Weather: 78, clouds
and sun, t-storms
About this Trip: The
canyon-bound, serpentine Blue Ridge Reservoir (also known as the C.C. Cragin
Reservoir) has intrigued me for a while now.
This spring’s unfortunate Tinder Fire, my interest in the Rim Lakes, and
the recent lifting of all fire restrictions spurred my curiosity about this
location.
The drive is easy from Phoenix. Take the Beeline Highway (AZ-87) north thru
Payson, Pine, and Strawberry. Turn right
at well-signed Forest Rd. 751 and follow it to the lake. FR 751 is a graded dirt road.
When I arrived Saturday afternoon I expected big crowds from
the ‘heavy’ usage rating given by the Forest Service. My first stop was to setup camp at Rock
Crossing Campground. The fee is $8/night
at this campground.
Admittedly I’ve never been much of a camper, so I’m learning
as I go. Pro tip: Bring exact change and/or your checkbook
(checks are accepted at the self-pay stations).
I ended up finding some kind campers who broke a $20 for me, but I still
made a $2 donation above the $8 fee to the USFS. I’m OK with it because USFS and our public
lands are awesome.
No sooner was I checked in to the campground than an aggressive
thunderstorm blew in––common on the Rim during monsoon season. Rather than sit in my car at the campground, I
decided to get ready for kayaking and drive down to the lake. Monsoon storms seldom last long.
Upon my arrival at the lake, kayakers, swimmers, and
paddleboarders were hastily exiting the water––smart idea when lightening is
overhead. Thanks to this mass exodus, I
scored one of only six parking spots on the paved boat ramp. Overflow parking is in the dirt lot up a
steep hill.
The storm slowed briefly, then started up again, this time
with hail. Thankfully it was soft hail
and not the type that would’ve done damage to my truck. In fact, watching the hail hit the lake down in
the canyon below was an interesting sight.
Sufficiently sure the storm had moved on, myself and a few
other brave souls made our way down the steep boat ramp (the lake is very low
right now) and launched. I went to the
right (east) from the launch point.
Within a short time I reached a murky, muddy swamp. The rich, saturated soil was carpeted with tender,
green plants. Blame the low water
levels.
Turning around, I headed west and then southwest along the narrow,
winding lake. It’s something like a
canyon-bound river (minus the current) with steep, etched sandstone cliffs and evergreen
high-country foliage.
Eventually I reached the Blue Ridge Dam. Testament to low water levels, the spillway
loomed no less than 100 feet above me.
There’s no buoy line and you can go right up to this dam if you
like. I prefer to stay away for fear of
being sucked under the dam.
Shortly after passing the dam I had a tipping point. The sky was filling with dark clouds. I heard a rumble of thunder. Nervous and alone on this remote part of the
lake, I turned back. In AZ Monsoon
fashion the clouds broke up and skirted the lake. The intense sunshine returned and I decided
once again to pull a 360 and continue up the lake. Shortly thereafter I reached the other end of
the lake. A muddy swampy mess greeted me
again. All told, I covered this lake at
its current fill level in about three hours.
In the early spring I may want to return to Blue Ridge. Assuming reasonable winter precip (something
2017-18 lacked) the locals say this lake fills to the brim and the spillway
activates. I’d love to see more of this
narrow, winding waterway when it’s full.
