Hiking West clear creek trail, az
The West Clear Creek Trail near Camp Verde, Arizona is a must-do for anyone who prefers a less crowded option than hiking on one of the more popular creekside trails in Sedona. This trail offers some of the most stunning views in the region and takes hikers through a rugged canyon and remote wilderness area. Not to mention the sparkling clear year-round creek that that is its name sake.
As a professional Southwest landscape photographer, tree lined West Clear Creek is one of my favorite fall subjects and destinations in Arizona- particularly in the fall season. Please see trail photos below….
The West Clear Creek Trail is an approximately 7.5 mile in and out hike that starts at the Bullpen Trailhead, located about 20 miles east of Camp Verde. There is another way to access the trail and creek form the North but that is considerably more challenging. From Bullpen, the trail follows the course of West Clear Creek as it flows through a narrow canyon and features crystal-clear pools and a few cascading waterfalls.
A Bumpy Ride Down: I would be remiss to mention that getting to this trailhead requires a bit of bumpy and at times a very rough ride down into the canyon floor on forest road 215. So travelling in a high clearance and 4wd vehicle or truck is a very good idea in my opinion. I would not recommend trying to reach this trailhead in a low clearance passenger vehicle…
The Trailhead:
At the shaded trailhead area there is very ample parking and restrooms are available. The first part of the trail is relatively easy and takes you through a beautiful forested area with plenty of shade. If you take the main trail from the Trailhead you will then slowly rise onto a rocky part of the trail until you reach A long field or meadow section that parallels the creek and canyon walls for about a mile or so. You will be about ¼ mile above the creek to the right not directly on it in this section. You will also bump into a cool and historic stone structure on this section of the that is worth checking out and hard to miss…
As you descend into the canyon at the beginning of the Wilderness boundary, the trail becomes tighter and more challenging and occasionally requires some scrambling over rocks and boulders as well as walking along a ledge in some parts. But the effort is well worth it, as the views of the canyon walls and the crystal clear creek are simply breathtaking. Keep in mind there are at least 4 sections of the trail that require you to cross the creek so be prepared.
Take A Dip
One of the highlights of the West Clear Creek Trail is the opportunity to wade or swim in the creek's crystal-clear pools or swimming holes. The water is cool and refreshing, and magical with red rock reflections in the deeper canyon sections, making it a perfect way to cool off on a hot Arizona day. Just be mindful of the weather conditions as the creek is subject to flooding during summer monsoon storms and winter run off.
Fly Fishing On West Clear CreeK:
The West Clear creek also offers plenty of opportunities for angling including fly-fishing. There are Brown trout present that reproduce naturally as well as stocked Rainbow trout. Without getting into specifics, in my experience the farther you travel into the canyon away from trailhead the better the fishing will be with more opportunities for solitude as well.
The Bullpen Trailhead, where the West Clear Creek Trail begins, offers ample parking and restrooms and has lots of shade curtesy of towering and old Cottonwood, Sycamore, Ash, and Bigtooth maple trees. The trail is well-marked and maintained, but it leads into a wilderness area, you will see the wilderness boundary sign, so be sure to bring appropriate gear (I highy recommend Trekking poles and ice cleats in the winter) and supplies, including plenty of water and snacks. Cell phone service is limited in the area, so it's always a good idea to bring a map and compass, or let friends and family know where you a re going.
Best Time and Reasons To Visit and Hike West Clear Creek?
My absolute favorite time to hike and photograph this rugged canyon trail and creek is during the fall season. As you will see in the images I captured below, its a truly magical time to visit and generally there is a good chance for solitude. You can increase you chances of finding some solitude on this trail by visiting on a weekday.
Highlights Of Hiking West Clear Creek:
A fairly accessible remote wilderness trail that offers great and mostly easy hiking along a crystal clear stream with out the crowds
Great fall colors along the creek bottom in the Autumn season
Numerous crystal clear pools for wading and swimming if desired
Good fly-fishing opportunities in the upper stretches of trail and creek
Outstanding Red Rock canyon, flowing creek, water reflections, photography subjects
In conclusion, hiking the West Clear Creek Trail near Camp Verde, Arizona is a true outdoor adventure that offers stunning views, refreshing swimming holes, and a chance to experience the beauty of Arizona's Red Rock wilderness. Whether you're an experienced hiker or just looking for a scenic day hike, this trail is definitely worth the effort. Please make an effort to pack in and pack out all trash to keep this beautiful gem as natural as possible!
Below are some images I have captured along this trail primarily in the fall. Please click on the images to see full size high resolution versions that are available for sale. Please contact me if you have any questions about this trail or want to purchase an image that is not linked. All images are copyrighted
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Perfect and relaxing spot for a break or quick lunch.
A river of fall colors follows the West Clear creek bottom. This is a view from a rugged overlook of the canyon.
View vibrant 4k fall scenes along the West Clear Creek hiking trail .
Old historic ranch structure along the West Clear Creek trail. Its hard to miss it..
Fall colors along the trail and creek bottom. Autumn is my favorite time of year to hike the West Clear Creel trail.
A Beautiful meadow section of the West Clear Creek trail during the fall season.
Wilderness Boundary sign. This where you will enter a tighter canyon section of the trail that requires a little more effort and a little scrambling here and there. But, the stunning creek side views are well worth the effort to continue.
West Clear Creek Flowing through a red rock canyon section. This is a section where you will need to cross the creek as the trail continues on the other side. Trekking poles can come in handy when doing creek crossings…
One of many crystal clear pools along West Clear Creek. This creek is great subject for water reflection loving photographers like me.
Low angle view of West Clear Creek in the Wilderness section of the trail
A ribbon of Cottonwood trees lines the creek bottom. This is an early morning fall view of the West Clear Creek canyon from an overlook.
The author with the creek flowing in the background. There are numerous shady, beautiful, and lush spots to chill and picnic along this remote and beautiful high desert creek in Arizona.