89A to Lime Kiln Trail via Spring Creek

Twelve Skyliner hikers left the Safeway parking lot at 0800 on Saturday, 25 February 2012 for a hike along Spring Creek Wash. We drove north on Hwy 89A toward the Spring Creek bridge, turning on Spring Creek Ranch Road (a little-used road leading into an aborted (or at least delayed) housing development and parking just off the highway. From there we hiked 0.4 miles north along the east side of Hwy 89A to enter the wash at the bridge, crossing three fences along the way. As we followed the wash under the highway we noted a well-constructed bird nest tucked neatly under the bridge. I am not entirely sure what sort of bird built it; however it looked much like the owl’s nest that used to be located just above the main entrance to the local hospital. We saw no birds anywhere near.

Bird nest under the Hwy 89A bridge over Spring Creek Wash

We passed on under the bridge and continued up the wash, following cow paths along the side when possible. That is some of us followed the cow paths, others preferred the added exercise of hopping from rock to rock and just continued along the bed of the wash. I prefer the cow paths myself although, I must admit, the cows are prone to make their trails under low hanging bushes at times … good for brushing off flies if you are a cow, but sometimes difficult for hikers to navigate.

Soon after we left the bridge the walls on both sides of the wash grew higher and those of us following the paths along the bank had to cross over often when the stream bed veered too close to the wall. We continued in this manner for more than two miles before the wash widened and there was room for walking on both sides; even then some persisted in walking along the stream bed. About a mile before we came to our goal, the point where Lime Kiln Trail crosses Spring Creek Wash, we started to encounter dirt roads used by ranchers, campers and hunters. These roads played tag with the wash, approaching and veering away again, occasionally crossing over.

As we approached Lime Kiln Trail, we came to a fairly large herd of cattle, perhaps thirty or more, who seemed to have mixed emotions about interacting with humans. At first they appeared excited to see us, perhaps thinking that we were bringing something to eat. However, when we came closer, they hoisted their tails and scampered off.

Now on the east side of Spring Creek Wash, we hiked on past the point where Coffee Creek dumps into it, then crossed over and followed a dirt road up the west bank until we reached the Lime Kiln Trail markers. Finding ourselves a little distance west of the wash, we followed Lime Kiln Trail east until we crossed back over to the other side and found a nice spot for lunch. It was a little early, but we had just done a pretty strenuous 3.5-mile hike along a rocky wash, I had found a nice spot of grass (right, photo by George), and I didn’t hear anyone complain that they were not yet hungry enough to eat.

George seized the opportunity to pose us for our group photograph after my nap.

Left to right: George Everman (kneeling), the author, Donna Goodman, 

Jan Prefontaine, Daisy Williams (kneeling), Marvin Alt, Jim Manning, 

Colleen Maktenieks, Dolly Yapp (kneeling), Anita Jackson, 

Akemi Tomioka (kneeling) and Mary Gavan

We then packed up and headed back down the wash; this time taking the dirt road on the east side of the wash for a short distance.

The trip back was uneventful and we made very good time, although we did stop twice for short rest periods. Along the way, George found a gardening tool, carefully hidden in a tree near the trail. Donna examined it carefully (right, photo by George) and I thought she might be considering taking it home with her. We couldn't understand why anyone would have hidden it so carefully in the middle of nowhere. Were they using it to clear the trail? Perhaps the saw would have been useful for that, but this was not the sort of trail one used a rake to clear. In the end, George carefully replaced it where he had found it.

The hike was about 7 miles round trip. My GPS said 6.99 miles when we returned, Mary’s read just a bit higher, and the track when downloaded to the computer measured 6.4 miles. I have no explanation for the discrepancies. Elevation gain was negligible with only around 150 feet difference between the bridge at Hwy 89A and Lime Kiln Trail. I was back home just after 1400.

On the included map (below). today’s hike is shown in red; the blue line shows a section of Lime Kiln Trail.