Coffee Flat Trail #108

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Waterfall

There are restrooms at the Peralta Trailhead. Parking there can fill up early.

This is a beautiful trail along fairly level terrain that runs from an intersection with the Dutchman Trail #104 to the Woodbury Trailhead. It is easily accessed from the Peralta Trailhead, by following the Dutchman Trail #104 about 3.0 miles, and then turning off to the right into Coffee Flat.

From here, the trail follows rolling terrain with great views to the north of Miner's Needle and another unnamed cluster of hoodoos. The photographic opportunities here are endless, and traffic on this trail is very light.

The trail comes to Reed's Water, where there are two windmills. One still seems to pull water from a well, and puts it into a pipe, but it is not clear where the pipe goes. However, with care, you can retrieve water from the well using a rope and a bucket. There is good camping here.

Just past Reed's Water, the trail encounters Randolph Canyon. From Reed's Water to the junction with the Red Tanks Trail, the path crosses the wash 13 times. Most of the time this is a rock hop, or dry altogether, but after a rain, you'll be wading each of those crossings.

At the junction with the Red Tanks Trail #107 is Dripping Springs. There are several very picturesque campsites here.

Continuing on the Coffee Flat Trail, the path heads upward gently, about 1000 feet in the next 4.0 miles. The trail now follows Fraser Canyon, crossing the streambed several times. At "JR Headquarters," the trail intersects the closed Forest Road #172. The quickest way to the Woodbury Trailhead from here is to follow the old road down to where it is gated closed, and make a short jaunt left to the trailhead parking.

We saw strong track evidence of mountain lions preying on javelinas.