DVD
Adventurer
I was thinking of Huck Finn as we prepared for a Memorial Weekend getaway. We function pretty well within civilization, but sometimes you just have to bust out for the wilderness. My wife, Laurie, and I were overdue for a little adventure. She had spent most of the previous week in the hospital, helping her Dad through a pacemaker replacement, so we weren't even sure we'd be able to get out of town. But that circumstance helped set the tone for the weekend: keep plans flexible, avoid clocks and crowds, reconnect with creation, and find some adventure.
As with any good adventure, the trip was not without challenges. The part about malleable plans was tested before we even departed, and we pushed back the departure from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning due to some family events.
Babysitting grandkids trumps early departure any day
I was hoping that holiday traffic out of Phoenix would have abated by Saturday morning, but we slowed to stop-and-go as soon as the interstate narrowed to 4 lanes at the edge of town. So we exited and took secondary roads through the little towns of Wickenburg, Yarnell, and Congress, finally arriving at Prescott via this slower but less stressful and more scenic route.
Laurie enjoys the solitude of offroad trips, but she also has a soft spot for art shows and ice cream. As we drove past the picturesque Prescott town square, traffic slowed for an art show, so that was our first stop. I kept repeating to myself: “Malleable plans. Don't worry about time.”
Art fair in Prescott
After some browsing and a decent food-truck lunch, we continued on pavement to Jerome and stopped for ice cream and window shopping. The ice cream was good, but Jerome was inundated with holiday visitors. As we walked up and down the busy streets, I eyed the gravel Perkinsville trail heading north to the Verde Valley and Sycamore Canyon, pleased by contrast of noisy crowds in town and empty gravel trail.
Much later than (I had) planned, we hit the trails. The Perkinsville trail follows portions of an old mining railroad grade, climbing out of Jerome and providing some spectacular vistas of the Colorado Plateau and Sycamore Canyon - our intended destination.
Heading out of Jerome on Perkinsville Trail
Crossing the Verde river at Perkinsville
After crossing the Verde river, and continuing north, I was pleased to turn onto a new trail for us, heading east toward lower Sycamore Canyon and some Sinagua ruins. The trail was a bit rougher/slower than I expected, and it was already well into the afternoon, so we adjusted our original plan to end the day further north on Sycamore Canyon. Instead we decided to camp at the end of the forest road where the hike to the ruins commences.
The site was beautiful and the solitude profound. We didn't see a single vehicle on the side trail nor anybody at the trailhead where we camped. We checked the log book for the nearby Sycamore Canyon hiking trail, and the most recent entry was almost a month ago.
The maintained hiking trail leading into Sycamore Canyon
Looking down on our campsite (hidden in the trees)
Camp is set, dinner is served
As night fell, we could see the lights of Jerome on the side of Mingus Mountain far away.
The start of a beautiful day
After a good night in the wilderness, we packed up the vehicle and then set out on a hike to search for the ruins. The ruins are not officially marked, so we took (digital) maps and followed a nominal trail that seemed to be going the right direction.
Cairns are a good indicator that we're on the right trail
The hike had some climbing
This sign was a good clue that we were getting close
Rounding the side of the cliff, we finally saw the ruins.
The ruins are sheltered within a natural alcove
Hiking up to the ruins, with the broad sweep of Sycamore Canyon as background
Another view of the natural alcove
The great thing about exploring these remote sites is having the place to yourself. Nobody else at the ruins, nobody on the trail, no railings or fences. Just explore the site in solitude and leave it as you found it.
Small entrance
Another view of the "small room." According to research, this was a two-story dwelling.
The construction details are interesting.
Intact roof centuries later
Roof support beam
The stonework integrates with the natural rock
Interesting to see the thickness of the reed layer
Wood lintel for the opening
Another stunning aspect of this site is the view on the canyon. I think these lesser canyons are frequently overlooked due to the proximity of the Grand Canyon. Sycamore Canyon is certainly spectacular in its own right.
Panoramic view into Sycamore Canyon
We meandered and navigated a bit on the hike to the ruins, and then we explored the nearby ledges and desert plants on the return trip - finding additional wall construction and fabulous views. I read about pictographs nearby, but we didn't find them. It was probably a 45 min hike each way.
