Rim Lakes Vista Trail

Rim Lake Vista Trail #622 This popular trail offers easy access to Rim country fall hiking. Following a level, mostly-paved route situated just a few feet from the rim’s edge, this path is open to the sky and exposed to crisp, canyon breezes. Among the jumbled boulders that crowd the edge of the escarpment, are clusters of low growing oak trees that teeter precariously over the precipice, shedding a flurry of golden leaves into the canyon 1000 feet below. In addition to unobstructed views and the colorful oaks, sun-drenched glens along the trail foster wildflowers that bloom profusely well into mid-October. Length: 3.5 miles one way Rating: easy with paved, accessible segments Elevation: 7,500 feet Peak fall color: early October Getting there: From Payson, go east (right) on Highway 260 for 30 miles to Rim Road (Forest Road 300, which is located across from the Rim Visitor Center). The trailhead is located along FR 300 between mileposts 39 and 40. Information: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Black Mesa District, (928) 535-7300, fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/recreation/black_mesa_trails/trl_chv_rimvista.shtml

LOWER FIRST WATER CREEK

LOWER FIRST WATER CREEK Superstition Wilderness Marked only by a dirt turnout along Highway 88 near Canyon Lake, the Canyon Overlook “trailhead” is the gateway to a short but spectacular hike into First Water Canyon. A moderately steep decent along informal trails leads to the canyon floor. From there, the route involves picking your way through a sandy wash flanked by walls of volcanic rock laced with taffy-like bands of red jasper. The wash culminates at a finger cove of Canyon Lake where an unexpected stand of cottonwood trees and a dry waterfall are the feature attractions. FINDING THE TRAIL: This trail can be a challenge to follow for inexperienced hikers. To find the start point from the parking area, walk over to the telephone pole nearest the road. With your back to the road and the pole immediately in front of you, head right and pick up the beaten path that heads downhill into the ravine. The route follows a maze of paths-of-use marked by occasional cairns and worn segments of footpaths. Once at the barbed wire fence that denotes the wilderness boundary, head left (north) and follow the creek bed veering left where the canyon splits near a pair of giant boulders. From here, follow the canyon to the cove. Return the way you came. LENGTH: 1 mile round-trip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 2,000 – 1,676 feet (324 feet) DRIVING DIRECTION TO THE TRAILHEAD: From Phoenix, take Highway 60 east to the Idaho Road exit. Go left at the light and follow Highway 88 for 12 miles to the road turnout at milepost 208. INFORMATION: This is an unofficial trail. Refer to the Superstition Wilderness topo map.

3 FALL HIKES

Looking for more FALL FOLIAGE hiking destinations in Arizona? Then, pick up a copy of PHOENIX magazine’s October 2009 issue. Inside you’ll find 3 trails (personally hiked, reviewed and photographed by yours truly) . In addition, your $3.95 investment will also get you the skinny on the Valley’s best places to eat and primer for locating BIG FOOT (and other wild things) in Arizona. This issue will be available in over 800 stores Valleywide beginning, Sept 26, 2009. You can also order by phone beginning SEPT 16. Here’s where you can find PHOENIX magazine: Safeway Fry’s Marketplace Wal-Mart Costco Sam’s Club Sunflower Markets Sprouts Borders Barnes & Noble CVS Walgreens Sky Harbor Airport Albertson’s Fresh & Easy Lowe’s Home Depot Target Whole Foods Basha’s A.J.’s La Grande Orange The Kitchen Area hospital gift shops WEB SITE: http://www.phoenixmag.com/ ORDER BY PHONE: 480-664-3960

WATER WHEEL FIRE

EAST VERDE-ELLISON CREEK LOOP Tonto National Forest, North of Payson  Located in the rugged gorges below the Mogollon Rim, these two waterways feed a band of green surrounded by Ponderosa pines, sycamores, willows and Gambel oaks. Although the  2009 Water Wheel Fire burned much of the surround woodlands, there's still plenty of shade and beauty in the waterways.  Couple that with easy, close-to-town access and it’s no wonder this mountain getaway attracts droves of weekend warriors.  The unofficial route clamours up among the sculpted walls of a waterfall-filled box canyon to the confluence of the East Verde River and Ellison Creek. From here wade over the cascades of Ellison Creek and follow the water to a magnificent 40-foot waterfall.  WATER WHEEL FIRE STATS: Start date: August 30, 2009 Containment date: Sept. 5, 2009 Size: 773 acres Cause: under investigation
LENGTH: 1.5 miles one-way
RATING: moderate, scrambling, creek crossing
ELEVATION: 4880' - 5000'
GETTING THERE:
From Payson, travel 2 miles north on SR 87 to Houston Mesa Road (FR 199), turn right and continue to 7 miles to the First Crossing parking apron on the right.  Other access points on FR 199 from SR87 are:
First Crossing: 7 miles
Water Wheel: 7.5 miles
Second Crossing: 8 miles
Third Crossing: 8.5 miles

