| | -
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| |  |
|
1 |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 4.00 Miles |
235 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.00 Miles | 2 Hrs 15 Mns | | 1.78 mph |
| 235 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Had a craving to get away on this Saturday in March and I packed up the car, loaded up the dog, and headed North up to Agua Fria National Monument as I'd never been there before. Upon getting to the Badger Springs road, we set off down an easy sandy trail through still barren, high-desert trees and bushes. Luckily, I still had the dog on the leash at this point due to the presence of other hikers when we ran into a skunk hunkered down in a grassy spot a few yards off the trail. The trail continued down the side canyon to the Agua Fria river in an easy jaunt.
Upon reaching the river, the decision was which direction to go. I decided to follow the river downriver (left according to the direction of travel of the trail) which was the right call. Following the edge of the river you enter a canyon with rocky boulders and tall reeds lining the rivers edges. There are several spots that made for fun scrambling in and across the river. At this point it was necessary to let the dog off leash and enjoy the bounding from rock to rock, swirling eddies, and general atmosphere of the river's path. We went approximately 1.5 miles down the river, to a spot with some large white and black boulders that made for nice photography on the overcast day. Several pools of water were deep enough that had the day been hotter they would have been inviting for a quick swim.
After eating near some interesting rock cliffs on the Eastern side of the river we returned the way we came, enjoying the scenery and several blooming cacti before avoiding the skunk (who was still there!) and returning to the trailhead. Up next for us was a drive along Bloody Basin Rd. further through the Agua Fria National Monument... |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
|
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
