Government Trail Grand Re-Opening 2025

GOVERNMENT TRAIL GRAND RE-OPENING

Alpine Trail Stewards & forest service reps

For 14 years, the Government Trail #119 languished in the charred scar of the Wallow Fire.  The 2011 blaze devastated over a half-million acres of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Eastern Arizona.  Hundreds of miles of trails were obliterated in the densely forested high-country beloved by outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes.

Willows in a wet meadow on Government Trail

The fire left behind dangerous conditions including toppling dead trees, debris obstacles and flooding that made getting into the area to restore the damage an especially risky and physically demanding endeavor. 

Burn scar from the Wallow Fire

But over the past few years, with most of the dead trees down and new growth starting to take hold, the forest is at the point where it’s somewhat manageable and ready for repair work.

Stewards cut hundreds of logs on the trail

Thanks to grassroots volunteer group, the Alpine Trail Stewards, many formerly unhikable paths are being brought back from oblivion. 

Rocky Mountain iris bloom in the wet meadow

Working closely with the forest service, the group lead by Debbie and Aaron Fogle of Nutrioso has already identified and cleared miles of trails. The couple are seasoned outdoors people who know a thing or two about the area. 

This new sign was posted at the trailhead 6-7-25

Debbie is a horse trainer by trade who runs two outfitting companies: Women in the Wild and Hike Southwest while Aaron is a big game outfitter. They’re both hell-bent on sharing their love of the White Mountains not only with their businesses, but by giving back to the community through volunteer trail restoration work.

Stewards on a mission to the switchbacks

On Saturday June 7, 2025—National Trails Day—the group celebrated the grand re-opening of the Government Trail.  The 3-mile route that climbs the flanks of Escudilla Mountain near Alpine is now clear of deadfall and marked with cairns and bright tape.  There’s still some work to do on the upper switchbacks, but after a massive effort, the route is ready for its closeup!

New trail signage

The historic trail that was built for forest service workers to access the old fire tower and cabin on the summit, begins in a wet meadow below the western slopes of the 10,912-foot volcanic mountain.  Open to the sun, and fringed with survivor pines, the meadow features stands of willows, clumpy grasses and summer wildflowers that attract wildlife including amphibians, elk, deer, bear and swarms of butterflies.  Right from the start, the magnitude of work done by the Alpine Trail Stewards is apparent.  The 16 volunteers  that worked on the project over the past months cut 832 trees (537 of them using a hand crosscut saw due to wilderness restrictions) and contributed 550 hours in unpaid time brushing, clearing and removing hazards.

National Trails Day event 6-7-2025

The meadow walk is easy for about a mile up to where the freshly forged single track meets a closed two-track and begins a steady climb to where the trail enters the Escudilla Wilderness Area, taking on a series of switchbacks and seriously steep segments.  Compared to the Escudilla National Recreation Trail #308 that ascends the other side of the hill, this one is a bear.  Rife with loose rock and stripped of all the trees that had shaded its track before the fire, the switchback sections of the trail plow through rough talus slopes.  If it weren’t for the outstanding White Mountains vistas, you might wonder why you tackled this challenging hike. 

Optional side trip to the fire tower

White Mountains vistas from the upper trail

The two trails meet in an alpine meadow that evidently took the brunt of the Wallow Fire.  For an optional longer trek, hang a left here to continue another mile up to the closed fire tower near the summit.  The two trails are not technically looped, but by parking a second vehicle at the Escudilla trailhead, hikers can avoid the slippery downhill by using #308 as the return leg.

Rock cairns and tape mark the trail

LENGTH: 

Government Trail only: 6 miles roundtrip

With Escudilla Summit: 8 miles roundtrip

RATING: difficult

ELEVATION:

Government Trail Only: 8,626 – 10,600 feet

With Escudilla Summit:  8,626 - 10,877 feet

GETTING THERE:

From Springerville, go south on U.S. 191/180 for about 20 miles to Forest Road 8056 on the left between mileposts 420 and 421which is signed for Hulsey Lake and Terry Flat.  Go 2.6  miles on FR 8056 (past the Husley Lake day use site) and turn left at a Wildlife Habitat Area sign. Follow this road a short way to the signed trailhead on the right. FR 8056 is maintained gravel suitable for most vehicles. 

