Arizona is an incredibly gorgeous, wildly diverse state with topography ranging from low level desert landscapes, to high mountain peaks and alpine forest ranges. More than any other geologic feature though, Arizona is widely renowned for its many beautiful and remote rock canyons, deep slot gorges, water falls and pools which are scattered throughout the state. However, what I find even more amazing, is that many of these backcountry wilderness canyons can be accessed through “non-technical” canyon hiking routes which don’t require ropes and are literally within a single day’s trip from either Phoenix or Tucson. For an excellent late summer to early fall day trip and hike, if you’re up for more of an exciting challenge and an extraordinary and scenic day trip, then take a mountain sliding, canyoneering hiking adventure to Seven Cataracts, and explore Willow Canyon, Tucson, Arizona.

It was the Labor Day holiday and early on Sunday morning that I left Phoenix, about 6am, heading out of town on I-10 East and arrived in Tucson by 7:30am. At the Ina Road exit, I swung off the freeway and took a left, heading east 8 miles, and met up with the TLC Hiking Group, led and organized by Eric Kinneman, at the Westin La Paloma Resort and arrived by 8am. Because the parking was said to be limited at the trailhead for this hike, we carpooled it together and set out for the day’s hike and journey heading east on Sunrise Blvd. by 8:25am.

The beautiful drive on Sunrise Blvd across the northern stretches of Tucson and through the rolling foothills of the gorgeous Santa Catalina mountains has always been a favorite of mine. The Santa Catalina Mountains are Tucson’s highest mountain range reaching all the way up to 9157 feet in elevation at its very top, Mount Lemmon. To get there and to reach the trailhead for our hike, we zig zagged it across Tucson, driving east on Sunrise Blvd to Swan Road, turned right (south), to River Road, turned left (east), then a right onto Sabino Canyon Road, left onto Tanque Verde Road and headed east on Tanque Verde Road till we reached the Catalina Highway, aka the “Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway”, and then turned left again.

It was about 4 miles or so after making the left turn onto the Catalina Highway that you enter the Coronado National Forest and start the winding ascent up into the rugged Santa Catalina mountains. Although it’s been a long time since I was last there, I was still amazed at just how beautiful and gorgeous this drive really is. Immediately as you head on up in elevation beginning at 3000 feet, the views are absolutely breathtaking with each switchback and hairpin curve offering a new and amazing rock formation or gorgeous canyon vista off to the distance. If you like to stop and take a lot of pictures, as I always like to do, you have plenty of opportunity to do so because this drive offers a number of vista points to enjoy along the way. However, at about mile marker 5, just past the Molino Canyon Overlook, there is a pay station where you must purchase a $5 Coronado National Forest day use recreation pass if you’re planning on stopping anywhere further along the drive. We purchased the day use passes, one each per vehicle and journeyed on for three more miles until we reached the Seven Cataracts Vista Point, just past Thimble Peak Vista and roughly at about mile marker 8 and about 1/3 of the way up to Mount Lemmon.

We pulled into the Seven Cataracts Vista point, and our trailhead, parked and started out on our day’s hiking and canyoneering adventure by 9am. The view looking down into Willow Canyon below was absolutely beautiful, but also incredibly steep too! Immediately, right from the beginning, the drop off into Willow Canyon on this “day use” trail was intense, to say the very least. Estimated to be roughly about a 1000-1300 feet descent straight down with a 60% grade on all loose dirt, gravel and rocks, each one of us had to literally drop down to the ground on our “butts” and from section to section, slide it on down for about a total of a ¼ of a mile until we had made down to the bottom. What a site it was to see too, really exciting and a lot of fun! However, this “non-official” trail, mainly used by experienced canyoneers, is rated very difficult, some even say treacherous or dangerous, so I would not recommend doing this hike on your own unless you are an experienced canyon hiker or have an experienced canyon hiking guide with you.

