I believe the mainstem Black, when I have swum in it, is in the high 60's/low 70's, judging from how it felt. Cold, but not so cold you can't get used to it if you swim in it for a few minutes.

ssk44 wrote: Brian, my best recommendation for what you are seeking is definitely Wooden Crossing.

Sweet, thanks. Black River has aroused my curiosity before but with little to no beta is was tough in the past to venture there when there's so many other places out there with plenty of info... But now that I know what's out there I'll have to check it out this summer.

Before ssk44's recent hike listings, none of the Black River hikes or trails have ever been listed under B for Black River. The listings have been various: Mainstem Black River, West Fork Trail (Black River), Thompson Trail, etc.

I wonder if that ought to be changed, though?

Ssk44's hikes are all on the Mainstem, but not in the NF. And I think it's fine they have separate listings. I think that at the very least, Mainstem Black River should be changed, though, to Black River (Mainstem). Or have it listed under both M and B.

thx, I changed Mainstem & West Fork as I like to have canyons easy to reference. Such as Barks, I don't think anybody would ever find Upper & Lower otherwise.

I'm leaving Thompson since it's not a fork or geological section. Also pretty sure people would naturally think of T as a second look if not the first.

On the contrary West Fork of Oak Creek is staying...

Vaporman wrote:I'll have to check it out this summer.

I'm glad your going! I hope to make it up there myself again someday. The 4,800 elevation at that location is perfect for swimming while hiking the river. :GB:

Thank you for fixing that, Joe!

I think it's great, too. I don't get down there often enough, and did not venture there at all last summer when I was totally behind the 8 ball and working 7 days a week. I can get to several access points within an hour or hour and a half drive from my house. Hiking down Bear Creek access trail off FR 24 gives you easy access to the mainstem area. The nice thing is that if you hike downstream before long you get to a crossing, beyond which most people don't venture.

I would go there today if it was accessible in any way except via a long snowshoe trek! Most of the roads are closed, although it is possible that the road to Sprucedale has been plowed. After I do some more homework we are going on a snow sightseeing venture to either Alpine or Greer.

azbackpackr wrote:The Black is not by Sheep's Crossing, that is the Little Colorado, west fork.

Isn't there a "Sheep's Crossing" on every river in Arizona?

chumley wrote:Isn't there a "Sheep's Crossing" on every river in Arizona?

There is a "Buffalo Crossing" on the East Fork of the Black.

There is also a Crosby Crossing on the North Fork of the East Fork of the Black. Presumably, in ancient times, great herds of Crosbies crossed there...

Were they related to the frisbies?

Trivia...The Frisbies use to make pies(were talking 1870's) . People used the pie tins to play catch. It caught on during the depression. I think Wham-O made Frisbees...misspelin the name sometime in the 1950's. Somewhere in the house I grew up in CT is a Frisbie pie tin.

Very interesting Bob! I have a Frisbee in the trunk anytime you see my car at the trailheads and want to play catch.