Head waters run fron state road 260 on the Mogollon Rim down off the rim and through the OW at the foot of the rim. After passing the OW it runs south southeast onto the reservation where it is augmented by Ellison Creek and Oak Creek and many other lesser creeks on its way to the Salt River just east of Gleeson Flat.
The valley that Canyon creek cuts between the hills runs south about 3-4 miles before it heads onto the reservation. During early Elk season there are bulls with massive racks roaming this area. The bugeling bounces off the hills, sending shivers down the back... awesome time in the high country!
The weather along the creek keeps many varieties of flora going spring, summer and fall. Mart Blevins wrote his daughter in 1886 he described the walnut trees, cherry trees etc etc. Land of milk and honey... and in fact it nearly is, just have to open your eyes and look!
Mogollon Rim is about 7000' in that area and the ranch is about 6500'. Being that close to the Rim gives them an occasional monster snow storm!
Molly rides the ATV like a pro and is a very friendly asset to the ranch... photo was taken long ago so I image Molly has gone the big Dawg Park in the sky... worthy animal! About to catch a ball... for the zillionth time!
Canyon Creek cuts a beautiful swath all the way to the Salt River... many out buildings and ponds full of fish... i'm told!
Mogollon Rim is about 7000' in that area and the ranch is about 6500'. Being that close to the Rim gives them an occasional monster snow storm! The ranch house was built by either Ramer or Wallace. I suspect Wallace since the tales told speak of him building a large cabin that served as a store or trading post where Indians and cowboys could all get the basics! In the worse case, that would make the cabin about 100 years old!
Never fail to see elk, deer, turkey and more when in this area. Can you see the turkey flock on the road? 'tis there! Paul Tribble and I camped in Valetine Canyon once and Turkeys came through the camp morning and evening... as though we didn't exist!
You can see the results of the Rodeo-Chedeski fire on the hills around the OW. The OW wasn't burned but they found the carcases of 83 elk in the area! That was a disastrous fire. From June 18, 2002 to July 7, 2002 the fire raged and ended in burning a 50+ mile wide swath and nearly 490,000 acres. The remnants are easy to see on route 260 from Forest Lakes to Show Low! The fire had other unexpected consequenses in the ferel horse explosion in the area. Now it will become a political foorball just like the Salt River wild horses have been. Meanwhile back at the ranch, they are replacing wild game in the area.