G.E.T. Guidebook

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Segment 16: Blue River  12.3 miles

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Segment Length			Segment Status	Season
12.3 mi.			finalized & accessible	all year
Resources
OVERVIEW MAP ELEVATION PROFILE G.E.T. Topo Maps 45-46 Water Chart Image Gallery: Album 5				Additional maps: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (USFS) Clifton 1:100K Topographic (BLM) Land management agency: Apache NF Clifton Ranger District

SEGMENT OVERVIEW

From its source above the Mogollon Rim, the Blue River flows south, first as a creeklet among fir and aspen, then into the Blue Range Primitive Area as a ponderosa pine-flanked stream. Descending below the Rim it becomes a small river bordered by shady cottonwoods and willows. In its lowest reaches along our route in this segment, a vertical mile below its headwaters, the Blue carves a sheer-sided canyon toward its confluence with the San Francisco River, whose waters likewise begin in the distant White Mountains. The San Francisco joins the Gila River below Clifton, and on toward the Colorado River the fluvial journey unfolds.

Toward the end of this segment the main GET route reaches the canyon of the Blue, fording the river just once. Because the Blue River drains a large watershed at elevation, it is prone to significant fluctuations in depth and current depending upon conditions upstream - e.g., whether or not snow is melting in the high country, or if summer thunderstorms are hammering just a few or perhaps many of the tributary canyons. Outside of peak runoff conditions, the Blue is typically ankle to knee deep, 10 to 15 yards wide, and easily forded. Such is certainly the case for both eastbound and westbound thru-hikers, most of the time.

The main GET route initially follows FR 475 (Juan Miller Rd) from the Pigeon Creek Trailhead. As roadwalks go, this is a pretty good one, with far-ranging scenery and interesting geology at roadside. Although the road is graded dirt, the area's remoteness all but insures only the lightest of vehicle traffic. Nonetheless, the GET then leaves the vehicle road in favor of a quiet track now gated and off-limits to the motoring public. This adventurous, unsigned, little-known route - dubbed Clear Creek Road on some maps, Pat Mesa Trail on others - tours a surprising landscape of strangely eroded rock formations and viewful mesas en route to the canyon of Pigeon Creek, which we then follow a short ways to its confluence with the Blue River and this segment's remote crossing. Another wonderfully obscure track soon leads away from the river canyon, returning us once more to FR 475 for the final 2 miles to segment's end at the head of the Wildbunch Trail.

Thirsty hikers touring the largely open landscape here will find perennial water at the Blue River, although seasonal Pigeon Creek is generally a better source when it's flowing near its confluence with the Blue. Water may also be encountered sporadically in the drainages crossed by FR 475, most notably at Turkey Creek.

ROUTE DETAILS

From the junction of FR 475 (Juan Miller Rd) and signed Pigeon Creek Trail 465 (also signed here as FR 475E) (waypoint 16010, elev. 4950'), proceed east on FR 475. The somewhat narrow, graded dirt road passes a few impromptu car camping spots on the right, then climbs out of Cow Canyon's drainage. The springs indicated on the map, a short ways up Cow Canyon, were not visited, but those in need of water might try their luck there. Another option, at least in wetter times, is nearby Pigeon Creek; although normally dry in this area, the wash sometimes flows by a narrow pour-off ahead. To reach it, leave FR 475 at 0.4 (waypoint 16020), passing through a fence opening, then angle southwest down to the drainage and walk down it for a hundred yards or so. (Please note that the canyon of Pigeon Creek, while becoming an intermittent creek farther down, nevertheless makes for extremely rough going in its trackless, rocky canyon, and so does not present the most practical route down to the Blue River.)

The lesser 4WD track of signed FR 8937 heads right (south) at 1.6, beyond which FR 475 descends around the head of a minor basin to a crossing of Turkey Creek, at 2.8. The shallow creek, not entirely reliable, is attractive in its setting of cottonwoods and sycamores. The road leaves the creekside shade, passing the subdued T Link Ranch on the left, the only private parcel of land along Juan Miller Road between the highway and Blue River (no camping permitted in the vicinity of Turkey Creek here). Another undulating traverse leads to the bedrock drainage of Bear Creek, which occasionally holds water in its potholed surface (3.5, waypoint 16040).

Beyond another pair of drainages, pass a side road on the right (south) that heads to a scenic turnout, from which you may appraise the interesting terrain surrounding Pigeon Creek and its canyon. Especially prominent is the distinctive, flat-topped and cliff-banded mesa below Pat Mountain.

Clear Creek, signed at the road crossing at 4.9, may also contain pools or a small flow in wetter times. Less than 100 yards to the west of (ie, before) the crossing, by a road sign that reads "Do Not Enter When Flooded," at waypoint 16050, leave FR 475 / Juan Miller Rd on its south side to join the unsigned Clear Creek Road (aka Pat Mesa Trail 467). The track had been bermed here, rendering it impassible to vehicles, but in fall 2009 the road was temporarily re-opened during a work project on the grazing allotment and is now much more obvious, if still primitive in character. Reminiscent of the Rug Road over the Galiuros in Segment 6, the adventurous track heads south, in places over a surface of sculpted bedrock, and soon reaches a metal gate in a fenceline at waypoint 16060, which was locked. Climb over the gate, still on public land. After a counter-clockwise bend, watch carefully for where the track resumes its southward tack in an open area of bedrock (westbounders, the track turns sharply left here).

