DESTINATION Mint Wash Trail #345 1 Photoset
2023-02-11 | |
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| Hiking | 4.26 Miles |
249 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.26 Miles | 1 Hour 39 Mns | | 2.66 mph |
| 249 ft AEG | 3 Mns Break | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | The closest parking to either end of Trail #345 is Mekuvde Day Use Area in the Granite Basin Lake Recreation Area west of Prescott which is close to the south end of Trail #345. From the Mekuvde parking lot, take the trail past the outhouse and picnic area to the paved road. Less than 50 yards down the road is a wide trail on the right crossing the drainage ditch to a trail that parallels the road and can be seen from the road. Turn left to start Trail #345. There's lots more parking, if Mekuvde is full, including Metate Trail parking on the way out of the Granite Basin Lake Recreation Area.
In January and February 2023, Granite Basin Lake has been draining into Mint Wash, forming Mint Creek which provided an accompaniment for the first half of the hike. There are four crossings of the creek in Mint Wash by Trail #345, requiring the use of stepping stones that were more prevalent on February 11, than January 14. Even with the extra stones and wearing waterproof boots both times, it was much faster crossing Mint Creek in February using the trekking poles that I brought along specifically for that purpose. In addition to the four complete crossings of Mint Creek, there is a section of Trail #345 that uses the Mint Wash to skirt a rocky outcrop. In January I clamored across the outcrop on all fours, but in February there were stepping stones leading to an island in the middle of Mint Creek which was much easier and faster. Between the island and Granite Basin Lake, there are a few tributaries of Mint Creek which came down from the north and at times ran down the trail, or provided a stereo accompaniment to the hike along with Mint Creek to the south.
The north end of the trail is 0.8 miles from the Williamson Valley Trailhead on Tin Trough Springs Trail #308. Loops or a figure 8 can be created using Trail #345 and Willow Trail #347 which share a gate 3 miles from the south end of Trail #345. The north end of Trail #347 is at Williamson Valley Trailhead, so a 3-4 mile loop uses #347, #345 and #308 (search for "Willow Creek Loop North"). Longer loops of 7-9 miles include (1) #347, #345 and Chimbly Water Trail #352 or Mint Wash Connector Trail #352, starting at the south end of Trail #345, or (2) #347, #345 and West Lake Trail #351, starting at the south end of Trail #347. Route (2) can be found as "Willow Creek Loop (#347 & #345)". The figure 8 hike is 10-13 miles, combining the North Loop with one of the southern loops.
A highlight of Trail #345 is the petroglyphs 0.7 miles from the north end (see photos). The location of the side trail to the petroglyphs is marked on the attached route, although the route doesn't follow the easiest path. Search for "Mint Creek Trail" for the route I used in January 2023. |
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Granite Basin Lake |
76-100% full |
76-100% full |
| | | Full on 2/11/23 and draining into Mint Wash as Mint Creek, providing water throughout the hike. | | _____________________
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