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NEW HIKE: Waterwheel/Ellison Cascades/ First Crossing
Meet up at Cottonwood Country Club at 6:45, carpool leaves at 7:00.

Trailhead: First Crossing Day Use Area - Houston Mesa Rd/Nf-199 near Payson AZ

Hike Distance: 5 miles with rock scrambling and water crossings
AEG: 300 ft (elevation at Trail Head - 4900 ft)
Driving Distance: 210 miles RT, approximately 2 hr driving time one way
Driver’s fee: $17
Trailhead facilities: Vault toilets at trailhead.
Leader: Karl Zimmer (858) 382-5291

This is an out and back hike, a perfect warm up for the new hiking season. It offers waterfalls, cascades and beautiful rock formations. We will start at the First Crossing Day Use area on Houston Mesa road, hike 1 mile along the East Verde River to the Water Wheel Falls recreation area, then continue along the East Verde River to its confluence with Ellison Creek. Some rock scrambling is required to reach this location (climbing up boulders 4 feet or less). At this point we will cross the East Verde river and follow Ellison Creek up two sets of cascades.

If there is interest we may do a second hike 4 miles away at Geode Hill. This is a 3/4 mile hike one way up a very steep hill to a location littered with Geodes. Rock hounds and Lapidaries will enjoy this side trip. Whether we do this extra will be decided at the conclusion of the Ellison Cascades hike.

Driving directions:
Take Loop 101 N (8 miles) to Loop 202 W
Take Loop 202 W (3 miles) to Exit 13, Rte 87 N
Take State Rte 87 N to Payson (89.4 mi)
Drive to Houston Mesa Rd (7.6 mi)
Arrive at First Crossing Day Use Area, Payson, AZ 85541

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