Sumner Point

Best Time to Hike Here

The trail here is entirely exposed, south-facing, with no shade for the full nine miles between Phantom Ranch and Clear Creek — cooler months are considerably more forgiving.

Trail Tips

• Seasonal potholes at Sumner Wash are the only water source between Phantom Ranch and Clear Creek, and only after recent rain — do not count on them.
• A backcountry permit is required for any overnight stay in the Clear Creek Use Area.
• Carry every drop of water you'll need for this stretch given the total lack of reliable sources.

Getting to Sumner Point

Follow the Clear Creek Trail from the North Kaibab Trail junction near Phantom Ranch about 1.7 miles to reach this landmark. Sumner Butte rises to the north above the wash, its Redwall Limestone cliffs visible for much of the approach.

What to Expect at Sumner Point

This spot along the Clear Creek Trail sits at Sumner Wash, a drainage the trail crosses on the Tonto Platform about 1.7 miles from the North Kaibab Trail junction near Phantom Ranch, at roughly 3,750 feet elevation. It's a landmark hikers watch for on the long traverse toward Clear Creek: the two-mile no-camping stretch out of the junction ends here, marked by large trailside cairns, and it's the first legal at-large camping on the western end of the Clear Creek Use Area.