Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Hike Report, Stephen Reed Road, November 13, 2025

This has been a popular hike for the group for a long time.  It was a big group of 13 hikers and 2 well-behaved dogs:  we had some returning “Snow Birds” along with several hikers  we hadn’t seen for awhile. 

 

We park at the Washburn Corral - about 1 mile above the Research Station on a short side road off the Mountain Road.  

Way back in the early 1900’s Stephen Reed (who lived in a log cabin where the Research Station now is) built a wagon road (that is horse and wagon) up and over a low saddle to haul produce to the miners in Paradise.  Bits and pieces of the road remain with cut banks and gentle grades in spots.  

We’re not sure of the exact route so we detoured onto the south bench and followed what’s now a jeep road across the “Bean Field” to a dirt tank.

 

The old timers claim that a ditch was dug from the North Fork of Cave Creek to this pond and flat area, supposedly to grow beans.  The Washburn family had a cabin in the drainage to the north, which we visited.  Several stories concerning the Washburn family's involvement with the livestock industry can be found in Portal to Paradise.  Now the home site has remains of a stove, broken glass and rusty cans.  

Continuing north on what’s now a well used cow trail we followed a drainage to the ridge top.  Back in the 1970’s the USFS used YCC (Youth Conservation Corps)  enrollees to build a series of rock and wire gabions to stop erosion in this side drainage.  Most are still holding.  

  

We could see an occasional wagon road segment but the cow trail was easier.  We took a long break at the saddle and left the Cave Creek drainage and entered the East Turkey Creek drainage.  We marveled at the huge ancient alligator junipers along this unburned stretch of trail as we hiked north.  

Eventually we joined jeep road that took us down to the Forest Service road above Paradise.  Not to neglect local history we picked up what we think was a portion of the Sweeney Road and crossed East Turkey Creek up to Soldier Flat, where we had lunch.    The invaluable Portal to Paradise book describes this large grassy flat as the site where soldiers patrolling during the Apache wars would camp.  

  

                 Soldier Flat                                          Elephant Rock

After lunch, we admired the elephant, retraced our route and returned to the corral about 3 PM after a 6 mile round trip.

Next week will be our “maple hike” up the South Fork.  We will meet at 9 AM at the Silver Peak turnout and drive the short distance to the South Fork berm.  This hike is on a well used trail following the Creek for several miles with a mostly gentle grade.  Typically the big tooth maples have turned colors by middle of November and we always hope to hit it right.  It usually is spectacular.  We know some of the lower trees have turned color so people don’t have to wait for Thursday.  The weather forecast has a chance for rain so bring appropriate clothing as well as lunch, water and hat.  The route is up and back so people can turn around at any point if they have a vehicle at the parking lot.

Hike report from Al;  photos from Elaine, Eskild & Carol