Reid Nielson Draw to Crawford Draw
is a nice little jaunt close to the freeway, featuring

Some Nice Coconino Narrows.

Start in a typical, top-of-the-Swell shallow cowed-up wash, walk a bit, enter some narrows, follow them for awhile. This makes for a good family jaunt; or a short little out-n-back to stretch the legs when driving by on the freeway.

Getting There: From Exit 129, follow the road on the south side of I-70 3.2 miles to a dirt road just before a fence line. Turn left (East). Travel .8 miles to a cowboy camp and bovine latrine area. Continue straight another 2.1 miles to where the dirt road crosses an obvious wash. About halfway there, you come to a Y: go right. This road is suitable for a low-clearance 2WD vehicle.

Canyon: Walk the dry wash for about 10 minutes, to where the narrow starts. Drop into the slot where convenient, and follow it as far as you want. The Coconino Sandstone allows reasonable entrance or exit from the narrows about every quarter mile, so you can walk the rim and climb up; or climb down the canyon and walk the rim back.

After a bit of rain, there might be some pools like we found. This is classic San Rafael Swell liqued mud - not the nicest stuff. We found wades up to waist deep, and a couple of swims, to go a couple miles downcanyon. Throw your clothes off and plunge right in!

Off in a side-canyon, we found a nice little arch. It is PROBABLY possible to hike easily all the way to Straight Wash, but we did not get much past where Crawford Draw comes in. Explore. Enjoy.