GPX from our run yesterday. You view this online and then download in GPX or KML Format: Cherry Creek

Did this trail on Friday and Saturday to check out some ruins. There is one spot several miles north of the cliff dwellings that was kinda uncomfortable. On a narrow section of shelf road, there is a substantial wash out. On the drivers side is a vertical mountainside with so much soil that has washed down your at a pretty uncomfortable angle with less than a foot to the edge of the vertical drop off on the passenger side. Metal posts with reflectors have been placed around the washout, but they are almost in the way.

Just thought I would share this in case some one is heading out there.

Thanks for the post nimrag, I am heading up there this coming Friday.
It's not my first trip up there, but i am definitely a newbie when it comes to this majestic land.
about how many miles up until i should start seeing ruins, would you say?

BrentMG wrote:

Thanks for the post nimrag, I am heading up there this coming Friday. It's not my first trip up there, but i am definitely a newbie when it comes to this majestic land. about how many miles up until i should start seeing ruins, would you say?

There's a sign. You really can't miss it. I have no clue how many miles. Maybe 5 miles or less when you come out of the valley and head back up the mountain. I checked but don't have a waypoint where the sign is.

The sign is at about 21.5 miles from hwy 288.

That washout really is quite unsettling.
If you want to see the actual ruins, be prepared for a hike/climb/scramble.

Awesome place.

4GaugeSurprise wrote:

That washout really is quite unsettling. If you want to see the actual ruins, be prepared for a hike/climb/scramble. Awesome place.

Did you do it going north or south? We where heading north. At that point backing out isn't a very good option, either.

I was traveling from south to north. Did this last year sometime, I think it was june. Only got to about the 1/2 way point up the hike before one of my friends started getting sick so we had to abort. Continued driving north from there, came to the nasty washout then had all the passengers get out of the car (with emergency supplies) while I crossed that small section. I can be a bit overly paranoid when it comes to being responsible for people who are not me.

This sounds like a candidate for March's AZFJ second Saturday run!
What do you think Mother??

Maltajo wrote:

This sounds like a candidate for March's AZFJ second Saturday run! What do you think Mother??

That's quite a haul from Tucson. The hike to the really awesome ruins is not to be taken lightly either.
www.arizonaruins.com/s...chasm.html

I am planning to do a spring overnight just for these ruins, there are a few decent camp spots right at the trailhead.

This looks like a fun and relatively mild day trip especially the ruins, great info!

I've been wanting to do this.

Cherry Creek is a great area in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness I have camped along Cherry Creek Road near some of the old mines its off FR-203 near the junction of FR2812. Lots of really great ruins some are really hard to get to.

My uncle and I have been using Cherry Creek rd quite often for the past year.
We have been tackling the Salado Indian Ruin sites one by one.

Thought I should post some pictures of the trickier spots on the trail,
now that the monsoons of 2017 have changed the entire landscape
of Upper cherry creek road.
the (2) two giant boulders are still there - maybe ten miles apart...
(and aren't going anywhere),
but you can pass by both of them hugging the mountain side.
the entire road was passable as of 04/13/18 (pics taken).
we came in from the north side on this trip. and it got ugly quick.

It's been almost a year since the upper portion changed dramatically.
When it first happened, only dirt bikes, hikers, and some side by sides could get by.
the worst parts being about 15 miles from the top.
but after a year, people have made a "new way" through.
which involves dropping into the creek a couple times to get around washouts.
i'm not sure what i would rate it (because i have become so familiar with it),
but it's definitely more challenging than (2.0).

of course pictures wont do justice,
but i tried to get the right angle to tell the best story.

we had to move some fallin trees, and boulders at this washout to get by.

-


on this next picture, I am standing on the (old) part of FR203,
and to the left is where you go in & out of the creek, to a sharp left up,
then slow & steady over this loose hump on the right (maxed the angle gauge in the FJ)

-
look close at this last picture toward the middle (background),
the road was all but gone here. we had to walk it to see if there
was anything left to drive on. there was... barely..


People familiar with the area will notice the changes right away
just from these few pictures. I have been out in the Anchas during storms,
and I still can not imagine what kind of force must have come through here to change everything.
from boulder placement, to cherry creek road washouts, and the actual shape of cherry creek is now different.
its always been a rocky/crumbly area, but our prediction is FR203 will not be passable after this monsoon.
it will then be UPPER/LOWER cherry road.

Really excellent Trip Report!

You should Join Trailsoffroad.com and own this trail!
www.trailsoffroad.com