I’ve driven past and through Burro Creek campground several times but this was my first time camping here. It’s only a couple of hours from Yarnell and seems to be a good halfway point for travelers between Phoenix and Las Vegas from the number of picnic people I met while out walking.
Even the “scenic” drive from Congress on US93 is pretty along the Joshua Forest Parkway. Although it appears a lot of the Joshua Trees are dying. I had thought about taking a different route from Kirkland through Bagdad and joining US93 just south of Nothing, Arizona where there really is nothing much more than a dilapidated building, parking, and a cell tower.
One mile off the highway on doable rough pavement down to the bottom of the canyon through BLM grazing land with a view of the high bridge.
Roadrunner greeting
Pulled into camp about 1pm and after using the dump station, complete with potable water, circled around a couple times to find what I considered the “best” site, #18 for me. None right along the creek or even within sight of it which would have been premium. One big rig looked rather settled in and only two more RVs and one tenter came in later so we were nicely spread out with maybe 25-30 sites including pull in, back in, and pull through options. Relatively level gravel, 50-100 feet between sites with desert vegetation, shaded picnic table, fire ring, lots of trash & recycle cans and water spigots nearby. The bathrooms have cold running water and no showers. Group camp area & picnic shelters.
Lots of brush along the water. At first couldn’t figure out how to get to the water without bushwhacking. Then noticed stone steps which someone obviously had fun building with nearby river rock. In fact I discovered a couple of these options and then worked my way to the shore in a couple places.
Burro Creek downstream
Fingers of sand reached into the creek, some rather soggy. Which I shared with lots of track of deer, cattle and maybe burros which are supposed to be in the area. Plus poop. Didn’t see any animals and it’s difficult to tell the difference between burro and cow poop.
Burro Creek upstream
I looked for a rock called opalite that is said to be found in the area with no luck even though there were lots of beautiful colored rounded river rock.
Also saw some schools of fishes maybe about six inches long. No idea what they are.
Burro Creek upstream
Burro Creek downstream
No real “trail” along the creek but I did walk out of the campground onto the road and then low bridge over the creek for a different view. Seemed a lot less water downstream yet could have been flowing underground which is common in this type of rocky desert environment.
Back to camp for a beautiful desert sunset, which seem to be happening early these late fall almost winter days.
Although I’d heard noise all afternoon from work on the high bridge darkness turned on the quiet with a distant chorus of howling coyotes. My kind of song.
Absolutely no signal down in this canyon hole. However, had 4G at the Nothing tower only a few miles south and in Wikieup maybe eight miles north on US93 where I stopped for a Dazzo’s Chicago style Italian Beef sandwich just as tasty as I grew up eating.
Looks like a great stopping place and peaceful as well. What a pleasure to only hear wild animals at night 🙂 Fabulous sunset again. Hope you have a good week, Diane
Thank Diane. I do love the quiet desert nights.
Google search for Roundtail chub, they are in Burro Creek.
“Didn’t see any animals and it’s difficult to tell the difference between burro and cow poop.”
All the burro poop that I have seen looked like what a horse might have deposited which can usually be seen to be quite different than a cow patty. But I’m no scatology expert so you could well be right in what you saw.
Thanks Ed. More like burro than cattle.
It does look like a nice place for a picnic stop, but I like your idea of making it an overnight just to catch that awesome sunset. AZ has quite a few fun place names, but Nothing has to be tops with its slogan: “Through the years, these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing, all for Nothing.”
Timed right I think a sun and moon rise could happen right over the tall bridge. And now there’s nothing left of Nothing. 😉
Your Burro Creek upstream photo is gorgeous. Looks like it trickles away down stream but perhaps underground as you say. Going underground is a big thing here in Florida. Not sure why. From experience I’d say cow dung looks like patties and burro poop is usually round and in piles. LOVE to hear howling coyotes. My kind of music too.
Thanks Sherry. I think burro poop.
That is a nice campground, but would have been better if there was cell signal and more hiking opportunities. We missed the steps and had to bushwack to the creek.
First time I’d seen the stone steps. No hiking or signal. Not a bad for an overnight.
Really like the sunset picture with you truck camper. I think it would be a winning entry in The Truck Camper magazine calendar contest. Glad you are feeling better
Thanks. I am feeling better.
Hello,
I have just updated NOTHING in Wikipedia .. (started adding under HISTORY). = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing,_Arizona
What can you tell me of the rocks you have photographed please?
I’m onto chasing about the opalite and already have a bit on that.
What are the three units in the creek bank .. looks like sandstone, then maybe soft kaolinitic conglomerate and then very abruptly up into a basalt flow.
Cheers,
John Byrnes
I would agree with the creek bank layers. May have found one piece of opalite. Looks kind of like chalcedony
Love the photo of your “home” with that beautiful saguaro and the sunset:)
Thanks Pam.
Re: “I looked for a rock called opalite that is said to be found in the area with no luck ..”
Mostly it gets referred to as pastelite: e.g.
http://edwardallengems.com/catalog_images/318-Burro_Creek_Slab_001.jpg
Here is best account of it I know of (snipped) :
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Burro Creek Pastelite
True to its name it can be found in several pastel hues including pink, peach, gray, orange, and a blue or violet variety that is rather elusive to casual collectors. Some is mixed or brecciated with various agate and other minerals. Also mixed in the area is opalite which is a type of common opal, usually just white or gray.
Burro Creek is one of the better known rockhound destinations in Arizona. It’s fairly accessible although remote, and there is a wide range of material to be found there. Dominant is the pastelite which is strewn throughout the hills on both sides of the creek, one of the few places in western Arizona where water flows all year long. From where the road crosses the river there are collecting possibilities in all directions. To the north you can see the tailings mountain of the Bagdad mine.
( https://www.outofarizona.com/rocks/category/22 )
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That does not tell you precise location but a crossing where you might be able to see the Bagdad mine tailings from is at 34°36’8.75″N, 113°19’50.37″W
That is 8.3 mi northeast of the campground. It very likely does occur elsewhere along Burro Creek but that is the most specific I have found so far. Cheers, John
Thanks for the info John. My AZ Gem Trails book does mention pastelite. I don’t find anything else about opalite. But it sure is fun to look.