Wolf Creek Falls

Weather:  71º, 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...

Looking down from atop Wolf Creek Falls.  Approximately a 90 foot drop.

Hassayampa River via Wolf Creek

Weather: 79º, sunny, breezy

About this Hike:  On the last visit to Prescott earlier in September, we visited ever-popular Groom Creek again.  We did a different part of the main loop, this time not going up to the fire lookout.  It was utterly boring.  But the trailhead sign intrigued me.  Another trail in the area appeared to lead down to the Hassayampa River.  In the interim month, I did more research...

What I discovered is Wolf Creek Trail #384.  It's a loop trail that begins across the street from the main Groom Creek parking area.  You actually use Trail #383 to access #384.  Both are loops and the entire hike can be thought of as a rough figure-8 loop.  Pro tip:  Trail #383 intersects the driveway to the equestrian campground right across the street.  Don't be like me and walk all over the campground looking for a trailhead...

One other pro tip:  grab one of the brochure maps from the trailhead.  The box was actually empty at the main Groom Creek parking area, but the boxes were stocked in the campground.  I guess my wandering did have a bit of a silver lining...  The brochure map is much better than the big one posted at the main trailhead.

From the map's scale Loop #384 looks to be just a few miles.  Some reports say 6 miles.  I'm saying 8-9 miles.  It's a bit tricky to stay on this trail as a number of 4x4 roads traverse it, and in many spots the roads and trail run together.  The trail signage is good though, and it goes without saying to watch for 4x4 traffic.

The whole reason I wanted to do this hike was to see the Hassayampa River.  Pro tip:  hike #383 clockwise from the campground.  You'll get to the river MUCH faster...unless you want to do the entire loop.  The section of river we found had beautiful granite formations.  The river wasn't flowing, but water was pooled abundantly.  The pools were remarkably clear and deep.  Sitting on the granite made a great picnic spot.  I imagine these same granite formations are waterfalls when the Hassayampa has flow. 

In addition to the Hassayampa, you can use this trail access Wolf Creek Falls. This is a seasonal waterfall that's said to be quite impressive.  In the middle of Loop #384 is the Wolf Creek campground, and the falls are located in that area.  We didn't hike in there, but maybe a future hike in early spring when the falls are roaring?   I feel like what we saw along the Hassayampa was a mini-Wolf Creek Falls, and it did not disappoint.

One final thought...according to the trail signage there's something a couple miles out from this trail called Payoff Spring.  I couldn't find any information online.  Anyone know what this is?

Blue butterflies everywhere!

Groom Creek, Spruce Mountain, & a Fire Tower—Prescott Adventure

Weather:  88°, sunny, thunderstorm

About this hike:  Check Prescott off the bucket list of places I want to see in AZ.  Groom Creek Trail to Spruce Mountain Summit was a fabulous choice.  It's an easy drive from downtown Prescott.  I had read that a fire lookout tower adorns the top of Spruce Mountain.  Twice I have attempted to get to the fire lookout on top of Bill Williams Mountain and twice I have been defeated (a freak May snowstorm and then family drama).

The skies over most of the state were clear and AZ sunshine was pouring down.  Except over the Groom Creek Trail where a small thundercell had formed.  Determined not to be defeated again, we pressed on.  A power line runs parallel to the trail for a while.  So power lines, tall pines, and hiking during a thunderstorm—kids don't try this at home.

The lightning appeared to be mostly cloud-to-cloud, and eventually we reached the summit where I finally got my fire tower fix!

As I approached the tower, a Forest Service Ranger shouted down to us to come on up.  From her perch she pointed out Bill Williams Mountain (ironic), the San Francisco Peaks (Flagstaff), and smoke from a distant fire that she believed was a controlled burn.  Oh, and not to mention all the beautiful green ponderosa pine forest that makes up the Prescott Valley.  We chatted with the friendly Forest Ranger for a while, looked at her charts and maps, and were amused by the flock of hummingbirds at feeders hanging from the sides of the tower.  I couldn't have asked for a better experience.  Maybe someday I'll get to see the tower atop Bill Williams Mountain...

An interesting observation—usually I put my phone in airplane mode on these hikes.  The signal fades out and it just kills the battery while the phone searches in vain for service.  However, atop Spruce Mountain I had all 5 bars + 4G-LTE.  Communications towers also adorn the top of Spruce Mountain.

So how do workers get up to these towers on Spruce Mountain you ask?  Well there's a dirt road.  And as we came down from the tower, a minivan full of screaming kids arrived and unloaded.  I'm still glad we took the harder way up via the Groom Creek Trail...