Yellow Jacket Springs

Back roads are prevalent in central Arizona, some leads to abandon mines, ghost towns and some are old military roads used by soldiers in the 1800s. Finding places off the beaten path that goes unseen by the majority of folks is one of the reasons back road adventure is a popular outdoor activity for the curious mind. Our quest for such places led Lloyd and me on a visit to Yellow Jacket Springs. I am unaware of any historical significance of the springs, it is just one of many in the Central Arizona Region. From Prescott Valley we traveled east on SR # 169 . The pavement on SR # 169 gave way to FR # 68D,a well-maintained gravel road as we crossed Interstate 17 on which we traveled about 10 miles. We unloaded the RZR and drove about 8 or 9 miles then turned east on an unmarked trail. It was a little rough, but not bad for a trail. As we made a gradual descent into the canyon, prickly pear cacti grows in abundance on the south-facing slopes of the tall, rocky mountains with outcroppings of craggy rocks forming a cliff at the mountain peak. Cruising along at 15 mph in some places and barely a crawl in others we reached the springs where clear, cold water bubbles up underground from the floor of a wash. Watercress and other aquatic plants thrive in such an environment in the natural world as well as water skippers and little squigglers we could not identify. The sighting of a Diamond Back Rattler about 5 feet in length with 10 rattles on the tip of his tail, crossing the road in front of us was a gentle reminder that we were in his territory and when hiking be aware that they’re out there. We rarely see any this size when on our back road trips.

Hopeful to see some mountain wildlife that inhabit the area but none were sighted on this outing. Later in the day on our return home , dusty and excited already planning our next adventure.