See Canyon Trail
Payson, Arizona
| Address: | See Canyon Trailhead, Payson, AZ 85541, USA |
| GPS: |
34°20'9.4"N 111°0'51.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Arizona |
| Trails/Routes: | 3.3 mi |
Streams Trails
Hike
See Canyon Trail #184 takes the hiker on a journey through the wooded Arizona wilderness surrounding Christopher Creek, and leading up the Mogollon Rim. This trail has trailhead markers at the beginning and the end of the trail, allowing hikers to proceed from either end. The first mile of the hike starting from the south is relatively flat, making a great day-trip for kids and dogs (on leash). After 2/3rds of a mile from the southern trailhead, there is a side trail to the right that goes to See Spring, which makes a nice detour if you didn't bring enough water. If you want to continue on, take the fork to the left, which will take you alongside Christopher Creek for a while, before climbing up to the edge of the Mogollon Rim. The hike gets steadily more difficult after the first mile. Christopher Creek flows seasonally, so it may not have much more than a trickle if rain hasn't fallen recently.
It's worth noting that while the lush vegetation provides a beautiful hiking environment, this hike will lack the scenic views of the valley that other hikes down the Mogollon Rim offer. Maples, aspens, and oak trees offer a spectacular autumnal display.
Make sure to bring plenty of water beforehand, you will want it with the steep elevation changes. Keep an eye on the weather, and avoid potential flash flood conditions for your safety.
More Information
Arizona Hiking: SEE CANYON
SEE CANYON, Christopher Creek One of the most popular hikes below the Mogollon Rim, See Canyon Trail #184 begins as an easy str...
http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com/2011/07/see-canyon.htmlExplore Arizona | Arizona Highways
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https://www.arizonahighways.com/See Canyon Trail #184 Hiking Trail, Star Valley, Arizona
A steep canyon trail that follows Cristopher Creek to the rim. Near Star Valley, Arizona.
https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7014444/see-canyon-trail-184Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Payson, Arizona
- Head northeast on AZ-87 N toward E Frontier St (0.7 mi)
- Turn right onto AZ-260 E (20.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Christopher Creek Loop (1.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Nf-284 (1.6 mi)
There are parking lots at each end of the trail; both accessable by 2 wheel drive car over a gravel road.
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Christopher Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
2.1 miles SWA creekside campground east of Payson with swimming holes, small waterfalls, spring trout stocking, and cross-country skiing in winter — open for day-use and overnight camping spring through fall.
Camp, Canyoneer, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Swim 0.4 mi
Christopher Creek Gorge
Payson, Arizona
2.8 miles SWCold, clear swimming holes and rappellable waterfalls in a canyon just outside Payson — cold year-round, with a wetsuit recommended in cooler months.
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 0.8 mi
Promontory Butte
Payson, Arizona
3.0 miles WSpectacularly scenic views from the edge of the Mogollon Rim, reached via old forest roads — a remote destination said to offer the best vantage over the forest below.
Hike 4.0 mi
Woods Canyon Lake
Payson, Arizona
3.9 miles EA trout-fishing lake near Payson with a scenic loop hike and Mogollon Rim views — swimming is not recommended, but the scenery and fishing make it well worth the visit.
Camp, Hike, Swim 1.7 mi
Meadow Trail #505
Payson, Arizona
4.0 miles EMeadow Trail #505 is a short, paved, wheelchair-accessible path along the rim of Woods Canyon Lake, high on Arizona's Mogollon Rim.
Hike
Upper Tonto Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
4.6 miles WA 9-site first-come-first-served campground at the junction of Tonto and Horton Creeks — with vault toilets, drinking water, and trailheads for Horton Spring and the Highline Trail nearby.
Camp, Hike 1.1-3.5 mi
Horton Springs
Payson, Arizona
4.6 miles WA spring on the Mogollon Rim where water emerges dramatically from the mountainside — hike the easy Horton Creek Trail through wildflowers and maples, splash in the cold creek, and camp near the spring.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 2.3 mi
Gordon Creek Falls
Payson, Arizona
4.9 miles SEA secluded ponderosa oasis outside Payson with a seasonal waterfall that gushes in spring or after monsoon rains — dry or muddy when rainfall has been scarce.
Hike, Swim
Sinkhole Campground
Payson, Arizona
7.6 miles ESinkhole Campground sits in cool ponderosa pines atop the Mogollon Rim, a short walk from the trout waters of Willow Springs Lake.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike
Haigler Canyon Campground
Payson, Arizona
8.6 miles SA 2007-built campground along Haigler Creek with 14 overnight sites, trout fishing stocked April through late August, and chiseled canyon swimming holes nearby.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Hell's Gate
Payson, Arizona
9.3 miles SWHellsgate Wilderness hides deep canyon pools possibly separated by impassable falls in a remote 37,000-acre preserve — a true adventure for spring and fall explorers.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim 0.2-0.6 mi
Ellison Creek Falls
Payson, Arizona
15.3 miles WFour waterfalls, multiple swimming holes, and trout fishing along Ellison Creek near Payson — the most popular stop is a short walk from the parking lot.
Dive, Hike, Swim
East Clear Creek
Happy Jack, Arizona
17.1 miles NWA Wild and Scenic river winding through the Mogollon Rim with canyon views, cliff-scaling canyoneers, trout fishing, and deep swimming holes for a full adventure day.
