A scenic view right before entering the Aravapai Wilderness area.
In order to get there we had to backtrack to Pima and then go southwest on Klondyke Road. This is a well maintained dirt road with several ranches and surrounded by BLM wilderness. The scenery was beautiful and we rarely passed another car. This is definitely a road less traveled. We made our way to Klondyke which shows up as a town on the map but there really wasn't anything there - a little store that was closed, a few rough houses and ranches. We kept driving along approaching Aravapai Canyon noticing more and more trees and a few isolated houses. Then, of all things, in the middle of nowhere, we passed an old, quaint church - The Salazar Family Church. It looked like it had been there a long time.
The Salazar Family ChurchThe Forest Service Information Officer had explained to us that we would cross water six times before we reached our destination. It seemed more like eight and we actually crossed the stream - tires through the water - no bridges!
Finally we made it! The entrance to the Canyon! A few cars parked there indicated people who had permits to be in the Canyon. We were permit-less so we took the road following Turkey Creek. Immediately the road turned quite rough and it seemed to fork left and right. Stopping the truck, Mike and I set out to do some scouting. I'm so glad we did because one side the road was completely blocked. The other direction yielded a dispersed camping site. Getting there would be a little tricky though.
This is the second time, by the way, that we arrived at our destination after dark. It seems to be a pattern we are developing which is not good when you are "primitive camping".
To say this road was a challenge was an understatement. We had a very short distance to go and we managed to get stuck. The darn attached step under the trailer door and the trailer stabilizers--grrrr! These items were hampering our forward motion. Then we saw the lights of an ORV. It was Frank Salazar and his friend to the rescue. They not only helped us get unstuck (Frank drove the truck and trailer over the most difficult section) but also gave us a little history of the area. The Salazar Family Church is still used but only for special occasions. A pastor or priest has to be called from Safford, there are no weekly services. We thought it might be a good spot for our wedding until he told us that. He also told us about the Turkey Creek Cliff Dwellings further down the road. He said it would be worth our while to check them out.
We fell into bed that night totally pooped.
Our canine friend, Kilo, woke us just before dawn. He had business to attend to outside. After our morning coffee and breakfast we decided to take a bike ride down the road. Before heading out we met Stace from the Nature Conservancy. This organization owns a good deal of the land around the canyon and he told us about some really nice camping spots farther up the road. One site had a pull through turn around and he told us that was the only way we'd be able to get out. Really? The ONLY way out? The look on Mike's face told me he smelled a challenge!
It was a good day for a bike/hike. Kilo trotted along with us herding me as a German Shepherd is apt to do! We saw some awesome campsites but felt we didn't want to venture any further with the trailer after our previous ordeal. Coming upon a sign for the Cliff Dwellings we started on a trail that led up the side of a rocky wall. Hiking along we eventually reached an area where two cliffs met in a V and we were suddenly walking through the cliff dwelling area. There were pools of rainwater and it felt surreal like an alien landscape. The floor was practically smooth, a gray, clay color as were the cliff sides. No wonder people had lived there, it was absolutely beautiful! Frank Salazar told us his uncle found the site and retrieved many artifacts that he turned over to local museum.
This was one of the most enjoyable hikes we have been on! It was well hidden and we were delightfully surprised! We are standing in the cliff dwelling area with a natural stone staircase to follow the trail!
Cozy Cliffs
We did a little scrambling and Kilo had to be coaxed a few times but it was an awesome hike. Mike was determined to get a signal on his iPhone but alas it was not to be. Still no signal even when we reached the top of the cliffs. Mike would have to wait to wish his daughter, Yibbie, a Happy Birthday.
Sometimes it was like walking in a tunnel!
Incredible view from the cliff.On the way back to our trailer a family of javelina (two adults and a baby) crossed our path. Kilo saw the baby and started after him. Fortunately the javelina family got away unharmed as did Kilo.
Needless to say we slept really well that night, so well we completely slept through the rain shower that dampened everything we had left outside.
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