Scouting Grapevine Gulch Trail

I had identified Grapevine Gulch Trail as being a relatively short hike, 2.7 miles one way, trail that could easily be hiked by the Skyliners as a 5.4-mile round trip hike. The trail is located in Grapevine Gulch on the Prescott Valley side of Mingus Mountain and the best way to reach the trail from Cottonwood would be to drive south across Mingus Mountain on Hwy 89A and then follow Powerline road, a dirt road, along the foot of the mountain to Grapevine Well which marks the trailhead.

It was a sunny day when Lila Wright, Karl Sink and the author set out early in the morning of 18 February 2015 to explore the trail. Although there were only the three of us and we could have ridden in one vehicle we chose to take two because the dirt road we would follow was unfamiliar to us. The two vehicles were a 4-wheel drive pickup and a rear-wheel drive pickup. This would enable us to determine whether 4-wheel drive was necessary and also provide a measure of safety in the event of a breakdown in a remote area.

From the Cottonwood Safeway parking lot it was 21.3 miles across the mountain to the turnoff onto Forest Road 643 (Powerline Road). The first 0.9 miles of FR 643, to the junction with FR 151, was heavily traveled and maintained in excellent condition. However, from that point on, the going became pretty rough in places as the road wound its way over and around hills and across deep washes while generally following the power line. I was happy to be driving a 4-wheeler. On the other hand, Karl managed to follow all the way with his rear-wheel drive vehicle. In the final analysis, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is highly desirable and a high-clearance vehicle is a necessity.

After another 4.8 miles, 6.1 miles from Hwy 89A and a short distance after FR 643 turned sharply east, we came to an intersection with FR 9002V. Forest Road 643 turned right and continued south at this point, but we continued straight ahead on FR 9002V until it turned left and headed north. This is the Grapevine Gulch Trailhead, but we drove straight ahead for another 0.1 mile to park at Grapevine Well.

The map (right) shows the route (see dark yellow track) we took along Powerline Road (FR 643) and FR 9002V to Grapevine gulch Trailhead.

The map insert (left) details the area from the FR 643/9002V junction to the trailhead and also shows Grapevine Well.

As noted, we actually drove another 0.1 mile past what we took to be the official Grapevine Gulch Trailhead. There, just short of the well, we came to a gated fence (below) and parked outside the gate to start our hike.

On the other side of the fence the trail follows an old road, see the faint track just to the left of the sign, that leads up the slope and follows along the hillside before returning to the bottom of the gulch. After crossing the fence, we paused for a few minutes to look around at Grapevine Well and its associated windmill and water tank.

Lila and Karl at Grapevine Well

The roughest and steepest part of the trail was the short section of old road that climbed up the hillside, but it was a short stretch of the trail. When we reached the high point on the hill, just before dipping back to the bottom of the gulch, we could see large rock outcroppings near the streambed below; this was undoubtedly the reason that the road builders had chosen the hillside in that area. On the other hand, a cow trail did follow along the bottom of the gulch and we could have followed that instead of the old roadbed.

In any case we were soon enough back in the bottom of the gulch, following the remains of the old road as it wound its way back and forth across the streambed. At the time of our hike the streambed was bone dry for most of the way, so we had no problem crossing it. A section of the streambed, about 0.9 miles from the trailhead, with the old road shown running along its left bank is shown below.

Grapevine Gulch dry streambed with trail (old road) shown at left

About 1.4 miles from the trailhead we came to the remains of an old mine. The only reference I could find to a mine at this location identified it as a “Cobalt shaft; Cobalt prospect; Walker prospect [?])¹” The source also indicates that it is a narrow (knife edge to 14 inches wide), 15-foot vein deposit of partly oxidized, altered gabbro (intrusive igneous rocks) containing relics of sulfide, possibly cobaltiferous arsenopyrite.

Although all we saw was the tailings pile alongside the streambed, the source said the workings included “a 28 foot long opencut leading to an 18 foot long adit (horizontal or nearly horizontal entrance to a mine). A 20 foot winze (minor connection between two levels in an underground mine) was sunk at the portal²”.

Cement Spring is located near the old prospect mine. I had seen the name on the map and wondered how it got its name. One look at the spring (right) answered that question. Someone, probably the miners, had dug the spring out and reinforced the walls with rocks cemented together. It was now more a shallow well than a spring. Although no water entered the streambed at this point, there was water in the spring.

From Cement Spring, the Forest Service map indicated that the trail continued for another 1.2 miles and ended at Trap Spring. When we arrived there, we did find a mere trickle of water in the streambed as shown in the below photograph. Contrary to the map, the trail continued on past the spring and, as it appeared to be well used and easy to hike, we decided to continue on up the gulch.

A trickle of water in the stream; trail continuing up the gulch (right)

About 0.2 miles above Trap Spring a trail branched off to the right, leading up a side wash to the northeast. We continued along the trail in Grapevine Gulch, heading directly north, for another 0.5 miles before deciding to turn back. The trail was still clear and easy to hike, sloping gently as it made its way up the gulch, and we wondered who had extended it. I later determined that the extension was the work of mountain bikers. The extension crosses the ridge ahead, follows Ash Creek for a distance and then returns to Grapevine Gulch Trail by way of the fork we had noted just above Trap Spring.

We stopped along the way for a leisurely lunch but still found ourselves approaching the end of our hike early in the afternoon. The below photograph, looking across Prescott Valley from the mouth of the gulch, was taken near the end of the hike. The Grapevine Well Windmill is located just beyond the rock formation shown right of center. Although the road looks good here, it is very rough ahead.

Looking across Prescott Valley; top of windmill visible above the rock formation

After finishing the hike, we decided that we would continue south on Powerline Road to Hwy 169 for the return home. That idea didn't work because the road is closed at a locked gate a short distance ahead. Finding ourselves stymied in that plan, we decided that we would instead go west from Powerline Road, following a road that we were sure would take us to Fain Road. We would then follow Fain Road north to Hwy 89A. Unfortunately, we soon came to another locked gate. This closure was emphasized with a dead coyote hung on either side of the gate. We weren't sure but

thought that might be a message for trespassers. One of the coyotes is shown here (left).

We gave up on all alternatives and returned home the way we had come.

After uploading my GPS track, I measured the round trip hike as being 6.4 miles. The maximum elevation was 6132 feet and the total ascent was 891 feet.

Our track is shown in red on the included map (next page). The purple track is the bike trail that loops across the ridge, down Ash Creek and then back across to rejoin Grapevine Gulch Trail above Trap Spring.

1 Cobalt shaft; Cobalt prospect; Walker prospect [?])

2 Ibid