INFO:

Alpine Trail Stewards

https://hikesouthwest.com/alpine-trail-stewards-2/

Escudilla National Recreation Trail

ESCUDILLA NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL

Apache Sitgreaves National Forest

Escudilla Mountain seen from U.S. 191/180

In a world replete with competition and obsessions about number-ones, nobody remembers who or what came in third.  Same goes for hikers seeking to bag all of Arizona’s loftiest peaks.  Hardly a hiker in the state isn’t familiar with the number one spot, Humphreys Peak, the highest point on San Francisco Mountain (the USGS official summit benchmark says “Frisco” not Humphreys), an extinct stratovolcano north of Flagstaff.

Much of the lower trail escaped the Wallow Fire

One sure way to start an argument among hikers is to breech the topic of which Arizona mountains are the highest. So we don’t trip over semantics, it’s important to distinguish between a mountain and a peak.

Aspens line the trail near the head of Toolbox Draw

San Francisco Mountain has seven of the state’s highest peaks—Humphreys, Agassiz, Abineau, Doyle, Fremont, Rees and Schultz- but they are peaks on the same mountain.  

Fireweed blooms July - Sept on Escudilla Mtn.

So, it’s a collective number one.  Here are the state’s top five highest mountains, all of which have trails to their summits.

Escudilla lookout stands above fire damaged slopes

Humphreys Peak 12,633 feet, Mount Baldy 11,420 feet, Escudilla Mountain 10,912 feet, Mount Graham 10,720 feet and Kendrick Mountain 10,418 feet.

For Arizona “peak-baggers”, the rush to the top inevitably begins with an elbow-to-elbow slog up Humphreys Peak for bragging rights and the requisite Instagram moment. 

Big sky and green valley views on Escudilla Mtn

Lush woodlands near the trailhead

But, in this hiker’s opinion, it’s the mountain that lags in third place that delivers the gold-medal alpine experience. 

Brushing the clouds at 10,912 feet in elevation, Escudilla Mountain located off U.S. 191 in Eastern Arizona’s White Mountains is a much less congested route with a pronounced “out-there” ambiance.

Final aspen glen before fire damage dominates

The isolated, dome-shaped massif sits just over three miles from the New Mexico state line in Apache County and cuts a distinctive profile that’s visible for miles.

Summit view in 2006

The Escudilla National Recreation Trail No. 308 lies almost entirely within the Escudilla Wilderness Area where only foot and equestrian travel is allowed. 

The mountain was touched by another type of first--the unenviable kind- when the largest wildfire in Arizona history roared up its slopes.  The 2011 Wallow Fire charred more than a half-million acres around the communities of Alpine, Nutrioso and Greer. 

Shrubs & flowers grow among downed trees

Even though Escudilla Mountain sat at the eastern edge of the fire’s reach, much of the terrain escaped severe damage.

Harebells are classic alpine wildflowers

But some areas were devastated.

While the Wallow Fire certainly changed the mountain’s look, miraculously, much of the aspen and mixed conifer woodlands on the lower part of the trail are intact. 

Summit view in 2006

Summit view looking east toward New Mexico

The first half-mile of the hike was largely untouched and remains thick with white-barked aspen glens.  The ravages of the blaze become apparent at the 1.1-mile point where the trail exits pristine forests and emerges on a crest at the head of Toolbox Draw.  The previously fir-and-spruce draped passage is now an environment of bald rolling hills punctuated with a few stalwart Douglas firs. 

How the severely damaged area looked in 2006

Damaged summit fire tower is closed to the public

The upside is newly exposed mountain vistas.  The trail hangs close to the edge of draws and ravines, passing through patches of survivor trees, fruit-laden shrubs and fields of colorful wildflowers. 

Summer-ripening orange gooseberries

One last aspen passage at the 1.7-mile point heralds the entrance into the severely burned side of the mountain. 

