HORSE CROSSING -
EAST CLEAR CREEK
If walking and swimming in a high forest creek appeals to you, then
you'll like this hike.
HOW
TO GET THERE
This hike is located near Clints Well, AZ.
To get to the trailhead: from the Phoenix area, take HWY-87 Northeast
through Payson, Pine, and Strawberry towards Winslow, AZ. After passing
Lake Mary Road (FH3), drive an additional 9.4 miles, turning right onto FR
95 (just before mile marker 300). Drive on well graded dirt road FR 95 for
4 miles, turning left onto FR 513B. Drive 2 more miles on the high
clearance road FR513B until you see the small pullout and the trailhead
sign (Horse Crossing Trail #20) on the right. FR 95 and FR 513B are not
recommended after (or during) rain.
RATING
Be Aware of: route finding, snakes, swimming opportunities
30 yr old Recommendation: Lovely place for a swim. Continuing along the
East Clear Creek would make for an enjoyable creek side walk. The
hike to horse crossing is a Moderate hike.
DETAILS
Elevation change: about 1000 ft total (500 ft climb on the north side
of the canyon and 500 ft climb on the south side of the canyon).
Distance: About 3.0 miles total hiking
Time: It took us just over 2 hours to complete this hike. We ran out of
time to swim, as the weather did not cooperate. It is recommended you
reserve some time to swim here.
Time of year: Summer
Solitude: Not too bad, we met two other families on this trail on a
Saturday morning (about 8 people).
East Clear creek is a perennial creek, a rarity in Arizona. This
hike is one of several routes into this lovely forest canyon.
Starting from the trailhead, this well worn path descends through a
pine forest down to the canyon bottom. After 0.75 miles, you reach the
creek and a fork in the trail. To continue on the Horse Crossing trail,
turn right here and follow along the creek. If you turn left here, there
is a very nice swimming hole about 200 ft walk from this point. The
swimming hole has a sandy beach and reasonably deep water. It's an
excellent place to spend a few summer hours cooling off.
From the creek, continue right as the trail quickly disappears. You can
either walk in the shallow creek itself, or stick to the right (North)
side of the creek for about 0.1 miles where there is a place to cross
without getting your feet wet. Once on the South side of the creek and
after hiking 0.25 miles from where you first reached the creek, keep your
eyes on the left (South) side of the canyon. You will see a side canyon
start to open up. Six feet off the ground on one of the trees is a trail
arrow sign (only about 6" x 6") showing the trail up the South side of the
canyon. This is very easy to miss, so keep your eyes open.
The trail starts a steeper ascent of the South side of the canyon,
eventually topping out after 0.5 miles of hiking to a forest road and the
turn around point of this hike. When we did this hike, this point was
unusually peaceful. This part of the trail looked to be sparsely traveled.
There was significant evidence of animal activity here.
After enjoying the peaceful solitude, head back down the canyon to the
creek. Watch your footing along the overgrown creek. When we did this
hike, we interrupted a rattlesnake looking for his morning meal. He was
polite enough to rattle and let us know we were too close so we could take
a different route.
Backtrack to the pool, bring your swim suit (or not!) and enjoy the cool, refreshing dip.
After you have thoroughly enjoyed yourself, head back up the North side of
the canyon to your car.
[View of swimming hole at Horse Crossing
- East Clear Creek]
[East Clear Creek]
[East Clear Creek pool]
return to top...
This hike was done in early August 2005.
