Tag: canyon swimming

A Quick Visit to Wet Beaver Creek

A few weeks ago we decided to visit Wet Beaver Creek to enjoy a warm day beside the running waters. Rather than hike a few miles up the canyon to the deeper pools we opted to visit the creek near the Beaver Creek Day Use area. It was a weekday and there were only a couple of other visitors. We were able to secure a spot with no one else around (at least until we decided it was time to leave and have lunch). Sitting in the warm sun and then wading into the cool water was refreshing. It won’t be long before autumn weather makes it too cool for this kind of relaxation–but for now it is still an enjoyable way to spend an hour or two. Here are some photos from that morning.

Wet Beaver Creek on a warm September day.
Wet Beaver Creek on a warm September day.
Plenty of shady spots to sit while listening to the flowing water of Wet Beaver Creek.
Plenty of shady spots to sit while listening to the flowing water of Wet Beaver Creek.
Shallow pools of slow-moving water lie on either side of a fast-moving current in Wet Beaver Creek.
Shallow pools of slow-moving water lie on either side of a fast-moving current in Wet Beaver Creek.

Photos shot with a Sony RX100V.

Hiking West Clear Creek Canyon—June 2025

Earlier this summer a few of us ventured on a hike into the upper sections of West Clear Creek canyon in the Coconino National Forest. This was a repeat visit for us having done it twice in the summer of 2014. That was long enough ago that all we remembered were the fun parts—and forgetting the hard and unpleasant parts. The latter included the long descent and ascent from the rim of the canyon to the creek and the long hike to the trailhead from where we parked.

But the good parts are good. Very good.

Here are some pictures from both this year and from the earlier trip.

Trail sign at the start of the descent into West Clear Creek Canyon.
Trail sign at the start of the descent into West Clear Creek Canyon.
Monkeyflowers were in abundance along the stream.
Monkeyflowers were in abundance along the stream.
Springs cascading into the creek (2014).
Springs cascading into the creek (2014).
The same springs this year with reduced flow (2025).
The same springs this year with reduced flow (2025).
At the base of a steep wall in a side canyon.
At the base of a steep wall in a side canyon.
Entry point from the main canyon into the side canyon (2014).
Entry point from the main canyon into the side canyon (2014).
Entering the side canyon (2014)
Entering the side canyon (2014)
This is a giant pour off in the side canyon.
This is a giant pour off in the side canyon.
Vertical walls and deep pools are abundant in West Clear Creek Canyon.
Vertical walls and deep pools are abundant in West Clear Creek Canyon.
Vertical walls in late afternoon in West Clear Creek Canyon.
Vertical walls in late afternoon in West Clear Creek Canyon.
Tufts of grass along the side of the creek in West Clear Creek canyon.
Tufts of grass along the side of the creek in West Clear Creek canyon.
Swimming is always a part of the fun in a canyon.
Swimming is always a part of the fun in a canyon.
Swimming in a deep pool (2014).
Swimming in a deep pool (2014).

The creek and canyon floor looked very different compared to our earlier visit. We assume that flash floods have done a lot of work in moving rocks and gravel around as well as sweeping out some of the vegetation. And the water was not quite as clear in 2025 as it was in 2014.

Also, the road driving in from Forest Highway 3 was in worse shape than a decade ago but we were still able to drive as far as we did then—just a lot slower.