Looking southwest from the summit

The fire took no prisoners here.  Ten years removed from the fire, the landscape is one of toppled tree skeletons and torched snags. 

Survivor fir & spruce trees on the upper slopes

Above it all, the battered metal frame of the former summit fire lookout stands on a scorched knob that denotes the destination. Among the downed trees, an under story of blooming shrubs, saplings, and alpine flowers hint at resurgence. Over the final mile to the summit, the trail dodges among deadfall and woodchips left from when the trail was cleared of obstacles.  

Denuded flanks of Escudilla Mountain

Spindly, head-high aspens fill spaces formerly occupied by enormous old-growth conifers on the last leg of the trek that ends at the fire tower on the 10,877-foot pinnacle.

Richardson's geranium grow among pine needles

 

Trail condition on the summit ridge

The wooden cabin that once stood below the lookout is gone and the tower is fenced off for safety.  Gone too is the fringe of trees that limited views so it’s now easy to see all the way into New Mexico and the green valleys of the Blue Range Primitive Area.  The 10,912-foot true summit resides a half-mile off-trail beyond the lookout, for those to whom 35 feet matters in the quest for a memorable third-place victory.

LENGTH: 6.3 miles roundtrip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 9,560 – 10,877 feet

GETTING THERE:

From Springerville, go south on U.S. 191/180 for about 20 miles to Forest Road 8056 on the left between mileposts 420 and 421which is signed for Hulsey Lake and Terry Flat.  Follow FR 8056 4.5 miles to the trailhead.  FR 8056 is maintained gravel suitable for most vehicles.  Several hairpin turns and steep drops off may not be suitable for RVs.

INFO:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/asnf/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=45293&actid=50

 

 

SOUTH FORK TRAIL

SOUTH FORK TRAIL

Willows hug the So. Fork of the Little Colorado River

At the point on the South Fork Trail #97 where the route crosses a creek and begins its grueling climb, I was jolted to a stop by screams that sounded like an injured dog.  In a flash, a herd of elk bolted across the trail just yards ahead of me.  Five females in tandem, then a lone male. 

Eden meets Hell.

They scrambled up a knoll following the cries of a distressed calf.  The adults circled the young one who continued to wail from its high perch. Two more elk burst from the creek, stopping briefly to stare me down before they charged up to meet the herd, round up the calf and bolt into the back county.  They gave me a thrill and I reciprocated with exactly what they needed--their space. 

Encounters like this one are common on the White Mountains trails of northeastern Arizona.

Wild roses bloom through August.

Before venturing out into the forests, hikers should be aware of common-sense rules for respecting wildlife.  The basic concept is to keep wildlife wild by not approaching, harassing, “helping” or feeding them.  

A beaver dam on the river.

The Arizona Game & Fish website is a good resource for learning about responsible wildlife viewing. Simple habits like observing from a distance, sticking to trails, keeping food secured, avoiding nest and den areas and knowing what to do (and not do) should you encounter a wild animal can protect both you and the animals. 

The South Fork Trail #97 near Eagar, with its proximity to water and varied habitats is a wildlife magnet.  The challenging route can be done as an out-and-back or car shuttle hike.  Most people begin at the South Fork day use area.  Shaded by tall pines, firs and spruce trees, the first mile of the trail escaped the wrath of the 2011 Wallow Fire that burned more than a half million acres of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.  This Eden-like stretch follows the South Fork of the Little Colorado River.  The waterway is cluttered with willows, alders, Red-osier dogwood, skunk bush, poison ivy (leaves of three; let it be) and wild roses.  Where the water comes closest to the trail, be on the lookout for stealthy Great blue herons and ingeniously-constructed beaver dams. As the trail moves southeast, gradually gaining elevation, it creeps up on the scar of the fire. 

An elk bolts across the trail.

A charred tree trunk here and a pile of burnt logs there precede the kick-in-the-gut moment.  Just over a mile in, Eden meets Hell.  

Greens Peak (left) and the Springerville Volcanic Field

Oddly prefaced by a gateway of willows, the next 5 miles of flame-plundered terrain are physically taxing and difficult to process emotionally.  Those who remember what the trail looked like before the fire will find this segment heartbreaking. 

So. Fork of the Little Colorado on the way to the trailhead

Running through the middle of the canyon-bound wasteland, a slender trickle of water clunks and chugs beneath a resurgent fringe of aspen saplings and spotty stands of survivor pines.  From this point on, you’ll need to hop over dead fall and stay alert for other hazards.  Three miles in, the trail crosses the river and begins a 1500-foot ascent to the top of a bench where views of the surrounding Springerville Volcanic Field roll out to the New Mexico border. 

Boggy Mexican Hay Lake attracts pronghorn.

The high mounds of Greens Peak and Mount Baldy tower over dozens of eroded cinder cones and acres of golden grasslands.  The route then winds down toward Mexican Hay Lake, which is rarely more than a weedy bog.  The open space surrounding the lake is prime habitat for pronghorn.  One of the fastest land mammals, the elegant, horned beasts can run as fast as 60 miles-per-hour.

Red-osier dogwood grows along the river.

It’s worth sitting quietly at the edge of the lake to catch a glimpse of them sprinting over open prairies leaving clouds of rattled birds in their wake.  The trail ends at the northwest edge of the lake; however, a rough, mile-long dirt road continues to State Route 261 and the Point of the Mountain Vista rest area.  If you parked a shuttle vehicle there, just keep walking, otherwise, return the way you came. 

The first mile of the trail escaped the Wallow Fire.

On a recent visit, I was startled by a family of Bighorn Sheep lounging on a picnic ramada at the rest area.  They seemed unconcerned about my presence as they lazed in the shade at the edge of a scenic overlook area. 

The 2011 Wallow Fire damaged much of the trail.

Whether the shaggy band wandered there by chance or because they had learned to associate picnic tables with food handouts, I gave them what they needed most--- telephoto lens distance, a clear escape route and not a smidge of food.

Bighorn Sheep at Point of the Mountain vista area.

LENGTH: 14 miles round trip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 7540 – 9060 feet

Greenery along So.Fork of the Little Colorado River.

GETTING THERE:

South Fork Trailhead

From the Hon-Dah Casino in Pinetop-Lakeside, go 32.8 miles east on State Route 260 to County Road 4124 located near milepost 390 on the right.  Go 2.6 miles south on CR 4124, cross a bridge and turn right into the trailhead parking area. Roads are paved and sedan-friendly gravel.

Point of the Mountain

From the County Road 4124 turnoff, continue 2.3 miles east on State Route 260 to State Route 261, past mile post 393. Turn right and go 7.1 miles to the vista point on the left just past milepost 405. Hike 200 feet back up SR 261 and follow Forest Road 70B/FR8070B (unmarked at this writing) around the lake to the trail.  NOTE: SR 261 is paved but the forest roads are rough, unmaintained dirt.  You could drive the mile to the trail but four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended.

INFO & MAPS:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/asnf/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=64872&actid=50

LIVING WITH WILDLIFE:

https://www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/

THE WOLVES ARE ALRIGHT

ARIZONA GAME & FISH ISSUES POST-WALLOW FIRE  UPDATE ON MEXICAN GREY WOLF PACKS 
Arizona Game & Fish has issued a press release summarizing the status of Mexican Grey Wolves as of the end of July 2011. Most survived the WALLOW FIRE and many pups have been spotted! Here's a excerpt—the entIre press release may be viewed by clicking on the embedded links.

CURRENT POPULATION STATUS
At the end of July 2011, the collared population consisted of 24 wolves with functional radio collars dispersed among ten packs and three single wolves.  Some other uncollared wolves are known to be associating with radio-collared wolves, and others are separate from known packs. 
Seasonal note:  During the past three months, the IFT has been actively monitoring wolf packs to determine if females are denning in order to document wild-born pups and estimate their survival.  At the end of July, the IFT determined the following packs have produced pups during this year’s denning season:  Paradise, Hawks Nest, Bluestem, San Mateo, Luna and Middle Fork.  Three other packs, Fox Mountain, Dark Canyon and Rim, have displayed denning behavior; however, the IFT has been unable to confirm the presence of pups with these packs.  Three of these packs in Arizona, including Hawks Nest, Bluestem and Rim, were impacted by the Wallow Fire in June.  At least two pups from the Bluestem Pack and six pups from the Hawks Nest Pack were documented alive after the fire impacts had subsided.  The IFT is working to determine if any pups from the Rim Pack are currently traveling with that pack.
IN ARIZONA:
Bluestem Pack (collared AM806 and AF1042)Throughout July, the IFT located AM806 and AF1042 in their traditional territory in the central portion of the ASNF.  The IFT confirmed at least two pups with this pack in July.  Their den area was impacted by the Wallow Fire earlier this summer.    
Hawks Nest Pack (collared AF1110 and f1208)In July, AF1110 and f1208 continued to use their traditional territory in the north-central portion of the ASNF.  The IFT confirmed the presence of six pups with this pack in July.  This pack’s den area was impacted by the Wallow Fire; however, the IFT has continued to locate AF1110 and f1208 in the vicinity adjacent to the original den site throughout July. 
 Rim Pack (collared AM1107, AF858, f1187 and f1213)Throughout July, the IFT located the Rim Pack utilizing its summer range on the central portion of the ASNF.  The den area for this pack was impacted by the Wallow Fire, also.  The IFT has been unable to document the presence of any pups with this pack in July.
Paradise Pack (collared AM795) In July, AM795 utilized the traditional summer range of its territory on the northern portion of the ASNF.  The IFT has confirmed the presence of at least five pups with this pack this month. 

The following is a summary of Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project (Project) activities in Arizona on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) and Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR) and in New Mexico on the Apache National Forest (ANF) and Gila National Forest (GNF).  Non-tribal lands involved in this Project are collectively known as the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA).  Additional Project information can be obtained by calling (928) 339-4329 or toll free at (888) 459-9653, or by visiting the Arizona Game and Fish Department website at http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf or by visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf.  Past updates may be viewed on either website, or interested parties may sign up to receive this update electronically by visiting http://www.azgfd.gov/signup.  This update is a public document and information in it can be used for any purpose.  The Reintroduction Project is a multi-agency cooperative effort among the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (USDA-APHIS WS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT).  Other entities, including private individuals and nongovernmental organizations, cooperate through the Project’s Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) that meets periodically in Arizona and New Mexico.
To view weekly wolf telemetry flight location information or the 3-month wolf distribution map, please visit http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf.  On the home page, go to the “Wolf Location Information” heading on the right side of the page near the top and scroll to the specific location information you seek.
Please report any wolf sightings or suspected livestock depredations to:  (928) 339-4329 or toll free at (888) 459-9653.  To report incidents of take or harassment of wolves, please call the AGFD 24-hour dispatch (Operation Game Thief) at (800) 352-0700.

MOUNT BALDY TRAILS RE-OPENED TODAY

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has re-opened the West Baldy, East Baldy and Crossover trails for hiking and equestrian use effective July 22, 2011. However, rangers warn users to stay alert for downed trees and other damage caused by this year's Wallow Fire.

SOME APACHE-SITGREAVES FOREST CLOSURES LIFTED

Hikers, although some restrictions have been LIFTED, access to  hiking trails in the Springerville, Alpine and Clifton ranger districts are still off limits.  Hiking trails  in the Black Mesa and Lakeside ranger districts are now OPEN.

