Trailblazers just up on the rim. {photo by Tom}

Li, Michael, Patti, Stephen C, Tom's shadow, Stephen R, Debbie, Stan, Anna.

Seven hearty trailblazers met and drove to the upper Badger Springs parking lot on an early Saturday. We picked up two more persons here and drove to the lower parking lot. We have had no rain for awhile, so the river should be dry. This was a great hike with plenty to see.

Time to start down the trail. {photo by Debbie}

We get to the dry Agua Fria. {photo by Li}

Previous humans have left their mark here. This is the junction of Badger Springs and Agua Fria. Just a side note do not use River with Agua Fria, because Agua Fria is river. This is the easy part of the trail, kids and others can easily make this 1 mile one way trip. The reason Badger Springs is springs is for the multiple springs in this canyon. They are not big springs, but are year-a-round. They are flowing today, with no rain for months.

We get to the junction. {photo by Tom}

Humans have left their mark. {photo by Stephen R}

This is a large panel that wraps around. {photo by Stephen R}

It is time to start the boulder hopping. The Agua Fria switches between sand, smooth rock and boulders. Just take is slow and the journey is easy. There are many ways to go we just pick one. There are many deep pools that last all year, because they are also fed by springs.

Hopping along. {photo by Tom}

The easy path. {photo by Stephen R}

Anyone for a swim. {photo by Michael}

There are some lush areas down here. {photo by Stephen R}

We need to dodge around the water. {photo by Debbie}

We came across a crawdads shell, where it need to move on to a bigger shell and left its old one here. The mud as many tracks from the different animals that have walked here. We get to a good spot for lunch and take a rest. This spot is also next to the old grind stone for the mine. They would use this to grind the ore into powder and the extract the medal. This is also our turn a round spot to get back.

Can you find the humans in the rocks. {photo by Tom}

Bear tracks. {photo by Debbie}

Many tracks. {photo by Debbie}

Old shell. {photo by Debbie}

The bottom half of the old grind stone for the mine. {photo by Stephen R}

Relaxing lunch break. {photo by Stephen R}