Once we had all safely slid our way down and reached the bottom and after a quick group photo, Eric began leading our group on our canyoneering exploration further down into Willow Canyon, scrambling, boulder hopping and class 3 climbing through partially running water falls. Really gorgeous and spectacular scenery all the way down too! We continued on for about a ¼ mile where we had reached a really nice running falls and enjoyed the opportunity to cool off, rest and enjoy the peaceful tranquility and beauty of this remote and lesser known wilderness canyon. Meanwhile, Eric, along with several other adventurous members, journeyed on for another 1/3 to ¼ mile, and after more scrambling, boulder hopping and class 3-4 climbing, reached a gorgeous 100 foot water fall and a larger swimming hole deep enough he said that even with a jump off a 10 foot cliff, they could not hit bottom! Amazing!

After about an hour or so break, we decided it was time to start making our way back. Now it was time for the most challenging part of our canyoneering adventure, making it back! So we began our trek back through Willow Canyon the same way we came, scrambling, boulder hopping, wading through the pools, then climbing it back up through the water fall. It only took a short time though and within minutes we had all made it safely back up and to the base of the side of the hill we had originally “slid” down on earlier. It was here that we met back up with Eric then broke up into two groups. You could decide to either make the ascent in the same place you came down with the 60% grade on all loose dirt and gravel, where Eric said it was for every 3 steps up, a slide of one or two back. Or my friend Dan decided it looked like if you took it up a little further down to the left, you could more easily climb it straight up the rocks and cliff and up to the top. So myself, along with several other members followed Dan’s lead and hand over foot, we slowly and carefully climbed it, section by section until we safely reached it back up to the top. Wow, for me and someone who’s scared of heights, and not experienced at rock climbing, it was challenging but a lot of fun and incredible workout too!

Once back at the top and at the Seven Cataracts Vista parking lot, we waited for the final members to safely return, then by 12:15pm we got back into our cars to drive the rest of the way up to Mount Lemmon for lunch at the Iron Door Restaurant. The views along the way were again, spectacular as you make your way from elevation 5000 feet on up to the Mount Lemmon Sky Valley, elevation roughly about 8200 feet. Although the signs of the devastating 2003 Aspen fire were noticeable, it was still very beautiful and the temperatures by this time of day, low to mid 80’s and very cool and refreshing.

However, with the 2.5 hour wait at the restaurant, due to it being a weekend and also a holiday, we decided it was best to turn around and head back instead.

We arrived back in Tucson at about 2pm and after an excellent lunch at a little restaurant called Renee’s Organic Oven on Tanque Verde Road, we arrived back at the Westin La Paloma Resort by 4pm, where those of us who had just came down for the day, headed back to Phoenix from there to return home again by about 6pm.

In all, it was really an extraordinary canyoneering exploration and waterfall hiking adventure with the TLC Hiking Group, carefully researched, well planned and thought through to the last detail by Eric Kinneman himself. Really had it all, amazingly beautiful, exciting, yet also very challenging. I think that this hike is best summed up though in Eric Kinneman’s own words in which he quotes, “The Seven Cataracts Waterfall Adventure Hike is an amazing hike that I highly recommend people taking. It will test your fears, give you an incredible workout and take you through some magnificent canyons, and a 100 foot waterfall and swimming hole, seldom seen by anyone. What more could anyone ask for!”

When it comes to wild and rugged wilderness beauty, from its desert bottom floor to its mountain top summits, the state of Arizona exceeds them all! Famous for its extremely hot temperatures, only in Arizona can you escape the heat on a summer day and explore one of its many remote wilderness canyons only accessible by 4 wheel drive and enjoy “non-technical” canyoneering; boulder hopping, wading and swimming through cool and refreshing natural pools making for an adventurous and extraordinary day’s retreat that is simply unsurpassed!

West Clear Creek is described by the U.S Forest Service as “one of the most rugged and remote canyons in northern Arizona”. A stunningly beautiful wilderness canyon, West Clear Creek offers many deep natural pools surrounded by colorful, narrow rock walls which are sure to cool you off on a hot summer’s day. However, most exciting of all, known only to locals for many years, and the reward for your day’s canyoneering adventure through the pools of West Clear Creek, you will be amazed to discover Arizona’s garden of paradise, the Hanging Gardens!

So if you’re looking for a retreat and a great way to escape the heat, and you’re up for a rough and wild off road wilderness adventure and a challenging, yet truly extraordinary canyoneering journey to Arizona’s hidden garden of paradise, then I highly recommend checking out the Hanging Gardens Hike, in the beautiful West Clear Creek Wilderness, Strawberry, Arizona!

Starting out early on a weekend morning in early August, I drove out to a meetup location on Phoenix’s far northeast side where I joined the fellow members and friends of the TLC Hiking Club, a local hiking & outdoors adventure club led by Eric Kinneman. After everyone had arrived and in preparation for the long day and strenuous journey that was ahead of us, we received a briefing including last minute safety and advisories then excitedly hopped into our vehicles and were ready to set out for the adventure we’d all been long anticipating, the Hanging Gardens of West Clear Creek!

Heading north on Highway 87, we made our way into the town of Payson by about 7 am, then continued heading north on 87 out of Payson until arriving 2.5 miles past the intersection of Highway 260. After quickly stopping to regroup all of our members, we got back into our vehicles again and with Eric Kinneman in the lead, we turned right on Forest Road 144, and got prepared for what had been forewarned to be a very rough and wild 4 wheel drive adventure! And that it was indeed too!

After turning right on all dirt road, FR 144, and stopping one more time to regroup, we slowly began heading our way east. Upon arriving at the end of FR 144, we continued by making a left onto FR 149, a left again on FR142 then a right on FR 142A. One by one, we very slowly and carefully made our way along this extremely rough road and wild terrain, winding around forest trees and brush, and up and over large rocks and boulders. Please be advised, these all dirt forest roads are extremely rough and rugged and require having a good 4 wheel drive vehicle, not just an HCV because a result of the recent rain storms that had come through the area, along the way we encountered some very deep and completely gutted out, muddy pools! Thankfully though, everyone made it through okay without getting their vehicles stuck, but wow, what an incredible off road adventure it had been so far!

Once making the last turn onto FR 142J, it was roughly 9.9 miles and 1 hour and 20 minutes later, that we had all made it safely to the end of the road, and were relieved to have arrived at the trailhead. Having finally reached West Clear Creek, and our destination by 9 am, we parked, pulled out our packs and gear, and then gathered round together along the cliff’s edge to wait for rest of the members of the group. There at the top and at the edge of West Clear Creek Canyon, I paused for a few short moments to look around and take a few photos of the amazing and beautiful wilderness scenery all around. How incredibly remote, rugged and pristine this area appeared to be and how very fortunate we all felt to be able to experience this. This was going to be an incredible day and an amazing adventure and we were all very eager and excited to get it started!

After gathering everyone together for a few group shots, it was now time for our canyoneering adventure to begin! Starting from the trailhead at the top of the cliff and with Eric Kinneman leading the way, one by one, we each began to make our way down into the beautiful canyon below. The journey down to the bottom of West Clear Creek Canyon immediately started with a steep decent, straight down about 867 feet, along a narrow but well marked use trail. With a lot of loose rocks and gravel, it was a strenuous trek all the way down which many chose to do by getting down on the ground and sliding it, rather than risk a slippery and dangerous fall.

Having successfully reached the bottom of West Clear Creek, I looked down into the canyon where were headed and noticed just how beautiful this place really was as the sun’s rays lit up the tall, amber colored rock walls. It was just amazing! I took a few quick photos then quickly rejoined the others. From here at the canyon’s deep, cool bottom floor, our canyoneering quickly began with boulder hopping over many large rocks and boulders for a short ways until came to our first pools. Only knee deep at the most, we quickly got into the water and boulder hopped, waded and splashed our way through our first few sets of pools.

By this time, most everyone had at least made it to the first pools and were now reaching further down into this gorgeous canyon with deeper and longer pools closely surrounded by tall, beautifully contoured and narrow rock walls, an area which is commonly referred to as the “White Box” of West Clear Creek. With all of our gear securely packed in dry bags and along with our flotation devices, we slowly swam from one cool refreshing pool to the next, down through the gorgeous canyon narrows and as I continued taking as many photos as I could, the scenery was absolutely amazing and breathtaking!

After briefly stopping for some fun and exciting “rope jumping”, the incredible canyoneering adventure through the beautiful White Box and narrows of West Clear Creek continued as we carefully trekked over the wet, and slippery rocks and boulders, all the while taking in the gorgeous scenery as we swam from one refreshing pool to the next which to our amazement within these pools were many good sized crawfish too! Reaching mid-morning by about this time and with the heat of the summer day coming upon us, our canyoneering journey continued as we slowly moved through one deep pool to the next.