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 0.8-1.8 mi
Kinder Crossing Trail #19
Happy Jack, Arizona
17.9 miles NWA short but steep 0.75-mile hike dropping 500 feet to beautiful East Clear Creek — high-clearance vehicle required on FR 95T, no motorized vehicles past the trailhead, closed in winter snow.
Hike, Swim 1.0 mi
Maxwell Trail No. 37
Happy Jack, Arizona
26.7 miles NWMaxwell Trail drops from the Mogollon Rim down into West Clear Creek, ending at shaded swimming holes, small caves, and great fishing — water shoes required.
Hike, Swim
Bearfoot Trail
Strawberry, Arizona
27.2 miles WBearfoot Trail (#13) is a mellow, shady Mogollon Rim hike and mountain-bike ride linking Strawberry to Pine Creek, near Pine, Arizona.
Hike, Mountain Bike 0.6-2.9 mi
Tramway Trail No. 32
Happy Jack, Arizona
27.8 miles NWA steep, rock-scrambling descent through the Mogollon Rim to West Clear Creek, with deep fishing and swimming holes waiting at the bottom — not for beginners.
Hike, Rock Climb, Swim 1.1-4.6 mi
Fossil Creek Dam (Toilet Bowl)
Pine, Arizona
32.0 miles WA waterfall over an old Fossil Creek dam with a spinning natural rock slide that launches swimmers into the main pool — plus a shallow cave for shade on hot Arizona days.
Dive, Hike, Swim 0.1-3.8 mi
Fossil Springs Trail No. 18
Pine, Arizona
32.0 miles WA 4.75-mile desert canyon trail to the springs and an old dam in the Fossil Springs Wilderness — little shade and a brutal uphill return make summer visits genuinely dangerous.
Hike, Horseback, Swim 1.1 mi
Fossil Creek Waterfall
Pine, Arizona
34.5 miles WOne of Arizona's two Wild and Scenic rivers, with a short hike from a dirt-road parking area to a deep pool at the base of the falls — watch for snakes on the trail.
Hike, SwimNearby Campsites
Christopher Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
2.1 miles SWA creekside campground east of Payson with swimming holes, small waterfalls, spring trout stocking, and cross-country skiing in winter — open for day-use and overnight camping spring through fall.
Camp, Canyoneer, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Swim 4.0 mi
Woods Canyon Lake
Payson, Arizona
3.9 miles EA trout-fishing lake near Payson with a scenic loop hike and Mogollon Rim views — swimming is not recommended, but the scenery and fishing make it well worth the visit.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Aspen Campground
Payson, Arizona
4.0 miles EA large, popular campground near Woods Canyon Lake in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — note that Rim Road closes in winter, so the site is inaccessible during that time.
Camp
Upper Tonto Creek Campground
Payson, Arizona
4.6 miles WA 9-site first-come-first-served campground at the junction of Tonto and Horton Creeks — with vault toilets, drinking water, and trailheads for Horton Spring and the Highline Trail nearby.
Camp, Hike 1.1-3.5 mi
Horton Springs
Payson, Arizona
4.6 miles WA spring on the Mogollon Rim where water emerges dramatically from the mountainside — hike the easy Horton Creek Trail through wildflowers and maples, splash in the cold creek, and camp near the spring.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Sinkhole Campground
Payson, Arizona
7.6 miles ESinkhole Campground sits in cool ponderosa pines atop the Mogollon Rim, a short walk from the trout waters of Willow Springs Lake.
Camp, Hike, Mountain Bike
Haigler Canyon Campground
Payson, Arizona
8.6 miles SA 2007-built campground along Haigler Creek with 14 overnight sites, trout fishing stocked April through late August, and chiseled canyon swimming holes nearby.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Hell's Gate
Payson, Arizona
9.3 miles SWHellsgate Wilderness hides deep canyon pools possibly separated by impassable falls in a remote 37,000-acre preserve — a true adventure for spring and fall explorers.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Verde Hot Springs
Camp Verde, Arizona
39.0 miles WNatural hot spring pools beside the Verde River — the remnants of an old resort — reached by wading upstream from a dispersed camping area with no amenities near Sedona.
Camp, Hike, Hot Springs 0.4 mi
Clear Creek Campground
Camp Verde, Arizona
44.6 miles WA grassy creekside campground shaded by tall cottonwoods on West Clear Creek — ideal for hiking, swimming, fishing for smallmouth bass and sunfish, and wildlife watching in a desert canyon oasis.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Beaver Creek Campground
Camp Verde, Arizona
45.9 miles NWBeaver Creek is a refreshing creekside oasis in the high desert of central Arizona, where the cool, clear waters of Wet Beaver Creek wind beneath big cottonwoods and sycamores in the Coconino...
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim
Beaver Creek Dispersed Camping
Rimrock, Arizona
46.9 miles NWThis free dispersed camping area sits on the cliffs above Wet Beaver Creek in the Coconino National Forest of central Arizona, in the red-rock and juniper country near Rimrock and Camp Verde, not far...
Camp
McHood Park Clear Creek Reservoir
Winslow, Arizona
48.4 miles NEA canyon reservoir near Winslow for kayaking, swimming, fishing, and canyon rock climbing — paddle nearly 3 miles upstream.
Camp, Canoe, Canyoneer, Kayak, Rock Climb, Swim