Hike Mineral Creek and Cooney Gila National Forest, NM

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Oct 13, 2020 — This somewhat popular hike follows the well-established Mineral Creek Trail. Shortly after the hike begins, the trail leads through some gorgeous and colorful narrows, which include some minor rock-hopping and hiking over slippery slickrock. There were even a couple of small, algae-covered waterfalls. The canyon opens up for a bit before entering another section of pretty narrows with an interesting rock-carved trough in the slickrock. The trail continues, keeping to the left bank of Mineral Creek. I passed what was marked as the mining ruins known as Cooney, but there wasn't much more than some debris. I kept walking, thinking maybe it was mislabeled, and came across some more interesting old mining history. The trail went farther, but most people seem to stop well before this. A couple of minor stream crossings, some bits of old piping, and overall pleasant trail walking led to a concrete foundation for a mining operation ruin, a dilapidated wooden structure. I continued farther on the trail for a bit into a cozy little section within the Mineral Creek drainage, and although the official trail does continue, I encountered a half dozen downed trees and spider webs. I realized the trail was likely not maintained past this point. I turned back, having already seen what I was looking forward to.

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Mineral Creek Trailhead.

Entering the first section of narrows.

Some minor rock-hopping within the narrows.

The narrows continue, but now have a slickrock floor.

View back along the slickrock.

One of a couple of small waterfalls along the slickrock-laiden section of narrows.

View back down the narrows.

A cool-looking pinnacle at the head of the narrows.

The narrows open up for a bit and the trail continues along Mineral Creek.

Second section of narrows begins.

Interesting water-carved feature.

Within the second set of narrows.

It's a short section, but very pretty.

Mineral Creek leaves the narrows.

Continuing along Mineral Creek.

Some old ruins at Cooney. There's more farther up.

Looking back down Mineral Creek.

Continuing along a more open section.

Approaching some more mining ruin remains.

I don't know what it is, but there's this old thing, plus the remains of a brick wall out of frame.

Continuing up Mineral Creek, where the trail becomes slightly less obviously traveled. Some old pipe that I argue should probably be removed, but others likely think it's "historic".

Particularly pretty section along the Mineral Creek Trail.

I reached a picnic table. Shortly after is a mining ruin.

Mining ruin ahead.

Concrete foundation and some old wooden structure.

Foundation ruins.

I continued farther up Mineral Creek for a few hundred more feet, where it became a bit cozy and lesser-traveled. And then the trail got too rough to be fun and I turned back.

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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!