It was reaching noon by now and roughly after 12 pools and close to 3 hours of intense canyoneering, I was beginning to feel exhausted and a little weary. Thinking that I could not possibly make it through yet another pool, we rounded the final bend and while noticing how green the riparian vegetation had become, we got out of the water and looked up; we had finally arrived at the remote and hidden, Hanging Gardens! Wow, it was indescribable! We entered this very lush, green, garden like area, first passing by a beautiful waterfall gushing from over the high cliff above, then moving on and directly to its left, there it was, the Hanging Gardens, a beautiful, cascading waterfall elegantly dripping over thick maiden hair ferns and vines, and wow, what an incredible and amazing sight! I could not believe my eyes. What a unique, remote and truly special place, a real “garden of paradise”, and a remote wilderness “oasis” literally of epic proportions! This place, the Hanging Gardens, was simply extraordinary and so much more than I had even imagined!

Now with most of our group and friends rejoined again, we took a break, ate lunch, did some more rope jumping and thoroughly enjoyed spending some time together taking many pictures and videos, trying to capture every moment that we could of this incredible place. However, it was by about 12:30 and with the afternoon heat of the day now well upon us, one by one we started to make the long and strenuous trek back through the many deep pools and White Box narrows of West Clear Creek, where the towering rock walls now glimmering with the afternoon sun’s rays, made the adventurous canyoneering journey back, even more gorgeous and spectacular every moment of the way!

It was now reaching late afternoon and after having made it through the very last pool, then hiking back up 867 feet to the top and the cliffs edge, we were thoroughly hot and completely exhausted. But wow, what an amazing adventure it had been! It was by about 3pm that we most everyone had finally reached the top and the trailhead again where we were parked completing the day’s canyoneering adventure according to our GPS, was 4.70 miles round trip which we completed in approximately 6.0 hours.

From here, we once again got back into our 4 wheel drives and got ready for the rough and wild return journey back. Miraculously, with only one tire blow out for the entire group, and by about 4:30 pm, we finally arrived safely at the main highway again, having completed the off road adventure according to our stats, was 19.9 miles round trip on what was absolutely some of the roughest, toughest and wildest dirt roads that we as a group had ever been on before! Wow, what an incredible adventure!

In all, really an unforgettable day and an epic, amazing wilderness adventure, that was well researched, planned and coordinated by Eric Kinneman of the TLC Hiking Club. So if you’re up for a rough and wild off road wilderness adventure and a strenuous, challenging, yet truly extraordinary canyoneering journey to a wilderness oasis that is truly a garden of paradise, then be sure you check out the Hanging Gardens Hike, in the beautiful West Clear Creek Wilderness, Strawberry, Arizona!

Having grown up in Gauteng, Im a little biased and to have to do some boasting. I am so excited that we have so many opportunities right here. Gauteng is the home of business, corporate, sky rise buildings, finance, economy, money, the hub of Africa – but Gauteng really offers you safari tours, safari adventures and animal adventures.

Being part of the corporate Gauteng world for over a decade, I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in several team building, conferences and board meetings and these were very often based in the proverbial Gauteng bush, a mere drive outside of the economical Johannesburg.

My husband was in awe when I returned from corporate outings to explain how I came up so close with rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, lions and so forth in the wild, and in Gauteng.

We really should shout to the world that Gauteng can offer these amazing treats and experiences – come and feel a Gauteng safari tour, go on a Gauteng safari adventure or have a Gauteng animal adventure – naturally in one of Gauteng’s animal lodges. You can find reputable game lodges in Gauteng. Visit Guest Files at guestfiles.co.za

The thought of drifting into sleep with the sound of the wild in the background, the odd roar or screech. What makes these experiences so special is that Gauteng is not typically viewed as being an adventurous offering. So it is an ideal opportunity to combine an official trip with an adventurous trip. And of course being a top class South African province, the accommodation will no doubt be of equal quality.

Make your Gauteng experience exciting and adventurous.