Weather: 71ยบ, sunny
About this Hike: The inspiration for this hike came shortly after visiting the Groom Creek area at the beginning of fall 2017. Back then we hiked the entire Trail 384 loop, which was a much longer hike than the ~6 miles that maps indicated it would be (see old posts for more). On that particular hike we went down to the Hassayampa River and sat on a granite waterfall. Pools around the waterfall were full of clear water.
After that hike I researched Groom Creek more and discovered Wolf Creek Falls. This set of two falls is dry most of the time. However, it comes to life during the winter when there's snowpack in the Bradshaws and at other times of year after heavy rain (i.e. Monsoon).
Winter 2017 has ushered in dangerously dry conditions, so the falls were not flowing when we visited. Regardless, they are impressive granite formations, almost like nature-made dams. The first set is smaller, while the second set of falls is larger. A resilient alligator juniper—much of its root system exposed—stands atop the larger set of falls.
We made getting to the falls a lot more difficult than it should have been. We parked at the main Groom Creek trailhead, crossed the street, and started on Trail 383 to the 384 loop. This trail network is like spaghetti strands with ATV roads bisecting—and often running along—the hiking trails. It starts at an equestrian camp, so step carefully... Bonus tip: If you go into the horse camp there's usually brochure maps available at the bulletin boards. It's one of the better (albeit not perfect) maps of the entire Groom Creek network of trails.
Anyway, I'm going to give you the easiest way to get to Wolf Creek Falls: Use County Road 101 (also called Wolf Creek Road; see map). It's a fairly well maintained-dirt road. Follow the road past Wolf Creek Campground. Don't be like us and go into the campground (closed for the winter) thinking the falls were somewhere around there. Pick up Trail 384 which runs parallel with FR-9406C) down toward the falls. Side trails run parallel to both the upper (smaller) and lower falls. The bank can be steep and getting down into the creek bed requires an abundance of caution. Prescottonians frequent this area, and if the falls are flowing, chances are you won't have a problem finding the trailhead. I have read that parking on C.R. 101 becomes an issue during times of high flow.
I am glad we discovered the right location of Wolf Creek Falls. I'm also glad we realized that half the fun is a longer hike to get there. Perhaps one day when these falls are flowing we'll get to enjoy them while parking away from the busy trailhead...
About this Hike: The inspiration for this hike came shortly after visiting the Groom Creek area at the beginning of fall 2017. Back then we hiked the entire Trail 384 loop, which was a much longer hike than the ~6 miles that maps indicated it would be (see old posts for more). On that particular hike we went down to the Hassayampa River and sat on a granite waterfall. Pools around the waterfall were full of clear water.
After that hike I researched Groom Creek more and discovered Wolf Creek Falls. This set of two falls is dry most of the time. However, it comes to life during the winter when there's snowpack in the Bradshaws and at other times of year after heavy rain (i.e. Monsoon).
Winter 2017 has ushered in dangerously dry conditions, so the falls were not flowing when we visited. Regardless, they are impressive granite formations, almost like nature-made dams. The first set is smaller, while the second set of falls is larger. A resilient alligator juniper—much of its root system exposed—stands atop the larger set of falls.
We made getting to the falls a lot more difficult than it should have been. We parked at the main Groom Creek trailhead, crossed the street, and started on Trail 383 to the 384 loop. This trail network is like spaghetti strands with ATV roads bisecting—and often running along—the hiking trails. It starts at an equestrian camp, so step carefully... Bonus tip: If you go into the horse camp there's usually brochure maps available at the bulletin boards. It's one of the better (albeit not perfect) maps of the entire Groom Creek network of trails.
Anyway, I'm going to give you the easiest way to get to Wolf Creek Falls: Use County Road 101 (also called Wolf Creek Road; see map). It's a fairly well maintained-dirt road. Follow the road past Wolf Creek Campground. Don't be like us and go into the campground (closed for the winter) thinking the falls were somewhere around there. Pick up Trail 384 which runs parallel with FR-9406C) down toward the falls. Side trails run parallel to both the upper (smaller) and lower falls. The bank can be steep and getting down into the creek bed requires an abundance of caution. Prescottonians frequent this area, and if the falls are flowing, chances are you won't have a problem finding the trailhead. I have read that parking on C.R. 101 becomes an issue during times of high flow.
I am glad we discovered the right location of Wolf Creek Falls. I'm also glad we realized that half the fun is a longer hike to get there. Perhaps one day when these falls are flowing we'll get to enjoy them while parking away from the busy trailhead...
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| Looking down from atop Wolf Creek Falls. Approximately a 90 foot drop. |
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