I’m really not the one who should be writing about this, Devon is the real explorer (the following photographs are his)… but here goes.

Not even 2 hours outside of Phoenix sits Payson, AZ and Water Wheel Falls camp grounds. It is a rocky by relatively easy hike to the cool pools of blue water interspersed along the trail. I forgot my jogging shoes at home, so the trail wasn’t easily navigated by me. Crocs and rocks do not make good friends. The trail begins winding under large Birch (I believe) trees. The path is more actual dirt than sand- a much needed change after my first few days back in the desert. We follow it- Fig pulling on his leash all the way- until cliffs begin to jut out of the ground. We all scramble over the rocks, the more experienced hikers in flip-flips leading the way. First- a small, jubilant stream. Then the sound of splashes as people jump off of large rocks into the blue water below. I’m amazed that a place is beautiful is so close to Phoenix. We keep walking, jumping over pools and streams, eager to get to higher ground. We stop at a pool shaded by a cliff. The water is cold and blue and full of small fish. Fig and Sydney are terrified of the water, but that doesn’t stop Figgy from jumping in and trying to ’save’ some of the swimmers. I usually don’t like to swim. Growing up in Texas, getting out of the water means getting back into the humidity and the inability to dry completely. Since this is Arizona, clothes dry in minutes and hair in even less. It was a perfect excursion.

Next time, I’m bringing my bathing suit and my jogging shoes.

You can read more about it here.