Arizona Game & Fish Press Release:

Good news for outdoor recreationists: Several forest closures lifted

   July 8, 2011

Big Lake

   Access is reopened to Big Lake and other popular areas There’s good news for anglers, campers and others  who like to recreate in high country areas that had been closed due to the Wallow Fire and other area fire concerns. The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests has reopened several popular areas of the forests to public use. The Sitgreaves National Forest closure order affecting areas, roads and trails in the Black Mesa and Lakeside Ranger Districts and the Promontory Butte area was lifted as of noon yesterday (July 7). Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently in effect across the Sitgreaves portion of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. These restrictions prohibit fires, campfires, and use of charcoal, coal or wood stoves, except in fire grills and grates provided by the Forest Service in developed recreation sites. Use of gas-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices is allowed. Smoking is not allowed except within an enclosed vehicle or building. The Apache National Forest closure order for several major recreation areas was lifted at noon today (Friday, July 8), including Big Lake, Crescent Lake and the adjacent developed campgrounds; the Greer lakes and the nearby developed campgrounds; Lee Valley and Winn Campground, Nelson Reservoir, and Luna Lake.   The specific areas opened in the Alpine and Springerville Ranger Districts include:

• Big Lake and Crescent Lake Recreation Areas including: Big Lake boat ramps and parking areas, Big Lake Visitor’s Center; Big Lake Administrative Site, Big Lake store and marina, South Cove boat ramp and parking area, Railroad Cove boat ramp and parking area. Current access to Big Lake is by Highway 273 only (Sunrise Highway) as Highway 261 is still closed and unsafe for motor vehicle use due to damaged guardrails.
• Greer Lakes Day Use Area including the following: Greer Lakes picnic area, Greer Lakes boat ramps and parking areas, Bunch Reservoir, River Reservoir, and Tunnel Reservoir. 
• Lee Valley Reservoir Day Use Area including the following: boat ramp and parking area, and the lake itself. 
• Rolfe C. Hoyer and Benny Creek Campgrounds and Squirrel Springs Picnic Area, Winn Campground, Springerville Ranger Station, Alpine Ranger Station. 
• 
  
• Luna Lake Day Use including the following: boat ramps and parking areas, Luna Lake Store and Marina, and the lake itself. 
• 
  
• Nelson Reservoir Day Use Area including the following: north end boat ramp, north end parking area, fishing piers, NFS land underlying Nelson Reservoir, and the lake itself.

Stage 2 fire restrictions will remain in place, which means that no campfires will be allowed, even in developed campgrounds. Lee Valley Reservoir, Luna Lake, Crescent Lake, and the three Greer lakes are for day use only.  Reservations at the Big Lake and Greer campgrounds can be made starting on July 8 by calling 1-877-444-6777 or on the web at www.recreation.gov . The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Sipe Wildlife Area is also reopened to the public. Access is via the primary road from the north crossing Forest Service lands. Note that the last section of roadway crossing Rudd Creek into the wildlife area may be closed temporarily without notice if a flooding event occurs due to summer rains. This condition is expected to persist through the remainder of the summer.  Please note that the remainder of the Apache National Forest is closed to public entry at this time due to the many safety hazards present in the aftermath of the Wallow Fire. The Clifton Ranger District remains closed to public entry at this time until sufficient rain has fallen. Please check the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/ to view the Wallow Fire Area Closure Order and Public Safety Amendment No. 3 with a list of all roads opened for access on the Apache Forest. Forest Service Law Enforcement officials are concerned that the public may be tempted to venture into closed areas to look at the effects of the Wallow Fire, but they ask the public to please be patient as crews clear hazardous trees near the roads. As the summer rainy season progresses, the threat from high water in certain drainages is very real. Please stay in areas open for public use. Warning: The Forest Service reminds individuals who violate road closures that they could be cited resulting in fines of $5,000 for individuals, and $10,000 for organizations and/or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months.   You can check the 593 Public Information Line for further updates by calling (928) 333-3412, or on the website at http://593info.org , or the ASNF website at www.fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/ .
   

WALLOW FIRE MAPS

UPDATE 7-28-11: Now that the maelstrom has subsided,  here's a collection of the BEST MAPS & LINKS for  Wallow Fire stats.

JULY 1, 2011: Map shows degrees of damage.  Zoom in for excellent details!

Latest map of the Wallow Fire 6-27-11.

UPDATES, MAPS & PHOTOS: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2262/



LINK TO PROGRESSION MAPS:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/wildfires/wallow/wallow-fire-timeline.php