Posts
TWO RAVENS-WATERFALL-BRADSHAW LOOP
Bradshaw Tank
On a clear day in early October, I stepped out of my Jeep and into a Hitchcock film.
 |
| Switchbacks on the Two Ravens Trail |
At least that’s how it seemed as I began hiking on the Two Ravens trail near the town of Pine beneath the Mogollon Rim.
 |
| Two Ravens Trail |
The 2-mile non-motorized route in Tonto National Forest was unveiled in July 2025, as part of a 21-mile loop of connecting trails that circle the town.
 |
| The route is well signed |
If I wondered about the trail’s name, the answer swarmed overhead in the form of circling ravens. Not two, though—-more like two dozen.
 |
| Maples and oaks for fall foliage color |
And they were agitated. I’m no bird expert, but I know enough to recognize when raven are anxiously protecting something.
 |
| A raven croaks from a pine limb |
Ear-splitting croaking, congregating in trees and “dive bombing” are unmistakable clues. As it wasn't nesting season (usually January - March), it could mean only one thing—-a rotting carcass.
 |
| The waterfall grotto |
 |
| Bradshaw Tank |
And, sure enough, about a quarter mile in, the scavenged remains of an elk lie splayed in a ravine some 10 yards off the trail, dripping in fresh bird droppings.
 |
| Juniper passage on the Two Ravens Trail |
Above, a cacophony of raven squawks radiated from the branches of a Ponderosa pine. Clearly, they needed me to move on down the road. I did move on and found myself in an Alejandro G. Inarritu film. Rife with big vistas, a variety of vegetation zones and natural landforms, the Two Ravens trail packs in a plethora of movie-worthy attractions.
 |
| Trailhead sign |
Even though it’s just steps from town, the path is generous with its wild feel and connectivity to new and legacy trails. While the entire 21-mile loop would be an ambitious day hike, a 4-miler using the Two Ravens, Waterfall and Bradshaw trails provides a milder alternative.
 |
| Pine-oak woodlands on the Two Ravens Trail |
From the trailhead, the Two Ravens dips into a shady pocket of pines, oaks and maples—evidently a raven stronghold. At the 0.2-mile point, the route meets the junction with the old Walnut Trail before twisting uphill to emerge on a sun-drenched, juniper-dominated plateau with amazing Rim and distant mountain vistas.
 |
| Mogollon Rim view from the Two Raven Trail |
Another dip brings the trail back into pine cover then meets the junction for the Waterfall trail at the 1-mile point. Waterfall Trail is a 0.23-mile leg named for a stone grotto with a dry waterfall formation. Crowded with Big-tooth maple trees, the narrow waterfall cavity will likely blaze in red foliage in mid-to-late October. The trail ends at a residential cul-de-sac where the next leg of the loop picks up on the Bradshaw Trail.
 |
| Meadow on the Bradshaw Trail |
Once again in a pine-oak woodlands, the 0.66-mile segment crosses several rocky drainages and passes by Bradshaw Tank. A rustic wood-and-wire gate beckons a short detour to the tiny created waterhole situated at the edge of a meadow. Soon, the hike starts an uphill climb to reconnect with Two Ravens. To complete the loop, continue straight ahead, or for a longer trek, go east to connect with the Whiterock Mesa passage of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The return leg of the Two Ravens trail starts out on long switchbacks that easily move hikers from moist ravines and deep woods back onto the airy, juniper-studded mesa.
 |
| Alligator juniper on the Two Ravens Trail |
Passing by the elk corpse, a conspiracy of ravens scattered, leaving threads of meat hanging from rib bones while a lone bird perched on a pine limb croaked menacingly as if daring me to filch some flesh. That would be a whole other kind of film that I wouldn’t want to star in.
 |
| Trailhead on Hardscrabble Mesa Road |
LENGTH: 4-mile loop
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 5,846 - 5,398 feet (1,591 feet of total elevation change)
GETTING THERE:
Hardscrabble Mesa Road Trailhead:
In the town of Pine, go 2 miles on Hardscrabble Mesa Road (FR 428) to the parking area on the left. This is also an access point for the Pine-Strawberry Trail. There’s limited parking along the road and in nearby pullouts. The last mile on FR428 is dirt/gravel suitable for all vehicles.
