Rye Creek

A rock trip to several locations on Rye Creek west of Rye , AZ.

1 This sign identifies Rye Creek just as Highway 87 crosses the normally dry Creek. The turn for Gisela is just ahead where you see the red pickup truck. The left turn off of Highway 87 to the collecting area is about 1.6 miles ahead.	2 Here is a shot of the intersection of Highway 87 in the left turn to the collecting area. This photo was taken in a parking area on the east side of Highway 87 looking back West the white car is on the road that will become the track leading to our destination.	3 One of the largest motorcycle salvage yards All Bikes is located just to the East of the left turn off of Highway 87 that will take us to the collecting area.	4 This is a photo taken by the side of Highway 87 about a quarter of a mile before the left turn.
5 This is the left turn off of Highway 87 onto the H Bar Ranch Road which will become forest service road 414.	6 The Rye Creek Bar and Restaurant is located on the eastern side of Highway 87. It is just North of the motorcycle salvage yard.	7 This is the sign designating the road as the H bar Ranch Road. Turn right here heading north.	8 This is a sign indicating the distance to the mineral Creek hiking trail and to the intersection of forest service road 414 and 406. We will stay on forest service road 414 to reach the collecting areas.
9 We have reached the end of the paved road after traveling about 4/10 of a mile since the left turn off of Highway 87.	10 Make a right turn at this intersection to take a road that will take us to forest service road 414. Note there is a sign indicating that if you go straight ahead that it is a dead-end, a private drive, and no trespassing is allowed. Looking at my maps that road is shown to be the mineral Creek Road which we will loop around and connect to on the route that I'm showing.	11 This photo is looking west across the Fisher Mesa with the Mazatzal Mountains jutting up on the other side of the Mesa.	12 This is a right turn off of Forest Service Rd., #414 that heads in a northerly direction. There is no road shown on my map at this location, however the road is shown on Google maps.
13 Here is another right turn off of Forest Service Rd., #414 is that heads in a northerly direction. This road can also be located on Google maps.	14 We have reached the intersection of the Forest Service Rd., #414 and Forest Service Rd., #537. Forest Service Rd., #537 heads in a northerly direction we will take a left here heading to the south.	15 At this intersection there is a track that continues heading South but we stay on forest service road number 414 heading to the West toward the Mazatzal Mountains in the distance.	16 Yet another track that heads right in a northerly direction off of Forest Service Rd., #414.
17 This is a view across Rye Creek looking at a ranch on the other side of the creek. The home on the hill above the Creek appears to be a large complex of fairly recent construction.	18 This photo shows the road ahead after the sharp switchbacks that we're about to navigate.	19 This is a shot of the road ahead just as we are entering Thompson Draw.	20 Take a left at this intersection and continue on Forest Service Rd., #414 as indicated by the signage.
21 A cattle watering tub located just past a cattle guard along the route.	22 There is a nice Camping site at this location right on the banks of Rock Creek. There is even an ample supply of firewood left by the previous occupant.	23 This is the intersection of Forest Service Rd., #414 and Forest Service Rd., #442. FS442 heads in a south westerly direction we will continue on FS414 towards the West.	24 There is a 4 x 4 track that parallels Forest Service Rd., #414 at this location.
25 There is a faint and rough looking track off to the left toward the West at this location.	26 A couple of the fellows looking in the bed of Rye Creek at the site number one collecting area. There seemed to be good material on either side of the road.	27 This is a shot of some of the material that is available in the Creek bed.	28 Another photo of the red and black Jasper that is available.
29 This is an excellent example of the variation of red and black. This piece is about the size of football.	30 This photo is looking up in the Creek to the right of the second collecting site.	31 This photo is looking down the Creek to the left of the second collecting site.	32 Here is a specimen located at the second collecting site which is almost 2 feet wide and two large to handle.
33 This is a really nice piece that I spent about 20 minutes digging out of the Creek bed.	34 This is another photo of the really nice piece that I dug up.	35 Here we are looking West toward the Mazatzal Mountains across Rye Creek at the third collection site.	36 This track to the left of FS414 leading toward the West leads to the source of the black and red Jasper.
37 This is the track that leads to the source as it crosses the Creek and then leads over the hill beyond. I did not go father on this trip as I did not have my ATV with me.