A Winter Hike up West Fork Oak Creek canyon

Running water and ice fill the shaded depths of West Fork Oak Creek.
Running water and ice fill the shaded depths of West Fork Oak Creek.

It has been a few years since we have done a winter hike up the West Fork of Oak Creek. This is mainly because of overcrowding in the canyon and a full parking lot. But earlier this week we passed by the entrance and noted that the parking lot was nearly empty. We already had plans for that day but decided to hike the following day.

This wall of ice greets hikers at the very beginning of the West Fork Trail.
This wall of ice greets hikers at the very beginning of the West Fork Trail.
Overnight refreezing creates amazing ice patterns.
Overnight refreezing creates amazing ice patterns.
One of the 13 stream crossings along the West Fork Trail.
One of the 13 stream crossings along the West Fork Trail.
Beautiful with snow and ice but this location is also amazing during the fall when the trees are in full color.
Beautiful with snow and ice but this location is also amazing during the fall when the trees are in full color.
There is an overhanging wall that drips water constantly and produces amazing icicles and ice sculptures.
There is an overhanging wall that drips water constantly and produces amazing icicles and ice sculptures.
A natural ice scupture from dripping water. What does it look like to you?
A natural ice scupture from dripping water. What does it look like to you?
Another overhanging wall with icicles framing the sunlit wall on the other side of the canyon.
Another overhanging wall with icicles framing the sunlit wall on the other side of the canyon.
The end of the West Fork trail where water spreads from side to side ("The Subway"). This can easily be waded in the summer but requires an extended deep freeze for the ice to thicken in the winter. While it may look like open water it is actually clear ice about an inch or so thick.
The end of the West Fork trail where water spreads from side to side (“The Subway”). This can easily be waded in the summer but requires an extended deep freeze for the ice to thicken in the winter. While it may look like open water it is actually clear ice about an inch or so thick.

We have done this hike in the winter enough times to know that having solid foot traction gear is necessary as well as a set of hiking poles. With those aids, we had very little trouble hiking to the end of the established trail (~3.2 miles). As noted at the trailhead, there are 13 stream crossings and each one had ice-covered rocks and/or logs to step on. The trail was a combination of packed snow and ice.

We saw only a few people at the start of the hike and none after the first half-mile or so. On the way back, we encountered a few hiking parties intent on reaching the end of the trail and they were close enough that I have little doubt that they made it. As we got closer to the trailhead we ran into several parties that were ill-equipped to be doing this winter hike.

This winter hike is best right after a snowstorm but that can mean having to break trail through the snow. We’ve done that and it was a workout. But the payoff in snow-covered cliffs and creek are worth the effort.

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Here are some older entries about hiking West Fork in the winter: