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Coronado Hiking Trails |
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Ash Creek Trail #307 & Ash Creek Detour Trail #307A
One of the Pinaleño range’s larger streams has carved the
route for this popular trail. As it drops from alpine forest to desert
valley, Ash Creek Trail passes through all of the varied life zones that
find a home on this unique mountain. Such a diverse set of surroundings
makes this an excellent trail for encountering some of the varied wildlife
species that inhabit the Pinaleños. Black bear, mountain lion,
both mule and white-tailed deer, javelina and coatimundi are just some
of the animals you’re likely to encounter if you proceed slowly
and quietly and keep a watchful eye.
If you like to fish for trout, you’ll be interested to know that
pools in the middle reaches of Ash Creek hold populations of native Apache
trout. Ash Creek is not a large stream, so the fish are small, but they’re wild and feisty nevertheless.
If you come with that in mind, you’ll enjoy the fact that they
are quite a challenge to catch.
Since this prominent drainage has long been used as a
major travel route up the mountain, it has also accumulated
a number of historic
relics. Along the trail are remains of an old sawmill
and a logging flume, as well as boilers for steam engines
used by loggers. These rusty artifacts
serve as evidence that this area was used for timber
harvest before modern transportation methods made it
cheaper to haul lumber from areas where
it could be harvested more economically.
Attractions:
Creekside setting
Trout fishing
Historic sites
Mountains to desert
Season: Upper reaches, summer only Lower reaches, all year.
Length: 8.2 miles (#307), 0.9 mile (#307A)
Elevation: 4,200'-9,440'
Rating: Most difficult
Use: Moderate
USGS Map(s): Webb Peak
Access: High elevation trailhead– From Safford drive 8 miles
south on US 191 to the Swift Trail (AZ 366).
Turn right (southwest) onto AZ 366 and
continue
29 miles to the Columbine Visitor Information Station.
Just past the Info Station and across the road are the
Columbine public corrals and Ash Creek trailhead.
Low elevation trailhead– From the town of Pima, drive
south on Cluff Ranch Road. When you reach the
entrance to Cluff Ranch, turn left. Cross the
cattle
guard, continue until you reach a
3-way intersection and turn left. Follow this road
approximately 1 mile to the trailhead.
Notes:
This trail is suitable for horseback as well as foot
travel; however, there is a stretch of the trail
called slickrock that
is particularly
hazardous
for horses.
To avoid this section, take the 307A detour.
Ash Creek has water in it year-round. Purification
of water is recommended prior to use.
There are native Apache trout and rainbow/Apache
hybrids in Ash Creek.
Before using this trail, call the Safford Ranger
District for current trail conditions which
can vary with season,
weather
and maintenance
status.
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