South Fork Taylor Creek is filled with beautiful trees and sweeping sandstone walls

Taylor Creek South Fork
is a delightful canyon that makes a wonderful, though brief, diversion. Soaring sandstone walls enclose beautiful meadows, and easy walking leads deep into the sandstone.

Park 1.2 miles past the Middle Fork parking area, where the road takes a sharp turn right. There is a substantial parking lot. Pick up the good, unofficial trail heading up canyon on the left side of the turn. Follow it down, then through some vegetation, then in and out of a few small washes. The trail climbs away from the bottom of the canyon and up steep dirt, then up through scrub oak to the top of a hill. Ah, a half hour of effort, and there you are. The scrub oak fades and you are left with ponderosa pines, dry fields and spectacular smooth sandstone walls. To proceed upcanyon, cut somewhat right to the right (south) canyon wall, and walk easily next to the wall. It is possible to ascend quite a way up the canyon, though it is eventually blocked by steep rocks.

Return the way you came.