Cool find at Lake Pleasant

Since I live in the same zip code as Lake Pleasant, I spend alot of time wheeling and fishing all around it. Last year my son and I found this spot around the backside of the lake and decided to revisit it. Unfortunately we couldn't quite drive down to the bottom of the canyon due to a huge 36" vertical step we would have had to come back up, and with nowhere to connect the winch or no other vehicles with us to pull us up, we parked 100' up the hill and walked down in. Here's some pics:


Lots of easy access to the shoreline on the north side of the lake



The plan was to fish and catch some sun



Got bored, so we bugged out up the road a bit back to the Crack to go explore. Doesn't look like much when you get up to it, but here's the entrance (actually the exit if you consider the way that the water flows when it floods)



Entrance, from a different angle.



A little further in, and it opens up to some pretty impressive rock formations









This one was particularly interesting, because all of the sedimentary rock had eroded in this crevace except for this one river rock which was still sitting in place. I thought it was wedged in there from flash flooding, but upon further inspection you could see the erosion around the base contoured perfectly around the rocks, showing that it was the last remnant of that old layer of sediment. The column behind it is also fully intact.



Lots of driftwood and debris like this up in cracks and erosion holes over 8 feet up the canyon walls.



I'd love to be standing on the edge of this thing when we get a good rain and a strong flash flood comes tearing through. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be caught down in this thing when it happened.

Anyways, it was a nice shady spot to get a break from the sun and see something different. Thought I'd share.

 

that's awesome man. do you live up near there?

 

wow, nice way to spend the afternoon,
how do you get there?

 

From my front door, I can be at the marina in about 17 minutes.

It's back up Castle Hot Springs road. Castle Hot Springs rd to Cow Creek to 2 Shoes Ranch road. It's about 3/4 the way back in before a big gate and lakebed crossing (when the water is down). The trail to the wash isn't very long and it's not marked with any signage, but you can see the wash on Google Maps running right along 2 Shoes Ranch road to the east. The trail follows a narrow ridge and drops down into the canyon area. Make sure you have clearance and at least a rear locker for a couple steps and spots that will spin your tires. Stock trucks would likely do some bumper damage.

There is a second trail into this spot just south of the trail I took, but it drops down into the canyon about 75 feet down a 45 degree slope. I wouldn't do that one without being locked (for the coming back out part), especially with the loose gravel and river rock all around. I watched a RazR climb it last year, and I thought they were going to roll.

 

Invite next time. You know I'll go check this out. Hopefuly we get some rain soon.

 

It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing Sunday morning, but I should have checked to see if you were open. I want to get back out there and find some new areas, but the lake was full and that dry lakebed crossing was about 10 feet underwater.

We should go back to the old Castle Hot Springs hotel, too. That's a fun easy run that only takes a couple hours roundtrip and it's another scenic canyon trail. No lift necessary back there, but there is some sand riverbed running to do although it's not too deep. Your truck would make it.

 

I'm in. I need to get into some dirt, mud, rocks soon. Oh and tax return is coming so.... somethings getting modded......

I was busy landscaping the back all day yesterday.

 

So from what I've looked at on the maps, this is just a part of Humbug Creek. Pretty easy to search it and find on Google.

 

Things like this prove why its awesome to have an off road vehicle.

 

I think its pretty close to where I went exploring.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/arizona/157207-humbug-creek-near-lake-pleasant.html

 

Yes, it's not far at all. When the water is down, the crossing across the creek down by the lake is open. There is a mesquite thicket with a narrow path through it to get back to the Table Mesa part, but it was closed this time. So many trails back there. A few of us made the crossing about a month ago and did some exploring but ran out of daylight. I also mapped out an old mine that I always wanted to check out, but it looked like it was a ride up a big wash and then some hiking/climbing to get to it. I wonder if it's still open.

 

Subd! I'm in for a lake run! Provided no high winds during the week ill have Sunday off!

 

Saturday and sunday***

 

Man, I've lived in the valley for 42 years and only been to lake pleasant once. I gotta get up there. (Live in chandler)