Horton Creek

JUST EAST of Payson, Horton Creek offers a fast-flowing riparian environment with wonderful cascading water, something we don’t find in many places around Arizona. That makes the trail popular among the Arizona Highways Hiking Guides list of top day hikes. Prescott offers Watson, Willow, Goldwater and Lynx Lakes, along with Prescott’s mostly seasonal creeks.

Horton Creek runs year-round and rises as a spring four miles in, and the turnaround point for most hikers. Horton Creek Trail connects with the 40-mile Highline Trail, so you can do as many miles as your feet will let you; we saw several backpacking parties pass.

The eight-mile hike that most are doing is considered moderate. It rises from 5,360 feet to 6,700, so it’s not a flat walk in the park. Still, many kids and adults do it, many during the summer to feel the cool water and experience the abundance of flowers. We did it in mid-April, when it was still cool and the flowers were just beginning. Even so the trail was packed with friendly, happy people enjoying the sheer beauty of Horton Creek.

Some tree stumps along the trail serve as great places for snacks, lunch or just places to rest and take it all in.

The creek becomes more prominent about two miles in. There are many places to get down to the water, and boulders offer spots to just kick back and maybe take a nap.

During summer Horton Creek is a paradise, filled with a dozen types of flowers: columbine, yellow bells, monkey flower and daisies tantalize the hiker, and lupines, wild roses and other species easy to spot. Oaks, cottonwoods and sycamores offer plenty of shade on most of the trail to help cool off, another major enticement.

Most of the Horton Creek Trail was built on an old jeep trail, making a good foundation, but one part of it traverses a scree of small rocks, so I advise hiking boots. The gem at trail’s end is Horton Springs, where the water comes down a mossy, 30-foot slope and flows into the creek.

Overnight camping in the area is a good option. On this outing we saw plenty of camping tents.

Hikers usually park at the Tonto Creek Campground, but it’s currently closed for renovation, so park at the Dedrick trailhead, and on weekends you’ll want to get there early, before there are no spaces left.

Just before reaching the spring, the old jeep road offers a view of the Mogollon Rim straight ahead. This is an awesome sight, but keep your eye on the trail, because this also the part of the trail where’s you’re most likely to spot a rattlesnake.

The trail leads right up to what appears to be the end of the creek, but don't stop here or you'll miss Horton Springs. Another 100 yards to the east you’ll find the spring’s mossy green waterfall. It's fun climbing to the top, but be careful on the slippery moss. 

The climb is gradual, so not noticeable during most of the trail. The steepest part comes about three miles in. The last time I hiked this trail, in 2012, I hardly felt the elevation. This time I stopped often for rest breaks going on.

Birds at Willow Lake

Willow Lake continues to be a birder’s paradise. You’ll see owls, cormorants and herons along the nature trail. By the lake you may find northern harriers, black hawks, killdeer and red-winged blackbirds. I hear amazed birders talking about their new finds nearly every time I visit.

Video on Munds Mountain Wilderness

Our Preserving Arizona Wilderness video is out on YouTube, view it here.