Chino City Limits

I used to see a show on TV listings called Austin City Limits. It has nothing to do with this blog, but I always thought it was a cool name for a show. A little Googling shows that it’s been on PBS for 40 years...yet I’ve never managed to watch one episode.

What I did manage to do is get out on the trails despite having low funds (that was a segue). I used only what I had in the Pioneer and my “reserve” gas can, and only what was already in my tow vehicle. This meant I couldn’t go far, but gave me the opportunity to check out some trails that have been rolling around my to-do box for a while. I headed out Perkinsville road only a few miles…probably actually IN the Chino Valley town limits if the truth were known, but that’s one of the advantages of living in a so-called “rural” area. The trails and back-country are never too far away.

My goal was to explore Haystack road, which eventually becomes a FS route in the general direction of the Verde River, and then just lead where the next trail takes me. As I said, Haystack has been on my list for a while, but I always skipped it for another trail because I thought it could go nowhere. As usual, when I finally get around to exploring those victims of trail prejudice, they reward me with un-expected surprises. Haystack does go nowhere (just where I wanted to go), and made for interesting bit of riding, with those remote treasures not everyone finds rewarding.

After a short distance, Haystack becomes FS 641. I had been told by a friend a few years ago that it went all the way to the Verde River at one point. After traveling for a few miles under 90 degree Arizona sun I began to encounter the usual dirt water tanks on mostly open grass-land, crossing a small wash a few times in-route. Truth-be-told, I had attempted this trail a few years ago in my Jeep after a heavy rain, and this same wash was flowing a few feet deep with run-off, but no problems today. A few miles in, the trail crested a small saddle in the low ridge that divides the drainage for the Verde River, and I was now traveling downhill into slightly thicker chaparral. The trail itself was not real rough…just enough to be a trail, but at this point was following a wash of its own.

After a narrow section and some small rock steps, the wash opened up and I found my 1st desert relics in the form of some water tanks, a small feed bin, and an old AerMotor windmill…the latter still spinning in vain, pumping water that isn’t there. And sounding much like one of the Tri-pods from the re-make of War of the Worlds from a decade ago. No EMP’s here, though. So after taking some shots, I consulted my topo app and noted that I was at the confluence of Gold Canyon and King Canyon, and then headed on down the trail.

Old feed bin and AerMotor, still working hard...and sounding creepy in the process. Gold Basin well.

A few miles later I was confronted with the all-to-familiar welded pipe gate and “No motorized vehicles beyond this point” sign that now block most easy access to the Verde River. I have documented one of these in a video before, and really expected to run into one at some point, albeit much closer to the Verde than this one was. Nothing left to do but turn and head back.

Once back at the old windmill, I decided to stop again and take a photo of a nearly buried water tank I had omitted before. After taking a few shots, I started hearing the tell-tell buzzing of a bee swarm several yards away. This would be of little concern to me except for the fact that Africanized Killer bees DO exist in Arizona. I high-tailed it to the Pioneer, and made the most of what power it has for several hundred yards. Strangely, this wouldn’t be the only time this scenario occurred today!

Buried tank at Gold Basin well, just before the bees came...

Once I had backtracked a bit, I turned onto FS 163. This number was familiar to me, and dumps you back out on Perkinsville road eventually, maybe 5 miles further than where I staged. In the meantime, it would its way across a few low ridges while snaking its way up Kings Canyon. Along the way were a few side roads I explored. These might have started life as woodcutting roads, but at this point they usually end at fire rings and campsites ( Arizona must lead the world in campsites ). A couple of these were interesting for the rock formations found.

Stopping on the way back to the main trail at a narrow spot where this trail splits two junipers, I hopped out to snap some pics when I started hearing thunder in the distance. My sight-line was blocked by a tall ridge at this point, but dark clouds were soon rolling across, and I decided to wait it out under the trees and take in the desert. Layers of rock to my right that defy time. The small wash to my left that testifies to the power of rain in the desert. The sprinkling of rain on my head as lightning flashes miles away. This is the reason I come here…to nothing…yet everything. Then I heard that buzzing again! For second time in a few hours, a swarm was headed my way. This time I simply stayed put, and it passed harmlessly by…though I am not sure where.  I guess it could have been the same swarm as the 1^st, simply heading in the same direction…

Storm clouds formed as I explored a side trail.

After the threat of rain dwindled I was back on 163 when I encountered what was called Kings well on my topo map. This whole area, it seems, has above average moisture just underground, as it has unusually high “greenage” for the desert. The well itself was fenced in and framed by some larger than usual pines…another sign of water in the soil. To access it required that I cross a field of sunflowers…

But first I hit the side trail leading off to the east. Again, it dead ended at some barren rock formations at yet another drainage eventually feeding the Verde River. And a fire ring. The rocks here showed more than usual erosion, so I can assume that large amounts of water can be present at times.

After exploring a small area and taking some pics, drops once again started to fall, and I headed back to the well, and spent some time under the trees enjoying a sliced chicken breast sandwich, topped by tangy mayonnaise and mustard. Washed down by an ice-cold Coke. Then checking out the infrastructure at Kings well, which was in a state of disrepair…including a poor AerMotor, who gave its all, and now sits neglected. Kings Well looks has not produced water in some time.

A snack spot at King's Well.

The old windmill at King's well gave its all.

After “veging” for a bit, I headed on up 163, and found that I was just a short distance from Perkinsville road. Sitting on the shoulder, I planned my next phase of the ride, and reflected on what I had seen already today. What was maybe the biggest surprise was that at this point I was a mere 7 miles from main street in Chino Valley…and the bulk of the ride was probably spent less than 5 miles from town. A surprising little adventure where I never expected such, and an enjoyable segment of trail for reasons I can’t really explain. I guess the simple things in life include simple little trails.

My ride was not over yet, though. My next move was for Martin Canyon and Smiley-rock trail…but that will wait until next time.

To be continued…

Click here for part II