Exploring other ledges near the ruins
Blooming prickly pear
Hole in the cactus
Post 1 of 2
As with any good adventure, the trip was not without challenges. The part about malleable plans was tested before we even departed, and we pushed back the departure from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning due to some family events.
Babysitting grandkids trumps early departure any day
I was hoping that holiday traffic out of Phoenix would have abated by Saturday morning, but we slowed to stop-and-go as soon as the interstate narrowed to 4 lanes at the edge of town. So we exited and took secondary roads through the little towns of Wickenburg, Yarnell, and Congress, finally arriving at Prescott via this slower but less stressful and more scenic route.
Laurie enjoys the solitude of offroad trips, but she also has a soft spot for art shows and ice cream. As we drove past the picturesque Prescott town square, traffic slowed for an art show, so that was our first stop. I kept repeating to myself: “Malleable plans. Don't worry about time.”
Art fair in Prescott
After some browsing and a decent food-truck lunch, we continued on pavement to Jerome and stopped for ice cream and window shopping. The ice cream was good, but Jerome was inundated with holiday visitors. As we walked up and down the busy streets, I eyed the gravel Perkinsville trail heading north to the Verde Valley and Sycamore Canyon, pleased by contrast of noisy crowds in town and empty gravel trail.
Much later than (I had) planned, we hit the trails. The Perkinsville trail follows portions of an old mining railroad grade, climbing out of Jerome and providing some spectacular vistas of the Colorado Plateau and Sycamore Canyon - our intended destination.
Heading out of Jerome on Perkinsville Trail
Crossing the Verde river at Perkinsville
After crossing the Verde river, and continuing north, I was pleased to turn onto a new trail for us, heading east toward lower Sycamore Canyon and some Sinagua ruins. The trail was a bit rougher/slower than I expected, and it was already well into the afternoon, so we adjusted our original plan to end the day further north on Sycamore Canyon. Instead we decided to camp at the end of the forest road where the hike to the ruins commences.
The site was beautiful and the solitude profound. We didn't see a single vehicle on the side trail nor anybody at the trailhead where we camped. We checked the log book for the nearby Sycamore Canyon hiking trail, and the most recent entry was almost a month ago.
The maintained hiking trail leading into Sycamore Canyon
Looking down on our campsite (hidden in the trees)
Camp is set, dinner is served
As night fell, we could see the lights of Jerome on the side of Mingus Mountain far away.
The start of a beautiful day
After a good night in the wilderness, we packed up the vehicle and then set out on a hike to search for the ruins. The ruins are not officially marked, so we took (digital) maps and followed a nominal trail that seemed to be going the right direction.
Cairns are a good indicator that we're on the right trail
The hike had some climbing
This sign was a good clue that we were getting close
Rounding the side of the cliff, we finally saw the ruins.
The ruins are sheltered within a natural alcove
Hiking up to the ruins, with the broad sweep of Sycamore Canyon as background
Another view of the natural alcove
The great thing about exploring these remote sites is having the place to yourself. Nobody else at the ruins, nobody on the trail, no railings or fences. Just explore the site in solitude and leave it as you found it.
Small entrance
Another view of the "small room." According to research, this was a two-story dwelling.
The construction details are interesting.
Intact roof centuries later
Roof support beam
The stonework integrates with the natural rock
Interesting to see the thickness of the reed layer
Wood lintel for the opening
Another stunning aspect of this site is the view on the canyon. I think these lesser canyons are frequently overlooked due to the proximity of the Grand Canyon. Sycamore Canyon is certainly spectacular in its own right.
Panoramic view into Sycamore Canyon
We meandered and navigated a bit on the hike to the ruins, and then we explored the nearby ledges and desert plants on the return trip - finding additional wall construction and fabulous views. I read about pictographs nearby, but we didn't find them. It was probably a 45 min hike each way.
Exploring other ledges near the ruins
Blooming prickly pear
Hole in the cactus
Post 1 of 2
Last edited: