Conditions:West Clear Creek (Hanging Gardens)-20241031041744

Latest:	29 Oct 2024 (7 mos ago)

Reported by:	Dyln cole (74 reports)
Quality:
Waterflow:	Deep pools
Wetsuit:	Thin wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:
Time:	7 hours

Team: 1 people with experience level Intermediate

Trip report URL:

Comments: Hiked from the 160, powerline road looks ok but for 6 mi round trip, not worth driving, pretty horrid in some points.

Windy day was freezing, I recommend a full wetsuit minimum for comfort, gardens were gorgeous. I counted less than 8 swims (few wades and two mandatory swims). One of those swimming sections was much larger than I would have figured, over 100m swim very close to the approach/exit.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
29 Oct 2024		Deep pools	Thin wetsuit		7 hours	1 people Intermediate	Dyln cole (74 reports)
Comment: Hiked from the 160, powerline road looks ok but for 6 mi round trip, not worth driving, pretty horrid in some points. Windy day was freezing, I recommend a full wetsuit minimum for comfort, gardens were gorgeous. I counted less than 8 swims (few wades and two mandatory swims). One of those swimming sections was much larger than I would have figured, over 100m swim very close to the approach/exit.
5 Oct 2024	Good	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit		6 hours	2 people	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Approached via JL and exited out the White Box. Water is getting quite cold, 3/2 wetsuits would have been ideal.
4 Nov 2023	Great	Deep pools	Full wetsuit	Normal	6 hours	2 people	Nclegg (407 reports)
Comment: Accessed the gardens via JL and exited via White Box. 4/3 neoprene was enough to get through but 5mm+ would have been preferred for comfort.
3 Jul 2022	Great	Low	None	Nontechnical	1 day	1 people Brand new	Shmuelic (1 reports)
Comment: Solo one night trip. As soon as I pulled off 260 the road was pretty rough. Driving a 4-wheel drive CRV and decided I couldn't get very far so I parked and started walking, about 5 miles to trailhead. In hindsight I wish I had pushed through the first rough patch, I probably could've driven the first mile or two. The leftmost of the 3 roads is the correct one. Passes through pine forest and gets scrubbier as you approach the canyon. Stay left at both major junctures and continue following the road when it crosses the powerlines. Finding the drop in point was tough and the trail looks like a little deer trail before it opens up a bit. Rock hopping is easy at the bottom of the canyon initially but you quickly reach some deep pools that can't be avoided. I floated my pack across on an inner tube. Spent the night at the bottom and then made it to the hanging garden (a boulder overhanging the main creek at the bottom of a small waterfall that is covered in moss from the perpetual moisture) the next morning. It's a cute spot. Reversed my walk in to get out. Total time about a day and a half.
2 May 2021 Trip report	Great			Special challenges	6 hours	2 people Advanced	EMoorcroft (450 reports)
Comment: This was our third trip in the last year to hanging gardens. The first time we took tubes through the whitebox bc it was very hot. All the times we have taken the social trail back up from behind the gardens and just up stream. This trail is not great by any means and is interwoven with games trails as is winds over to the ridge. The last two time we approached via jacobs ladder. The exit has gotten easier, advice would be to gain the ridge up and behind the gardens. the gardens were green and flowing , and buzzing with dragon and butterflies. we had it to our selves for the day.
19 Aug 2016 Trip report							HikeArizona.com (271 reports)
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at HikeArizona.com, see Trip Report for full details.