Water Wheel Falls, East Verde River

Payson, Gila County, Arizona. 1.6-mile out-and-back trail; April through September is peak season.

Details

Map. Payson, Gila County, Arizona. Larger map

Where: Payson, Gila County, AZ. No street address stated. Directions
When: Day use only.
Getting there: Water Wheel: Travel on Houston Mesa Road (FR 199) for 7 1/2 miles.
Fees: $9 per day, cash or check only, April 1 through October 31; no fee November 1 through March 31.
Access: The canyon is prone to dangerous flash floods, especially during the summer monsoon; check the forecast and stay away if storms are predicted.
Phone: (928) 474-7900
Website: discovergilacounty.com
Managed by: Forest Service.
Coordinates: 34.350662, -111.285495.

A 1.6-mile out-and-back trail north of Payson along Ellison Creek and the East Verde River.

1940sThe Greers retired and sold the claim to Clifford Wright, son of Grant Wright who was mining at the Second Crossing. paysonroundup.com
1940sGreer sold his claim in the 1940s; the gold eventually petered out and the wheel was abandoned for lack of production. usatoday.com
2017A large debris flow and flash flood hit the Ellison Creek drainage; 10 members of a family at the Cold Springs swimming hole near the East Verde River were killed, and significant debris was left along the river near the Water Wheel Day Use Area. weather.gov

Clifford Wright, bought the mining claim from the Greers; later lost it for lack of production (late 1940s).
James "Dave" Greer, miner who established the spot and ran the waterwheel ore crusher (1930s).
Oscar Greer, Dave Greer's nephew; as a youth lived with his father Albert and uncle Lon in a cabin downstream from the waterwheel.