OLDHAM TRAILS

OLDHAM TRAILS

Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff

Orange paint marks tress to save during 4FRI (Okay Orange)

The heat is on and with it comes the annual migration of Valley hikers to the cool forests of Northern Arizona. While trekking along high country trails, you might encounter trees bearing orange or blue paint blazes. These colorful codes are part of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), a planned 20-year effort to restore fire-adapted ecosystems in Kaibab, Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests through hand thinning, logging and prescribed burns.

Orange paint designates trees that will not be cut (and may also indicate treatment area boundaries) while blue marks those to be removed. An easy way to remember this: Okay Orange, Bye Bye Blue.

Scars of the 2010 Schultz Fire

Many Arizona forests are rife with unhealthy, tinderbox conditions. The major goals of 4FRI are to reduce fuels that contribute to unnaturally catastrophic wildfires, protect watershed resources, increase plant diversity and preserve wildlife habitats. The project is currently active in Flagstaff's Dry Lake Hills area. You can observe some of the prep work by taking a hike on the Oldham Trails. The tour begins in Buffalo Park with an easy half-mile walk north to the Lower Oldham/Arizona Trail junction. From here, follow the Arizona Trail signs.

Blue means cut. (ByeBye Blue)

Numerous, unmarked secondary trails run through the area and can be confusing. Oldham Trail runs to the east, nearest the mountain, but if you miss it, no worries---just keep heading north and you'll end up on Elden Mountain Road roughly 2.5 miles north of the park. Along the way, stop and contemplate the woodlands and see if you can figure out the logic behind the save/cut markings on the Ponderosa pine trees. Once on the road, signage improves and you can continue on to Upper Oldham or any of the Dry Lake Hills system trails. To keep with the theme of forest health, hike Upper Oldham Trail to Sunset Trail, turn right and walk 1.3 miles across a barren ridgeline to the summit of Mount Elden. Here, the devastation caused by the 2010 Shultz Fire is clearly visible on the mountain's flanks. This is exactly the kind of disaster the 4RFI is trying to prevent.

Logging activities in treatment areas may cause temporary trail closures, so be sure to check the forest service website before heading out.

Upper Oldham Trail

LENGTH:

All distances include the 0.5-mile park access trail.

Lower (Easy) Oldham: 2.5 miles one-way to Mt. Elden Road

Oldham #1: 3.2 miles one-way to Mt. Elden Road

Upper Oldham: 5.3 miles one-way

To Mount Elden: 6.6 miles one-way

RATING: easy - difficult

ELEVATION:

Lower Oldham: 7,040' - 7,380'

Oldham #1: 7,040' - 7,590'

Upper Oldham: 7,040' - 8,920'

Sunset Trail to Mount Elden: 8,920' - 9,299'

GETTING THERE:

From Route 66 in Flagstaff, go 0.6 mile north on Humphreys St. to Fort Valley Road (US180). Turn left and continue 0.3 mile to Forest Ave., turn right and continue 1 mile to the stop light at Gemini Drive. Turn left and follow the signs to Buffalo Park.

INFO: Coconino National Forest

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55138&actid=50

INFO:

Four Forest Restoration Initiative

http://www.4fri.org/

The back way up Mount Elden

MOUNT ELDEN via UPPER OLDHAM TRAIL

Flagstaff

Heading out on the "catwalk"

Final approach to Mount Elden

There's more than one way to tackle Mount Elden.  The most popular route begins off US89 in east Flagstaff and climbs 2300 feet in a short, steep 3 miles.  This way is great for a thigh-burning workout, but also earns a pox upon its ambience due to its proximity to two major highways and views dominated by industrial complexes.  However, the west side of the mountain holds an alternative route that's less steep, better shaded and cloistered in woodland vistas stretching all the way to Williams. Except for the occasional car on adjacent FR557, there's nary a hint of civilization on the west route until it crests on the Sunset trail.  Here, the hike lands on a scenic saddle overlooking the railways and warehouses of east Flagstaff, then heads south up to Mount Elden.  This short path is a beautiful trek sandwiched between pine-fir forests on the right and steep drop offs on the left.  Soon after passing through a dense stand of young aspens, the trail leaves the woods to  teeter on a barren, knife-edge ridgeline scarred by the 1977 Radio Fire.  Depending on your point of view, this open-to-the-sky, catwalk-like segment is either profoundly gorgeous or viscerally depressing. Fire damage notwithstanding, the terrain is very interesting---massive lava boulders, juvenile aspens and blooming shrubs lend an air of resurgence to the otherwise bald tread.    Charred snags bleached grey by years of harsh weather coat the slopes like toppled matchsticks and a few remaining upright torched trunks stand sentry above a volcano-studded landscape.  Sunset Crater, Strawberry Crater, O'Leary Peak and the Bonito Lava flow are all visible from the exposed path that feels as if the patches of clumpy grasses and wild roses growing on its margins serve as the glue that keeps it from slumping into oblivion.  Also, the damage done by the June 2010 Schultz Fire is visible to the north.  After passing the wildfire vistas, the catwalk meets FR577 for the final slog to the microwave-and-cellular-tower-cluttered summit with a fire lookout and 360-degree views.

HIKE DIRECTIONS FOR WEST APPROACH AS DESCRIBED HERE:

From the Lower Oldham-Rocky Ridge trailhead, hike 0.2 mile north to the turn off for the Brookbank trail.  Veer right here on an unsigned path and hike 0.5 mile to the Upper Oldham trail junction.  Follow Upper Oldham 1.5 miles, cross FR557, and pick up Sunset trail.  At the sign for Sunset-Schultz Tank-Elden, go right and hike 1 mile to the summit of Elden Mountain.

View from Upper Oldham Trail

LENGTH: 6.4 miles roundtrip

ELEVATION: 7,380'- 9,300'

RATING: moderate

BEST SEASON: April - October

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 147 miles one way

GETTING THERE:

West approach trailhead:

From Flagstaff, travel north on US180 to Shultz Pass Road (FR420) at milepost 218.6.

Turn right and go 0.5 mile, veer right onto Elden Lookout Road (FR557) and continue roughly 2.5 miles to the signed Lower Oldham-Rocky Ridge trailhead on the right. FR557 is maintained dirt, passable by sedan. NOTE: to shorten the hike, drive another mile up FR557 to the Upper Oldham trailhead where there's parking on the left across the road from the trail sign.

East approach trailhead:

From Flagstaff, travel east on US89 to just past the Flagstaff Mall at milepost 419.5. Turn at the Mt. Elden Trailhead sign.

INFO: Flagstaff Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, 928-526-0866

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