- Trail:
- Ash Creek (Pinaleno Mountains (Mt. Graham))
- Status:
- Significant Issue / Amber
-
Issue status:
- Condition:
- Unknown - please contribute condition
- Reporter Primary Activity:
- Hike
Description:
This trail was impacted by the Frye Fire in 2017 and significant portions of it are within burned or partially burned areas. The trail starts out in a burned area where aspen trees are choke the trail, making it hard to follow. I just ended up giving up on sticking to the actual trail route and just found the easiest way down to the creek. I also hiked this trail after a rain and I got soaked from the waist down from all the water on the aspen leaves.
Any time the trail is near the creek channel there's a chance that it has been obliterated by erosion from the creek. This usually requires climbing down the bank and hiking in the creek for a ways. When the trail is high above the creek, it is easy to follow, but there's quite a bit of deadfall (all surmountable). When the trail is high, though, there are some tributary channels that have seriously scoured and can be difficult to navigate across. (One one, the trail stops at an 8 foot vertical drop that requires navigating around.)
Having a map app on my phone helped me stay on route (AllTrails) was a little helpful and saved me a little bit of time and wandering around. But mostly the trail follows the creek so you can't really get lost. Within 0.7 miles of Ash Creek Waterfall (which is way larger than I expected) and very pretty with great views, the trail splits. I HIGHLY recommend taking the upper route. The upper route was the longest in generally good shape and easy to follow. I didn't hike it but suspect the lower route was pretty blown out.
If you hike this before the Forest Service gets some money/resources for maintenance, be prepared for some bushwhacking and route finding. Myself and others before me placed cairns to help navigate the blown out sections. I also did some trail maintenance on some deadfall on my way back up, so it should be a little easier now.
I did see a lot of birds on this hike as well as squirrels and deer. Lots of wildflowers and butterflies when I hiked it as well.
I suspect trail conditions will get worse before they get better. I don't recommend riding this trail, and you should only hike it if you don't mind a little . . . um, adventure.
Any time the trail is near the creek channel there's a chance that it has been obliterated by erosion from the creek. This usually requires climbing down the bank and hiking in the creek for a ways. When the trail is high above the creek, it is easy to follow, but there's quite a bit of deadfall (all surmountable). When the trail is high, though, there are some tributary channels that have seriously scoured and can be difficult to navigate across. (One one, the trail stops at an 8 foot vertical drop that requires navigating around.)
Having a map app on my phone helped me stay on route (AllTrails) was a little helpful and saved me a little bit of time and wandering around. But mostly the trail follows the creek so you can't really get lost. Within 0.7 miles of Ash Creek Waterfall (which is way larger than I expected) and very pretty with great views, the trail splits. I HIGHLY recommend taking the upper route. The upper route was the longest in generally good shape and easy to follow. I didn't hike it but suspect the lower route was pretty blown out.
If you hike this before the Forest Service gets some money/resources for maintenance, be prepared for some bushwhacking and route finding. Myself and others before me placed cairns to help navigate the blown out sections. I also did some trail maintenance on some deadfall on my way back up, so it should be a little easier now.
I did see a lot of birds on this hike as well as squirrels and deer. Lots of wildflowers and butterflies when I hiked it as well.
I suspect trail conditions will get worse before they get better. I don't recommend riding this trail, and you should only hike it if you don't mind a little . . . um, adventure.