The road now climbs to reach something of a pass at 6.1 (waypoint 16070, elev. 4780'), a commanding viewpoint tentatively dubbed the Clear Creek overlook. The eastward view encompasses the foreground badland terrain above the drainage of Clear Creek itself - the light-colored volcanic rock must be a high-silicic welded tuff or the like - as well as the distant, pointed summits of Maple and Coalson peaks in Segment 17. Note the intriguing, human-like forms in the prominent canyon wall just ahead. The descent from the overlook is intially steep and rough. Beyond a low-point drainage crossing just west of Clear Creek's drainage - which can be accessed with a short bushwhack - the road ascends more mildly, but also somewhat vaguely as it seeks out a pleasant southeast contour near the crest of a grassy mesa-like ridge. Dip briefly to pass through a gate at 7.4 (waypoint 16080), rounding the fenceline of an old corral, which might allow for camping in any volcanic cobble-free spots.

Continuing at or near the little mesa's height-of-land, the track eventually descends to another wire gate (waypoint 16090), here within relatively close range of the Blue River's canyon, although much of its sheer topography is hidden from view. (Colorful Johnson Canyon, which our route soon follows, is visible where it cuts down to the Blue.) Beyond the gate, the road soon turns sharply west, commencing a slabbing descent into the canyon of Pigeon Creek, now fully in view. Another gate appears just back from the drainage itself, at 9.0 (waypoint 16100). Just as the road enters the floodplain, leave it by turning left (southeast) and walk down the edge of the floodplain, soon reaching a crossing of the main creek channel, the north wall of the canyon here located just on your left. (Westbounders, leave the main channel of Pigeon Creek where it bends well away from the sheer canyon wall on your right, and head up the right-most edge of the open, rocky floodplain to a crossing of the Clear Creek Road. Turn right on the old road, which heads north through the gate at 9.0 and climbs out of the drainage.)

Continue to follow the drainage east, crossing Pigeon Creek wherever convenient. The little creek often flows in this area, nourishing large Arizona sycamores and other shade trees. Also of note: the seemingly limitless field of loose, cobbly "river rock" in this portion of the drainage, which flash floods have obviously carried downstream over the eons, depositing them wherever the current could no longer support their passage. One fairly rock-free spot does appear along the south bank, an inviting camp.

Negotiate a somewhat awkward fence spanning Pigeon Creek canyon's width (rather than attempting to open the tight, bale wire-bound break at mid-fence, try squeezing around the north or south ends by the canyon walls), then immediately reach the confluence with the Blue River at 9.4 (waypoint 16105, elev. 4130'). The sudden commotion of the river's 15 yard span is something of a primal delight, especially when encountered in such a remote setting as this. Merriam's turkey are often spotted along the banks in this area, or you may find their tracks in the soft sand. Ford the river here, typically knee-deep in springtime - lower in autumn - and proceed north along the grassy bank, where another fine camp could be made. (Westbounders, continue down the river's eastern shore, following the open, grassy bank, and note the entrance to Pigeon Creek's canyon up the opposite bank. Ford the river here.)

The next objective is to locate an old pack trail that heads up alongside the next side drainage to the north, known locally as Johnson Canyon. Continue along the river's dry bank, weaving among the open stands of sycamores, cottonwoods, ashes, and black walnut trees. About 100 feet south of the drainage in Johnson Canyon, turn right (east), perpendicular to the river, and proceed 70 feet or so to a fenceline gate (waypoint 16110). Here an illegible wooden sign heralds the start of the track, reportedly called the Bohom Trail. The rugged, all but abandoned track ascends beneath the sheer south wall of Johnson Canyon. Emerging from the lower canyon, the track splits, with a lesser track that forks left along a fenceline at 9.8. The main route of the GET follows this fenceline track to begin an adventurous and wonderfully scenic section of cross-country travel that also bypasses a private ranch. (Alternatively, you could follow the increasingly-vague continuation of the Bohom Trail - the right fork at 9.8 - out to FR 475, but you'll end up walking through the ranch. There's a public easement along the main road, and the ranch owners are friendly, but you will more than likely be greeted by an enthusiastic contingent of the family's numerous hound dogs en route. It's all good, but please make sure to remain on the public road across this private property.)

Following the fence track at 9.8, a path (or way) down to the drainage of Johnson Canyon soon presents itself. Cross the pleasant little creek in its shady, albeit rocky setting, then find a way past a wire fence at the mouth of a dry feeder canyon that comes in from the north here (waypoint 16116). Now climb out of the feeder wash on its left side and work your way uphill among the lava rocks toward an obvious boundary with a different kind of rock just off to the west - the now-familiar hoodoo-forming "slickrock" tuff. Walk along this natural geologic boundary (the tuff terain is far easier on the feet) generally northeastward. A fence opening on the left at waypoint 16117 offers a fun side trip onto a sprawling bench of eroded rock with great views in all directions. Eventually our route veers east, following the lay of the land along the edge of the cliffs, then undulates its way to a meeting with an east-west fenceline. Keep just south of the fence, using it as a handrail until just before reaching FR 475, where a minor canyon cuts across your path, recommending a brief detour south. In any case, now join FR 475 and head north, passing through a gate at 11.0 (waypoint 16125).

Continue easily on FR 475 as it trends northeast among scenic, juniper-dotted grassland, crosses the drainage of Mud Springs Canyon, then reaches the signed trailhead for Wildbunch Trail #7 at 12.3 (waypoint 16130, elev. 4700').

Segment 15

Segment 17