Sheepshead - Spring Creek Riparian - Oak Creek

On 31 December 2011, we drove north from Cottonwood on Hwy 89A and turned right onto Oak Creek Valley Road at the top of the hill just before the Spring Creek Bridge. We continued on Oak Creek Valley Road for about 1.6 miles and turned right onto N Merritt Ranch Road. We then continued on this road for one mile and parked where a very faint old dirt road leads off to the right. (Position: N 34°44'11.88"; W 111°55'15.11")

Before starting our hike, we paused for a group photograph.

Left to right: Al Westbruck, Tom Mantovani, Colleen Maktenieks, 

George Everman (front) Terry Johnson (rear) Janet Wakefield, 

Robert Wakefield (rear) Jo Benkendorf, Dolly Yapp (front), 

Mary Gavin (rear), Cindy Covin, Karen Reiner (rear), Daisy Williams (front), 

Jan Tomko, Donna Goodman, Miriam Sterling, Betty Wolters 

– photograph by the author

After parking, we followed the old dirt road, heading upstream, along the slope of the hill bordering Sheepshead Canyon. We soon found ourselves walking along an old abandoned canal, not used for some twenty years. This canal continues upstream until it intersects with the creek running down the canyon at an old dam site. However, as our goal was a waterfall located further downstream, we left the canal (at position: N 34°44'17.69"; W 111°55'37.54", about 0.4 miles from where we parked,) and descended to the waterfall at the bottom of the canyon some distance below the old dam site. The two photographs below show a section of the old road and a section of the old canal.

Road to old dam site

Old canal

The waterfall is about 25 feet high and would be rather spectacular if there were enough water flowing. I do understand, however, that the stream never completely dries up. Lila, who grew up in the area told us that the canal supplied water to a pond (I guess that would be a tank since we are in Arizona) only in the winter, but that the water has always flowed year round. No one had an explanation as to why water was not diverted during the summer. Perhaps local swimmers insisted on maintaining the pool formed at the base of the waterfall?

We didn’t linger long at the waterfall, just long enough for me to test my new waterproof socks. They worked quite well, by the way, and are what I plan to use for hiking in Ireland later this spring. I understand the trails get quite wet and muddy and we were advised to bring waterproof shoes. I have waders (hiking boots that drain water quickly) and I wear wool socks under the waterproof socks.

Below is shown shown a picture of the sock test and a picture showing the shoe drainage arrangement.

The waterproof sock test

Showing shoe drains

We had descended into the canyon at the top of the waterfall and we left by climbing back up the same way for a short distance and then turning to continue downstream so as to climb Sheepshead Mountain, where we paused for a snack and to take in the surrounding views. We could look back up the canyon beyond our entry point to where the head of the canyon was visible about a mile in the distance. We also had clear views out over Cornville and along Oak Creek, both upstream and downstream. The round trip distance for this short hike was just 1.4 miles as measured on my GPS. The map below shows the way.

Hike from N Merritt Ranch Road to Sheepshead Mountain past 

Sheepshead Waterfall

After our snack break, we retraced our steps back past the waterfall, back along the old canal, up the dirt road to our parked cars, and headed for the next segment of what would be a three-piece hike. After reaching our cars, we drove about one mile back along N Merritt Ranch Road to N Oak Creek Valley Road, turned right and followed it for another 0.5 miles before parking at a locked gate on the left. We crossed through a pedestrian opening in the fence at the gate and followed an old road for about 0.2 miles to reach the entrance to the Spring Creek Riparian Exclosure. The trail continues for another 0.1 miles to its end at Spring Creek. Thus the round trip distance of this second part of our three-piece hike was only about 0.6 miles. The only caution I have for this part of the hike is that after passing through the gate, walking about 300 feet downhill and crossing a wash, you should be alert to take the left fork in the road where it turns sharply up a small hill. The right fork (straight ahead) will lead to the same place. However it is just a bit longer and there is another fork along the way that could be misleading. The map below shows the way.

How to get to the Spring Creek Riparian Area (Exclosure) from Hwy 89A

A Coconino National Forest sign (right) is posted at the entrance to the riparian area. It calls it the Spring Creek Riparian Exclosure.

The area at the end of the trail into the area, with a patch of grass and trees all about, is such a pleasant place that one is tempted to linger for awhile. But we had other plans and soon tore ourselves away; we wanted to eat lunch at a waterfall on Oak Creek. I did, however, stay long enough to take a photograph.

Spring Creek Riparian Exclosure

Leaving the riparian area, we traveled, accompanied by the owner, across private property to a nearby waterfall on Oak Creek for lunch.

Waterfall on Oak Creek

Eating lunch at Oak Creek

The third, and final section of our three piece hike was a 1.2-mile (round trip) trail along the west (actually north at this point) side of Oak Creek, starting at Mormon Crossing and going downstream. See the map below:

Hike along Oak Creek below Mormon Crossing

This three-piece hike, as described, here is suitable for any time of year. The total hiking distance is just over three miles and is almost all along streams. No wading is required and there is very little climbing.

If you are a bit more adventurous and want to explore the entire length of Sheepshead Canyon, the following directions (from a January 2011 hike) will get you there:

How to hike down Sheepshead Canyon to Sheepshead Mountain

“Drive north from Cottonwood on Hwy 89A and turn right on Oak Creek Valley Road at the top of the hill just before you reach the Spring Creek Bridge.

Drive on Oak Creek Valley Road for about 0.8 miles before turning right onto a dirt road at the junction of Oak Creek Valley Road with N Willow Point Road. Continue on the dirt road for approximately 0.5 miles to arrive at the head of Sheepshead Canyon, not much of a canyon at this point. Park, enter the canyon and proceed downstream for about 1.7 miles to arrive at a high waterfall, passing a no longer used dam that once fed an irrigation canal leading along the left canyon wall and two retaining dams, apparently meant to prevent erosion and provide a riparian area. Leave the canyon by the left wall about 50 yards upstream of the waterfall and head for Sheepshead Mountain, clearly visible about 0.3 miles ahead.”

How to do a hike down Sheepshead Canyon to Sheepshead Mountain

NOTE: To make a one-way hike of a trip down Sheepshead, just leave a car on N Merritt Ranch Road where we parked today (31 December 2011) and return to it from Sheepshead Mountain following today’s route.