| Summary: |
You've likely driven over
Munds Canyon numerous times since it passes
right beneath I-17 before draining into Oak
Creek Canyon to the west. The hike is nonstop
rock hopping on basalt boulders through somewhat
uninteresting canyon. |
| Directions: |
From Phoenix,
take I-17 north to exit 322 for Munds Park. Turn
right (east) off the exit ramp and drive a few
tenths of a mile past the gas station on the
right. Take the first right onto South Navajo
Road which skirts a golf course on the right.
Drive another few tenths of a mile to just
before where the road enters the golf course and
becomes a golf cart path and
park in a dirt spot on the left just across from
the waste water treatment plant. |
| Road Conditions: |
Passenger Car |
| Navigation: |
Easy, just follow the
drainage |
| Length: |
As long as you want, it took
the author 6 hours |
| Date Hiked: |
August 2004 |
| Weather Conditions: |
Warm and humid |
|
Required Skills: |
 |
| Hike Description: |
From the parking spot, circle
the fence that surrounds the waste water
treatment plant on the left heading towards the
two bridges of I-17 that span Munds Canyon. The
path is brushy at first, but becomes less so as
you enter the drainage. Start rock hopping and
soon the canyon bends right, leaving the highway
noise behind you. Jumping from rock to rock
you'll hit occasional patches of canyon grape
and willows which you'll have to push your way
through, but these become less frequent the
further down canyon you go. There are several
pools of standing water in the canyon, but you
should be able to keep your feet dry by climbing
around on one side or the other. After about an
hour of quick hiking I came to a short section
of pseudo narrows in the basalt layer. About a
half an hour later, a small layer of brownish
conglomerate rock appears and another half hour
after that (remember I was walking fast) the
Coconino Sandstone appears. The boulders
underfoot become somewhat larger as you pass
between the sandstone walls and the two short
sections of pseudo narrows in this section. The
second one (just past the slimy pool in the
photo below) features a somewhat tricky climb if
you're trying to keep your feet dry like I was.
Around the corner the red Supai layer makes it's
appearance and the walking becomes a bit
quicker. The canyon rounds a few corners then
becomes very wide as it makes its way towards
Oak Creek Canyon. The lower end of Munds Canyon
supposedly resides on private land, though I did
not see any evidence of signs or fences
indicating that hikers weren't welcome. Best to
check with the landowner if you are planning to
hike all the way through. Otherwise, when ready,
turn around and return the way you came. |
| Rating (1-5 stars): |
 
One problem I have with guide books like the
one below is that they describe hikes without
qualifying whether the trips are any good. This
hike is not so good. Yes, a bad day hiking is
better than a good day at work, however, there
are simply better hikes out there. The author
walked briskly for 3 hours down canyon well into
the Supai Sandstone until the canyon became very
wide. He turned around for a total hike time of
6 hours. |
| Books: |
Canyoneering Arizona
- Tyler Williams |
| Photos: |
Click picture for larger view, click your browser's 'Back' button to return to this page. |
