American Southwest
Home | Categories | National Parks | Hotels | Site Map | Photographs | QTVR | Whats New? | More...
ARIZONA
Index | Introduction | Photographs | QTVR | Driving Distances | Map | Weather | Hotels


Fish Creek

Sites in Arizona

NPS - Landscapes
Canyon de Chelly
Chiricahua
Grand Canyon
Lake Mead
Organ Pipe
Petrified Forest
Saguaro
Sunset Crater

NPS - Historic Sites
Casa Grande Ruins
Coronado
Montezuma Castle
Pipe Spring
Tonto
Tumacacori
Tuzigoot
Walnut Canyon
Wupatki

Other Places
Apache Trail
Ironwood Forest NM
Meteor Crater
Route 66
Sedona
Sonoran Desert NM
Tonto NF
Vermilion Cliffs NM

Arizona Site Map

Site Search


The jagged Superstition Mountains and adjacent ranges, due east of Phoenix in central Arizona, have many steep, narrowish canyons amongst great expanses of sharp, eroded, igneous rock with several peaks over 4,000 feet and a dense covering of saguaro cacti. One particularly fine canyon is formed by Fish Creek, a lengthy drainage that flows from the center of the mountains in a north-westerly direction towards the Salt River, joining it just below Apache Lake.



Downstream: Fish Creek crosses AZ 88, the Apache Trail, 2 miles east of the point where the surface becomes unpaved, and about 25 miles from Apache Junction; there is no signpost but it is easily recognised as the road descends steeply along the edge of a deep ravine, and crosses the streamway on quite a high bridge. From this point, about one third of the creek is downstream (north) and can be explored by scrambling down and walking along the canyon floor, which has flowing water at certain times each year, usually during spring and after the flash floods of late summer. Occasional pools and boulders provide only minor obstacles and this hike is relatively easy. The lower section may also be reached by FR 80, a side road that links the Apache Trail with Horse Mesa Dam at the head of Apache Lake.

Upstream: A hike upstream along Fish Creek encounters similar rock and cactus scenery but the surroundings are just a little more rugged and remote. The canyon extends a lot further - for nearly 10 miles, splits several times and meets a few back country trails including TR 110 and TR 112, so rather more time could be spent exploring. From the Apache Trail road bridge, a faint path runs along the south side of the gorge and drops down to water level; the hike ahead then involves walking on pebbles by the stream, around boulders and sometimes passing above sheer cliffs to avoid deep water channels. The rate of progress is slower then might be expected as the rocks are large and quite numerous, and there are some places when a little rock climbing is needed. The undergrowth is thick - a mixture of trees, bushes, reeds and cacti, and wading may be needed at some times of year. I visited on a sunny November day, when the temperature was in the low 70s and a sizeable stream was flowing, and spent about one hour travelling 1.5 miles.
Photographs

  • 11 views of Fish Creek



  • Pool, rocks and bushes


    A small waterfall


    Similar Places

  • Sabino Canyon - pretty stream with pools and waterfalls, on the edge of Tucson
  • Agua Fria River - desert canyon in a new national monument


  • Back to Top

    All contents © copyright John Crossley | Comments and questions
    Arizona California Colorado Nevada New Mexico Texas Utah Wyoming Slot Canyons Travelogue