Carrizo Canyon

12/10/05

Carrizo Canyon is a mile south of Bow Willow Campground. It is the lower end of Carrizo Gorge which is noted for it wooden RR trestles and tunnels. Carrizo Canyon road winds about 7 miles up the canyon. Deep sand, washboard, scratchy smoke tree squeezes and rocky stretches are the norm! Not a single person came in the canyon the day I was here. I saw 1 coyote and lots of animal tracks. I arrived at the campsite at dusk and quickly set up the tent and fire. One purpose of this trip was to 'test' the tent, sleeping bag and mat for backpacking.

A nice camp site by the side of the road	A RR timber, probably washed down by the 1976 hurricane that caused so much damage
Rock variations	Another timber
Hiking past the end of the road now.	Rocks
Quiet Sunday walk	Flying pig rock
Cholla skeleton	Cholla forest
Small plateau looking into wash thickets.	This timber is huge! 16" x16" by 20'.
Still heading up canyon.	RR cut on hillside.
Some of the trestles.	RR winding around the mountain.
That is a tunnel entrance in the center.	Outcrop, on the way back now.
Surrounded by hills	And by Cholla
mud caked stream bed.	Balance rock.
Looking back to where I had been.	On the way out
A lot of bouncing on that road!	The hike was a moderately difficult 3 hour one. I would like to go back some this spring and explore this area more. There are several other side canyons too.