diff --git a/content/posts/guides/tourism/lower-eagle-creek.md b/content/posts/guides/tourism/lower-eagle-creek.md index b450dc6..1a5d537 100644 --- a/content/posts/guides/tourism/lower-eagle-creek.md +++ b/content/posts/guides/tourism/lower-eagle-creek.md @@ -41,21 +41,21 @@ aliases: This was one of the most beautiful canyons I have ever explored. There's good hiking, unique hot springs, and likely climbing as I did some "bouldering" in some areas just for fun. -The industrial quality of the initial creek area is slightly off-putting, especially with the machinery noise, and the amount of dogs was slightly alarming, but they posed no danger and none of it was a concern once I made my way further down the road. +The industrial quality of the initial creek area is slightly off-putting, especially with the machinery noise, and the amount of loose dogs was slightly alarming, but they posed no danger and none of it was a concern once I made my way further down the road. -I definitely plan to visit again, especially when spending time in eastern New Mexico chasing other hot springs. +I definitely plan to visit again, especially when spending time in southeastern New Mexico chasing other hot springs. ## Access Morenci is a bit out of the ways from the rest of Arizona. Getting to the hot springs is pretty easy though. -{TBD: Verify coordinates with OSMAND, these were guessed from laptop.} +{{% comment "TBD: Verify coordinates with OSMAND, these were guessed from laptop." %}} -1. Navigate to Eagle Creek Road. (33.0732134, -109.3770333) -2. Drive down towards the manufacturing area. (33.0582122, -109.4397697) - - Low clearance vehicles should park now, driving further involves water crossings. -3. Follow the creek and eventually take an offshoot to the right. (33.0464047, -109.4371802) -4. Enjoy the hot springs! (33.0468761, -109.4399691) +1. Navigate to Eagle Creek Road. ~(33.0732134, -109.3770333) +2. Drive down towards the manufacturing area. ~(33.0582122, -109.4397697) + - Low clearance vehicles should park now and walk, driving further involves water crossings. +3. Follow the creek and eventually take an offshoot to the right. ~(33.0464047, -109.4371802) +4. Enjoy the hot springs! ~(33.0468761, -109.4399691) ## Pools @@ -63,32 +63,38 @@ There are 3 main pools that I noticed on my visit. ### Outside -In a beautiful wooded setting between cliffs sitting next to a stream, this is the only pool that I did not get in. Upon inspection the muddy bottom mixed into the water a bit too much to justify giving myself a mud bath. It also felt hotter than my preferences. Its surroundings definitely give it appeal though! +In a beautiful wooded setting between cliffs sitting next to a stream, this is the only pool that I did not get into. Upon inspection the muddy bottom mixed up into the water a bit too much to justify giving myself a mud bath. It also felt hotter than my preferences. Its surroundings definitely give it appeal though! -### Mineshaft +### Mine Shaft {{< odysee "https://odysee.com/$/embed/20260315-LowerEagleCreekHotSprings-MineShaft/9fbafa1a2196c97e6a9cfe6071e3ee18423919d5" >}} {{< external-link - text="HyperVegan | Lower Eagle Creek - Mineshaft" + text="HyperVegan | Lower Eagle Creek – Mine Shaft" url="https://odysee.com/@HyperVegan:2/20260315-LowerEagleCreekHotSprings-MineShaft:9" >}} -I spent the most time in this spacious pool. The water is warm towards the front and warmer near the back, if ye dare enter the darkness! Or bring a head lamp and explore. I'd guess the tunnel goes back about 100ft, and then turns left and ends abruptly, or at least that's how it seems. +I spent the most time in this spacious pool. The water is warm towards the front and even warmer near the back, if ye dare enter the darkness! Or bring a head lamp and explore like I did in the video above. I'd guess the tunnel goes back about 100ft. It then turns left and ends abruptly, or at least that's how it seems...! -Shining a light around the bottom of the water reveals that the tunnel actually starts heading down, and there are stairs then going both back towards the entrance as well as further back. The water is a very comfortable temperature, someone with scuba gear may be able to have fun exploring the water-filled caverns below! +Shining a light around the bottom of the water reveals that the tunnel actually starts heading down, and there are stairs going left towards the entrance as well as right to head deeper back. The water is a very comfortable temperature, someone with scuba gear may be able to have fun exploring the water-filled caverns below! ### Frog Cave -The best temperature for me was found in this pool. Unfortunately this is the smallest and most vertically challenged soaking area. Wearing my hair in a bun proved challenging and caused my sitting position to be a bit uncomfortable. +The best temperature for me was found in this pool. Unfortunately this is the smallest and most vertically challenged soaking area. Wearing my hair in a bun proved difficult and caused my sitting position to be a bit uncomfortable. -The sound of the trickling water and the frog who'd come visit occasionally continued bringing me back. Shorter humans or those without bulky hair would likely enjoy the experience in here much more than I. The view out the cave is absolutely incredible, as demonstrated at the end of the first video. +The sound of the trickling water and the frog who'd come visit occasionally continued bringing me back though. Shorter humans or those without bulky hair would likely enjoy the experience in here much more than I. The view out the cave is absolutely incredible, as demonstrated at the end of the first video. ## Scenery ### Waterfalls -I found two pretty cool waterfalls to hand around. The taller one was near the outside pool and a smaller but more active one was near the mine shaft pool. That one has a ledge you can climb to get to the top of it. I didn't notice much of a trail after that, but it could be fun to explore someday to find the spring head. +I found two pretty cool waterfalls to hang around. The taller one was near the outside pool and a smaller but more active one was near the mine shaft pool. That one has a ledge you can climb to get to the top of it. I didn't notice much of a trail after that, but it could be fun to explore someday to find the spring head. + +## Reception + +- AT&T: Worked great and had LTE. +- T-Mobile: Had cell reception but no LTE/data. +- Verizon: Unknown. ## Caveats @@ -100,13 +106,11 @@ I found two pretty cool waterfalls to hand around. The taller one was near the o - Drive as close as you can to the hot springs. - I saw an unlifted Tacoma and 4Runner make it all the way to the offshoot no problem. - - I took my unlifted GMC Safari through two water crossings after the pump station and parked right before the first water crossing after the large camping area. After that I did not want to risk anymore since my runner boards hang low. (TBD, -TBD) + - I took my unlifted GMC Safari through two water crossings after the pump station and parked right before the water crossing after the large camping area. After that I did not want to risk anymore since my runner boards hang low. {{% comment "(TBD, -TBD)" %}} -## Reception +## Conclusion -- AT&T: Worked great and had LTE. -- T-Mobile: Had cell reception but no LTE/data. -- Verizon: Unknown. +It was a neat area to visit for sure. Some pros and cons as with many places. The camping experience isn't ideal, and there aren't really many services nearby, but if you're heading from Alpine to warmer weather or simply visiting the area and wanting to soak in new place, this definitely seems worth visiting for a few weekdays before continuing your journey. ---