Gallium Spring (Easy) - 9/3/22

🎵 Sittin' on a log in the middle of the Spring! (LaLaLa)🎵

Lee Canyon Wash

Lee Canyon Wash

Hiking down Lee Canyon Wash

Gallium Spring is an easy hike that can be done from almost any trailhead located in upper Lee Canyon. Fourteen and a half hikers (Odie) started from the Pay Phone Trailhead found at the Lee Canyon Road traffic circle. From the trailhead, we hiked directly toward the Lee Canyon Wash and dropped in at an easy point. There are many wild horse trails that go in and out of the main wash in the upper canyon. Our route continued down the wash passing an old kitchen oven appliance. Don't touch it! It's over 50 years old! We passed a huge ponderosa growing on the edge of the wash ... literally on the edge! Half of its root system was tangled in mid-air. How much longer can it stand there without a full foundation? 

Rabbitbrush & Common Mullein in Lee Canyon Wash

Lee Canyon Wash

Small Step Down

Gallium Road

After the first residential road bridge, we stayed above the wash on the left side and dropped back into a fork of the wash a little later. Approximately, one mile down from the trailhead, we climbed up the embankment to cross the road into the Chain-Up Trailhead. Turning left (uphill), we started up Gallium Road that is blocked to vehicles by a gate. The road quickly becomes a single track trail. Up to the right, you can see a worn game trail curving around the hill. The road has been washed out down the center and when we came to the cement cistern below the spring, we noticed that the wilderness volunteers have recently removed the broken plastic pipes that we saw there only two weeks previous to this. These pipes could have created a hazard for the wildlife that frequents this spring.

Hiking up Gallium Road

Spring Water

Spring Area

A Neighboring Spring Area

As we turned the corner to the spring on the right, many little birds (possibly yellow-bellied flycatchers) whooshed away from the water. We climbed up through the muddy hill below the spring outlet and had our break at the top. On our return downhill, we visited a neighboring spring then dropped back to the road. We descended to the paved road and made a short cut to return to the other side. On our way back up to the cars, we took the old dirt road that runs parallel to the wash. It is easier footing and it gives you a feeling of history. I suppose this was the old Lee Canyon Road. Very pleasant morning with a pleasant group of hikers.

Stats: 2.8 miles; 450' gain; 2 hours

Washed out Gallium Road

Hiking down Gallium Road

Hiking back up the Parallel Old Road