Catwalk National Recreation Trail

May 17, 2010-- Halfway between Cliff and Reserve, NM off the less-traveled NM180 lies a canyon treasure that I just had to experience for myself. Built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) the Catwalk National Recreation Trail is a hanging walkway following the path of an old pipeline that brought water down the Whitewater Canyon to the former mining town of Graham.

Today, the Catwalk Trail and the Whitewater Picnic Area has become a secret destination in the on the outskirts of the Gila National Forest. Taking my little family on the adventure, we drove the two hour drive from Datil Wells Campground to the Whitewater Picnic Area and enjoyed the shade and cleanliness of a half empty picnic area.

After sandwiches we began our hike by chasing lizards and marveling at the pretty mountain flowers in bloom.

We took the "easy" loop which was a gradual 10% grade up the canyon. Supposedly, both Geronimo and Butch Cassidy used the canyon for a hideout in there time.

It's hard to imagine you're in the arid and dry New Mexico that you've acclimatized yourself to as you ascend up the canyon and hear the roar of the water below you.

The shade of the canyon walls were welcoming as they blocked the sun and made for a cool hike.

In places you could see physical reminders of previous attempts to secure pipelines through the canyon.

The water levels were high when we visited the Catwalks an although we brought our swimsuits, with such strong currents it would only be wadding in a private pool today.

The Whitewater Picnic Area and Catwalk National Recreation Trail was an awesome experience, made all the more enjoyable because of its remoteness, oasis charm, uniqueness and beauty.

Arbon Valley and just north of Daniels, Idaho

A couple of weeks ago, on the way back from Utah, I decided to explore and seek another “less traveled” route from Malad to Pocatello. As I was ‘wandering’ the valley between Arbon Valley and I-15, I was mesmerized by the beauty and scenery. This is truly God’s country. Eventually, the paved road I was on turned into dirt, and then simply disappeared in the middle of nowhere. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous because the sun was starting to set and I really didn’t have an idea where I was. Retracing my steps I soon came upon a bull moose, then surprised two whitetail bucks, and was a curiosity to a small family of red foxes (of all the wildlife none were of help in the directions department). I didn’t worry too much about being lost because there were plenty of abandoned farms and homesteads I could sleep in if I were in a bind and my truck had plenty of fuel. Finally, I found markers for the old Hudspeth Cutoff and an old dirt road that led me outside of Arimo. Soon I was back on the much traveled highway as the sun disappeared.

When I called my Dad to tell him about my little adventure he got excited because he “explored” virtually the same route a couple of weeks previously. (I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree...) We resolved to do a little camping in the area and last weekend returned to the area of our intrigue.

For our second trip we did a bit of homework and I purchased a map from the BLM in Pocatello and learned everything I could about the mountain range. Leaving Pocatello after a long work week we made it just north of Daniels Reservoir in about an hour. Originally, we tried finding access to the mountain range directly east of the abandoned schoolhouse in Daniels up Indian Mills Creek but after finding cattle fences impeded access to the canyon we moved north to the Tom Perry trailhead west of Wakley Peak.

Our campsite was perfect and Dad made some great steak and potatoes in the Dutch oven and campfire cooked corn. (We would have had shrimp but because of small mishap I dropped them in the fire missing the Dutch oven by a mile)! The next morning we bushwhacked our way up to the head of the creek and found a spring, and then it was up the mountain for an excellent view of the Perlite mine, the Daniels valley, Elkhorn Peak and Wakley Peak.

The whole trip was a wonderful chance to get out and explore the incredible beauty of South Eastern Idaho. If anything we learned is that there are endless trails and adventures just waiting for us…