Update: Waterfalls of the Chiricahua Mountains

Locating Cave Creek Falls in the Chiricahua mountains adds another waterfall to the list and the previously published posts on waterfalls.  The waterfalls in Turkey Creek, North Fork, and Cave Creek appear to have year round water making them ideal locations for wildlife viewing, especially in dryer years.  An updated map of waterfalls is provided below showing the relative locations of waterfalls of the Chiricahua mountains.  Presumably there are other waterfalls not yet encountered but the north south line of 8 waterfalls across the interior of the Chiricahua mountains provides days of exploration activity for those interested in visiting permanent water sites in this sky island.  Access to these waterfalls are all off trail (except for the overlook at Winn Falls) and may include some strenuous hiking but the effort in visiting these places is well worth the effort.

Waterfalls in the Chiricahua mountains

In Search of the Fabled Cave Creek Falls, Chiricahua Mountains

In preparing the post on waterfalls of the Chiricahua mountains
it became apparent that a number of waterfalls lie on a north south transect through the Chiricahua mountains.  These include 2 waterfalls in Turkey creek, 2 waterfalls (Shelia falls) in a side canyon of Turkey Creek, North Fork falls (upper and lower), and Winn falls. This brought up an interesting possibility, what about additional waterfalls in other canyons that bisect the waterfall transect?  Exploring Google Earth for possibilities one canyon seemed to be mist shrouded.  Curious I began asking around and no one seemed to know of any other waterfall but single member of the hiking club, he said it was "Cave Creek Falls".  Some what astonished that little was known about the location it prompted a trip.  Starting at Herb Martyr dam and proceeding upstream seemed the easiest way to access this waterfall and several members of the hiking club met up for a reconnaissance trip to try and find the falls.  We were met with flowing water in the upper reaches of Cave Creek (above Herb Marytr dam) and began to follow the water.  The stream bed above the dam is lined with horsetails (Equisetum) and as the 4 hikers and 2 dogs followed the stream bed we encountered a trail.  Thinking there should be a trail to the waterfall we followed it.  Much to our chagrin it was a segment of the Basin trail (segment #247) that leads from Herb Martyr campground to the Snowshed trail that we picked up from the stream.  The trail slowly angled up and away from our intended destination, but after some bushwhacking back in the direction of our goal the falls was spotted in the distance.  Clearly the route to this waterfall stays in the stream bed following the water.  Enlargements of the blurry image indicate that the falls is currently flowing but will be more spectacular during the monsoons or winter rainy season, so a return trip is planned for photographs when more water is flowing.  The total distance walked was 3 miles with 500' of elevation gain.

Horsetails along upper Cave Creek

The Fabled Cave Creek Falls?

Mountain hikers

Map of the walk upstream from Herb Martyr dam

Waterfalls of the Chiricahua Mountains

Waterfalls are inspiring, evoking images of cool mountain streams and dense lush forests, but in the desert southwest there are also many waterfalls.  Found in the sky islands of the basin and range province of the southwest these desert waterfalls rely on moisture from the winter rains and summer monsoons for their displays.  Depending upon the time of year these waterfalls may range from a trickle to something truly spectacular to see.  In the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona the best known waterfall is Winn Falls.  This 400 ft high waterfall is viewed from the Greenhouse trail and may explain it's familiarity to many.  But there are a number of other waterfalls without names which are not as familiar.  These seldom visited sites are high in the interior of the Chiricahua Mountains and access takes time and energy since these waterfalls are off trail and generally require a significant elevation gain to reach.  An interesting observation about the waterfalls in the Chiricahua Mountains is their location.  A string of waterfalls is is located on a north/south transect in the interior of the Chiricahuas, see below.  Each waterfall or set of falls is reached by hiking up a series of canyons that bisect a band of harder material that comprise the base material of each waterfall.  This line of waterfalls may be extended north and south where other little know waterfalls may exist, but will require some further exploration to to test this idea.

Waterfall transect in the interior of the Chiricahua Mountains.

East Turkey Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains

There are 2 Turkey Creeks in the Chiricahua Mountains, one on the west side and one on the east.  Upper eastern Turkey Creek canyon was the goal of the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club this week.  Turkey Creek flows from Long Park at the top of the range down and east swinging north through the lower elevations and the town of Paradise then out into the San Simon Valley.  A popular spot along Turkey Creek is just south of Paradise where there are several pools constructed by campers and a waterfall.  But the remote upper section of Turkey Creek more beautiful and heavily forested.  The Canyon itself has no trail and requires hiking on some steep slopes above the many plunge pools along the route, but the scrambling is worthwhile.  Just a little over a mile and 1000' up is a nice 70' waterfall that cascades down a cliff face and then flows over another small 10' drop.  For those more adventurous a climb up and around the waterfall leads to a second smaller falls above the first and eventually to Long Park.  Although the area was only lightly burned in last years fire a large amount of water has flowed down the canyon since last year and a new side canyon was noted by one hiker who had not been in the area since the fire.  The route up Turkey Creek may be found here.

One of many plunge Pools along Turkey Creek

70 ft waterfall

Falling Waters in the Chiricahua Mountains

Deep in the interior of the Chiricahua Mountains and several miles off trail the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club took the day to experience the falling waters of the Chirichua Mountains.   A stream exiting a canyon along a popular hiking trail was the turnoff for the falling waters hike.  No trail exists and a steep ascent was accompanied by the constant sound of falling water as hiking club members passed numerous small waterfalls in the stream bed.  The floor of the canyon cuts through a variety of colored bedrock ranging from green to black creating these small and entertaining waterfalls.  Finally, rounding a bend in floor of the canyon the final objective came into sight, an alcove with a beautiful 50 ft. high waterfall cascading over angled water worn black bedrock.  Although fire has swept the area the trees along hillsides are intact in many places, but several blowouts at side drainages are evident along the route.  The fire removed most of the fallen small trees and brush which had clogged the canyon and made the first mile a hike through open forest, but the second mile was either boulder hoping along the stream or negotiating steep slopes above the water.  Staying high allowed a number of hiking club members to enjoy lunch on top of the falls while others chose to stay low and ate in the alcove at the base of the falls.  Two flying trees were photographed during the hike in the high country one of which is shown below.

50 ft. waterfall in the Chiricahua Mountains

Cascading water

A flying tree in the high country of the Chiricahua Mountains