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Weekend Warriors Arizona Hiking Guide
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PUEBLO LA PLATA (AKA: SILVER CREEK RUINS)
If a short hike to some interesting native American ruins appeal to you, this is your hike. This hike is located near Cordes Junction, AZ. From the Phoenix area, take I-17 North to the Bloody Basin exit (#259). This road (FR269) is a good graded dirt road. Bloody Basin road crosses the Agua Fria river, but the river is either low or dry most of the year and the crossing is paved. Drive 8.7 miles along this road and make a left at the signed junction for route 9023. You'll pass double tank on your left (a couple of large cow dirt water ponds) and after 0.5 miles, you'll stay left at the signed 9023 junction. At this point, the BLM calls this road a 'route'. You'll probably need a high clearance vehicle to make it to the parking area, which you'll reach after another 0.7 miles of driving. You can also park and walk it if you like. There's a trail register here, with information about the ruins. Be Aware of: route finding. 30 yr old Recommendation: The hike is too short for my taste, but the ruins are interesting enough. This is an Easy hike. Elevation change: about 100 ft slow decent
Distance: 2.0 miles round trip. Time: It took us an hour and a half hours with a 15 minute stop for lunch. Time of year: Winter, Fall, Spring Solitude: This is a popular stop for the four wheeling set, so don't expect much solitude here. Map: Click here for map Although the ruins here are not nearly as impressive as those of Cooper Forks or Pueblo Canyon, the hike is certainly much easier. These ruins still have much to interest the curious, especially if you enjoy hunting for pottery shards. From the parking area, head through the gate and follow the old dirt road towards the mound in the distance. It's only about 0.5 miles flat walking to the main ruins. It is estimated there were between 120 to 160 rooms at this site during it's occupation seven hundred years ago. The walls of the rooms have seen better days, but much of the original stonework is still holding up in places. It is also the easiest place I've found to discover pottery shards... they're everywhere. So careful where you step! When you've finished exploring the main ruins, turn West and start a flat cross country walk to "the Fort" (no defined trail). After about a half mile (see the map) you'll reach the obvious wall between the two canyons out on a point. The route finding isn't too difficult, as both sides are bordered by the canyons. The wall is impressive, as it is clearly obvious they spent a great deal of effort building it. This is a good spot for lunch, as you can enjoy the ruins as well as the views. When you're ready, return the way you came.
[Pottery shards are everywhere]
[crumbling walls at Pueblo la Plata]
[Some of the impressive stone work]
[Some of the walls of "The Fort"] This hike was completed in February of 2010. |
