Hey Everyone,
Did you know there’s a waterfall just a few miles up the road from our office?
Plenty of people drive right past it without knowing. The trailhead for Blue Wash is just a gravel pullout on Cave Creek Road, about 6.5 miles east of Pima Road, right past a small sign that reads “Blue Wash #1.” No visitor center and no fancy signs. Just a sandy wash heading off into the desert.
But follow it for a little over a mile and you’ll find Camp Creek Falls, a spring-fed waterfall spilling over a rock wall into a small stone grotto shaded by cottonwoods and sycamores. It’s one of the rare desert waterfalls that runs year-round, but after a good rain it really shows off. With how big the storms were a couple of weeks ago, there was a lot of water flowing when we went.
Zeus had an absolute blast hiking out there this last weekend. That’s him in the picture, posing like he discovered the place himself.
Trail stats:
- Distance: about 2.8 miles round trip, out and back
- Elevation gain: about 400 feet
- Time: 1 to 2 hours, depending on how long you hang out at the falls
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Dogs: welcome on a leash
- Location: Tonto National Forest, Arizona’s largest national forest at 2.9 million acres
How the hike goes:
The trail starts near the parking area and drops into Blue Wash. The first stretch is a rocky corridor sometimes called “boulder alley,” with a few spots that take some light scrambling. Keep an eye out for the remains of an old car that clearly lost an argument with the wash.
At about 1.1 miles, Blue Wash meets Camp Creek at a wide T. Turn left and head upstream about a quarter mile. The canyon narrows, the rock walls close in, and then the waterfall appears, tumbling down in a few tiers into a shallow pool. It isn’t deep enough to swim, but it’s perfect for cooling off your feet. (Or, if you’re Zeus, your entire body.)
A few tips:
- Parking only fits about a dozen cars, so go early, especially on weekends.
- The trail isn’t well marked. If it seems to dead-end, look for a footpath around the obstacle.
- Wear shoes with good grip. Wet rock is slick.
- Never hike a wash when storms are in the forecast. Flash floods move fast.
- Bring more water than you think you’ll need, for you and your dog.
Right now is the perfect time to go. The weather is finally cooperating and the water is still running.
And if the boulder scrambling leaves your back or knees grumbling the next morning, you know where to find us.
Have a great weekend!
Your Foothills Chiropractic Team
PS: We open Friday starting at 8am to take care of that neck or back pain before the weekend gets here. Call 480-488-1282 to schedule, or just walk in.