PAYSON: Water Wheel Falls + Ellison Creek Cascades

Water Wheel Falls + Ellison Creek Cascades - PAYSON

This is the best hike in Payson area I have ever been on. It has EVERYTHING!!! Plenty of water, shade, sunshine, rock-hopping a little bit of steep climb, greenery all over, and new, exciting views at every turn.

Located in the rugged gorges below the Mogollon Rim, these two waterways, surrounded by Ponderosa pines, sycamores, willows and Gambel oaks, feed a ribbon of green. With easy access, this area is usually visited as hot-day swimming hole.

There is no official trail. It is more an arbitrary adventure along the creek until you've had enough.

The route Starts at the First Crossing, winds among the walls of a box canyon to the confluence of the East Verde River and Ellison Creek to a magnificent 40-foot waterfall, then continues to the Third Crossing. We will spend some great time walking the mini gorge and taking beautiful pictures.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate
TOTAL DISTANCE: 4 to 4.5 miles
ELEVATION CHANGE: 300-600 ft
HIKING TIME: 3+ hours
STYLE: in-around-and-out
DOGS: NO
FACILITIES at Trailhead: Restrooms

Note: These are fee areas for day-use only.
America the Beautiful and Tonto passes are accepted at all four sites.

THERE WILL BE A CARPOOL FOR THIS HIKE:

Deer Valley Towne Square, Phoenix, AZ
Target store I-17 and Loop 101 :

# 33°40'02.7"N 112°07'10.6"W

HOW TO FIND US:
7:00 a.m.
In front of Target store close to freeway / Beardsley road.
(see pin on map)

LEAVING CARPOOL at 7:10 a.m.
Starting from trailhead at 9:15 -ish

RSVP: PICK ONE
will you meet us at the CARPOOL or at TRAILHEAD ? <– PICK ONLY ONE

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:

From the 260 / 87 intersection in Payson, go north on 87 a couple of miles to the Houston Mesa turnoff on the right
Travel on Houston Mesa Road (FR 199) for 7 miles to
First Crossing Day Use Area

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.667544,-112.119442/34.342212,-111.2904385/@33.9373811,-111.8970206,10z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0

VERY IMPORTANT:
(we don't want to leave anyone behind):

RSVP: PICK ONE
will you meet us at the CARPOOL or at TRAILHEAD ? <– PICK ONLY ONE

UNLESS you CONFIRM that you will meet at THE CARPOOL we expect to SEE YOU AT THE TRAILHEAD.

VERY IMPORTANT TOO:
If you sign up for the hike, and you change your mind------just change your RSVP. It helps the host prepare, and its polite.