Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide

PARSON SPRINGS

If a gentle hike up a permanent stream through a desert canyon appeals to you, then you'll like this hike.

HOW TO GET THERE

This hike is located near Camp Verde, AZ.

To get to the trailhead: from the Phoenix area, take I-17 North toward Flagstaff, AZ.  After passing Camp Verde, take exit #287 West (this becomes HWY 260) towards the town of Cottonwood. Follow HWY 260 West towards Tuzigoot National Monument. Just after leaving the Cottonwood city limits, turn right at the entrance for Tuzigoot. After the bridge, turn left at the unsigned road. This road quickly becomes FR131, which was a good quality dirt road when we did this hike. The clearly marked trailhead is 10.5 miles from the start of this road.    

RATING

Be Aware of: mild bolder hopping across water

30 yr old Recommendation: An easy and enjoyable walk. The loop hike described here is an Easy hike. 

DETAILS

Elevation change: Only about 200 ft.

Distance: The loop hike described is 7.4 miles round trip to Parson spring and back.

Time: It took us 4 hours hiking to complete this hike, with a 30 minute stop for lunch. We were going pretty slow and taking lots of pictures because of the fall colors.

Time of year: All year. Recommended in the fall when the leaves are changing.

Solitude: Not so good. Expect to share this area with 15-25 other hikers.    

Bring your camera or you will be sorry. There is a wonderful collection of deciduous trees camped next to Sycamore creek. During the fall, the colors light up the area. There is something very uplifting about walking next to a stream in the desert of Arizona.

This hike quickly drops 200 ft into Sycamore canyon. The rest of the 3.7 mile trail to Parson spring is relatively flat and the trail is well marked. There are numerous reasons this trail is enjoyable, besides the afore mentioned Cottonwoods, Sycamores, and Arizona Walnut trees. This trail crosses the creek six times. Each time is a a fun adventure in maintaining dry feet.

This hike is a short one, so feel free to take it slow and snap as many pictures as you can. It seems like there is another postcard picture around every corner. After about 1.1 miles, the trail passes Summers Spring. The spring is on your right and seeps from a rock into the main creek. Continue down the trail, eventually crossing the creek a total of six times. After the sixth crossing, look on your left for a still pool with a barely discernable spring feeding it. This is Parson Spring, an unimpressive end to this impressive hike.

The trail continues for a bit, but the perennial stream quickly dries up and the trail disappears. Return by the same route after you run out of film. 

[View of Sycamore Creek]

[Leaves changing along Sycamore Creek]

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