Lower Cedar Bench Trail

The weather forecast for 5 April 2014 called for a slight chance of rain, so we set out for our destination, Lower Cedar Bench Trail, along the Verde River below Camp Verde, with one eye on the gently threatening, partly-cloudy sky. However, the rain gods smiled on us and it turned out to be a near perfect day for hiking. The slight cloud cover kept the temperature down and rendered the many flowers we found along the trail in a soft, filtered light that brought out all the glory of their various colors.

The flowers were a major reason that we had scheduled a hike on this trail. Having scouted the trail in December of 2012 and determined that it would be an excellent trail for flower viewing, we scheduled it for last spring. That hike, however, was canceled because of adverse weather. That actually turned out to be a lucky break for me as I was scheduled to be on a four-day trip across the Navajo Reservation to Rainbow Bridge at the same time.

We left the Cottonwood Safeway parking lot, our normal gathering spot at 0700 and drove south on Hwy 260 to Camp Verde. There we exited onto Oasis Road, just past the exit to General Crook Trail, and proceeded to its end at Salt Mine Road. We turned south on Salt Mine Road and continued for 15.1 miles to park at Brown Springs. The pavement ended 7.2 miles from Oasis Road and the last 7.9 miles were on a well-maintained dirt road. For those who have traveled this way before, the road is tremendously improved from its condition a few years ago.

This improvement is probably due to increased activity at the ranch located at Brown Springs, now called the D-Tail Ranch (right). New outbuildings have been erected and much work has been done to beautify the area around the springs.

The gate shown above now marks the end of Forest Road 574 (Salt Mine Road). Previously, the road continued a short distance up the hill to end at Brown Springs. Perhaps it still does technically continue on but, for all practical purposes, this is the end of the road for public vehicular access.

The end of FR 574 at D-Tail Ranch

A spacious parking area is provided alongside Gap Creek just behind the photographer as he stood to take the above photograph. An old road, FR 517, runs alongside Gage Creek for the short distance to the Verde River, permitting river assess.

Showing the old road, now FR 517, running alongside Gap Creek to the Verde

River. This photograph was taken in December 2012.

The sign seen faintly behind the tree branches in the above photograph provides river access information.

River access information sign

Although we will start our hike here, the Lower Cedar Bench Trailhead is still about 0.7 miles ahead. A trail sign shown here indicates that this is the way to Oxbow Trail and Cold Water Trail but does not mention Lower Cedar Bench Trail. In fact, only Oxbow Trail actually begins here and the hiker follows it to the Lower Cedar Bench Trailhead and then beyond that to Cold Water Trailhead. Knowing this, we set off on Trail 163 (Oxbow), at first following the road on toward Brown Springs. But after about 0.1 mile, we turned right, leaving the road to bypass the springs. The trail here has been graded since December 2012 and can now accommodate 4-wheel drive vehicles and general ranch equipment. This section of trail, bypassing the springs and the improvements made there, is now apparently being used by the ranch to service the pastures above.

As expected, after climbing about 400 feet in the first 0.7 miles after the parking lot, we arrived at the Lower Cedar Bench Trailhead. We paused at the trailhead, actually on the way back, for a group photograph.

Hikers are, left to right: Betty Wolters, Daisy Williams, Kwi Johnson,

 Ellis Price and Ruth Frazier – photograph by Name withheld.

We encountered flowers all along the trail, starting with evening scented stock, growing in profusion along our path, and horehound, which although not blooming was nevertheless quite beautiful and continuing with numerous others.

Evening scented stock

Horehound

Scarlett gauara

  

Yellow primrose

Our flower viewing was interrupted often by pauses to take in the scenery around us. Below is seen the view back up the Verde River.

Looking back up the Verde River from Lower Cedar Bench Trail

About 1.47 miles, per my GPS track, and some 800 feet higher in elevation we were on a ridge and at the highest point of our hike. From here we could look across the river to 13-Mile Rock Butte, Hackberry Mountain and the Towel Mountains.

Left to right: 13-Mile Rock Butte, Hackberry Mountain and the Towel Mountains

We stopped here for a short rest and a snack break. As noted, we had climbed some 800 feet in a bit less than 1.5 miles, mostly along an old rock-strewn roadbed, and we were ready for a breather.

But the flower-bedecked trail descending into a large gorge just over the ridge called us on and we were soon on our way.

Desert Marigolds and firecracker
penstemons

Firecracker penstemons

Showy penstemon  

Blackfoot daisy

Verbena  

Feather Dalia

Finally, on the way back, just as we were approaching the end of the hike, we came upon a patch of lupine (right) we had missed on the way in.

The trail follows along an old wagon road that has recently seen some minor improvements that permit it use by ranching equipment for part of the way. However, about two miles from the parking area, the improvements end and the rest of the way is only traversed by cattle and horses. The entire length of this trail, from its beginning at the junction with Oxbow Trail, is quite rocky and is very steep in places as it makes its way up and down the ridges and gorges along the western bank of the Verde River. However, the views and the many flowers to be seen made the hike well worth the effort. In our case, we go plenty of rest just by stopping to admire the flowers and plants.

According to my GPS track, measured after I downloaded it to my computer, the round trip hike was 7.3 miles, the trailhead elevation was 2926 feet, the elevation difference was 918 feet and the total ascent was 1985 feet.

Our track is shown in red on the included map (below). The trail itself continues for about another 2.8 miles to end near Cold Water Creek. This unhiked section of trail is shown in blue.