Christopher Creek Gorge in Tonto National Forest, AZ

Canyoneer Christopher Creek Gorge Tonto National Forest, AZ

Class 1 3C (50 ft max) 2.4 miles 400 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Jun 7, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Christopher Creek Gorge GPX Track

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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Christopher Creek Gorge was a very fun canyon with a mild approach and escape. Its fun scrambling, rappels, and swimmers made for a great day. We were happy to have wetsuits, even in June. We parked on the side of a spur road from the highway since the official Christopher Creek Gorge trailhead is closed, requiring a walk along the highway to get to the start of the start of the official trail. We decided to instead head through the woods to avoid the loud highway sounds, and intersected the trail at some point. I included both routes on my attached map. The obvious Christopger Creek Gorge Trail led us down to the drop-in point, where we put on our wetsuits and started down. The canyon can likely be down climbed or jumped except in a couple of spots where a rappel is the only safe bet, which definitely makes this a technical route in my opinion. There weren't any surprises along the way – just a few rappels and some minor route-finding to find the easiest way around some of the obstacles. Expect to swim a lot and despite the relative shortness of the canyon, it took us much longer than anticipated. Granted we had a party of 6 and also took our time because it was a blast, it is also like a slow-moving obstacle course for the majority of the distance.

A cairn on the right of the canyon marks the exit route. The trail gets convoluted after a few hundred feet, and we messed up around here. I edited the route on my map to reflect the better route option to ascend out of Christopher Creek Gorge, but getting turned around isn't the end of the world. We found an animal trail (or just a social trail used by enough others that it was easy to follow) and pretty easily made it out with minimal bushwhacking.

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Starting from the pull-off, we headed into the forest rather than following the highway.
Starting from the pull-off, we headed into the forest rather than following the highway.
Easy forest stroll to intersect the Christopher Creek Gorge Trail.
Easy forest stroll to intersect the Christopher Creek Gorge Trail.
Along the Christopher Creek Gorge Trail, view down into the gorge.
Along the Christopher Creek Gorge Trail, view down into the gorge.
Nearing the bottom of the Christopher Creek Gorge Trail, where we suited up and hopped in.
Nearing the bottom of the Christopher Creek Gorge Trail, where we suited up and hopped in.
Image 4 from gallery
Some minor obstacles within the gorge.
Some minor obstacles within the gorge.
Image 6 from gallery
Looking back up the canyon, Kiyan unsure how to interact with being in a photo.
Looking back up the canyon, Kiyan unsure how to interact with being in a photo.
Lots of swimming within the gorge.
Lots of swimming within the gorge.
A couple of people jumped this obstacle, while others down climbed.
A couple of people jumped this obstacle, while others down climbed.
Short rappel.
Short rappel.
Image 11 from gallery
Continuing down Christopher Creek Gorge.
Continuing down Christopher Creek Gorge.
A minor water slide.
A minor water slide.
Looking back.
Looking back.
Image 15 from gallery
Interesting narrow section.
Interesting narrow section.
Looking back toward the narrow section.
Looking back toward the narrow section.
Image 18 from gallery
Christopher Creek Gorge isn't a slot canyon, but this section felt close to it.
Christopher Creek Gorge isn't a slot canyon, but this section felt close to it.
A rappel through a narrow section.
A rappel through a narrow section.
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
Some jumped, others rappelled.
Some jumped, others rappelled.
Looking back at the required jump or rappel, with a swimmer.
Looking back at the required jump or rappel, with a swimmer.
Another rappel down the featured waterfall of the gorge.
Another rappel down the featured waterfall of the gorge.
Looking back toward the most interesting rap of the day.
Looking back toward the most interesting rap of the day.
Looking back again.
Looking back again.
Swimmer after this waterfall.
Swimmer after this waterfall.
A longer section of swimming just after the very pretty waterfall.
A longer section of swimming just after the very pretty waterfall.
One more shot back at the very pretty waterfall.
One more shot back at the very pretty waterfall.
More obstacles as we head down the canyon.
More obstacles as we head down the canyon.
Image 32 from gallery
An interesting ramp feature as we near the end of Christopher Creek Gorge.
An interesting ramp feature as we near the end of Christopher Creek Gorge.
A final short, narrow section.
A final short, narrow section.
Image 35 from gallery
A cairn is visible on the right, marking the exit from the gorge.
A cairn is visible on the right, marking the exit from the gorge.
Pretty section near the exit of the gorge.
Pretty section near the exit of the gorge.
Using the escape social trail. We messed up our route - refer to the map for a better sense of the best route.
Using the escape social trail. We messed up our route - refer to the map for a better sense of the best route.
Nearing the top of the escape route, a few hundred feet before our cars came into view.
Nearing the top of the escape route, a few hundred feet before our cars came into view.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!