MAP:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5208054.pdf

FLOWING SPRINGS

FLOWING SPRINGS Tonto National Forest Sand, sycamores and limestone escarpments along this informal fisherman’s path, make for an easy day hike with plenty to explore. Adventures await both up and downstream—just pick a direction and start hiking along the water. Although it’s short in length, long stretches of soft sand along the banks of the East Verde River give calf muscles a satisfying workout. With access to campgrounds and restrooms, this trail is a favorite destination for those with tots in tow. HIGHLIGHTS: scenic water hike with kid-friendly facilities LENGTH: 2 miles roundtrip RATING: easy ELEVATION RANGE: 4,460 – 4,500 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 108 miles one way GETTING THERE: From the junction of Highways 87 and 260 in Payson, go north on Highway 87 fro 4.6 miles to Flowing Springs Road, turn right and continue for a half-mile to the parking area on the left. INFORMATION: (928) 474-7900 fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/camping/tables/paysn_tbl.htm

EAST FORK TRAIL

EAST FORK TRAIL Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest The thin air above the town of Greer may get your lungs pumping, but it’s the views of Arizona’s White Mountains that will really take your breath away. This alpine passage begins where the West and East forks of the Little Colorado River drift off in opposite directions under a canopy of streamside alders and willows.. After an immediate wade across the West Fork, a short but steep haul up to 9,200-foot Amberon Point marks the most difficult portion of the hike. With the only major uphill grind of the hike out of the way, it becomes much easier to take in the relaxing alpine scenery that characterizes the remainder of the trail. Roughly paralleling the East Fork of the Little Colorado River, trail #95 meanders through a checkerboard of cienegas—marshy wetlands fed by springs, seeps and drainages—that foster acres of waist-high grasses and a colorful mix of flowering plants. Because of the vigorous vegetation in the cienegas, it’s easy to veer off track-- look for strategically placed trail posts to stay on course. Near the end of the route, the path follows the remnants of the Maverick Line of the Apache Railway that was used from the 1940s to the 1970s to transport logs to the McNary lumber mill. This final cinder-strewn segment of open country passes Colter reservoir before terminating at the Gabaldon campground at the boundary of Mount Baldy Wilderness. HIGHLIGHTS: Crisp, high-altitude mountain air with sweet vista views. LENGTH: 15 miles roundtrip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 8,300' – 9,400'  DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 245 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From the stoplight in Eagar, go west on Highway 260 for 9.6 miles to Highway 373. Go south (left) on 373 and continue 5.5 miles to the signed trailhead on the left. INFORMATION: 928-333-4301 fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/recreation/sprgrvlle_trails/trl_spr_efork.shtml

BUTLER CANYON

BUTLER CANYON Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Ever wonder how long it takes for a log to decompose? Want to learn how to identify Bearberry Honeysuckle? These are just two examples of what you can learn on the Butler Canyon Trail #98. Informational signage and a booklet available at the trailhead kiosk can be used to navigate through the many points of interest along the easy loop trail through an outdoor classroom. UPDATE:
this trail sustained significant damage in the Wallow Fire, June 2011.
HIGHLIGHTS: easy, educational hike in the White Mountains LENGTH: 1-mile loop RATING: easy ELEVATION: 8,300' – 8,400' ' DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 240 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From the stoplight in Eagar, go west on Highway 260 for 9.6 miles to Highway 373. Turn south (left) and go 4 miles on Highway 373 to County Road 1121, turn left and continue a short distance to the signed trailhead on the left. INFORMATION: 928-333-4301 fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/recreation/sprgrvlle_trails/trl_spr_butler.shtml Contact the ranger station about scheduled guided hikes and lectures.

CHARCOAL KILN

CHARCOAL KILN Prescott National Forest Budding architects will appreciate this short, history-rich trek in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains, which leads to a curious relic of the area’s gold mining heritage. This hike highlights one of the very few remaining intact kilns used to make fuel for smelter operations that flourished in the early 20th century. The 25-foot-tall stone structure resembles a beehive and was constructed entirely without mortar. HIGHLIGHTS: short hike to an historic architectural wonder LENGTH: quarter-mile roundtrip RATING: easy ELEVATION RANGE: 7,000 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 120 miles one-way GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 262 for Highway 69. Go west (toward Prescott) on Highway 69 to Walker Road (County Road 57 which is just past the Costco center). Follow Walker Road south for 6.5 miles to Big Bug Mesa Road, turn right and continue .5 mile to Charcoal Kiln Road. Turn right here and go a short distance to the “303” trail; sign on the right side of the road. Stay clear of private driveways when parking along the road. INFORMATION: refer to the Prescott National Forest recreation map NOTE: this short trail is located close to the Mount Union hike and makes a nice side trip.

BEALE WAGON ROAD

BEALE WAGON ROAD Kaibab National Forest Once upon a time in old Arizona, camels worked side-by-side with horses and mules blazing wagon roads across the western territories. Today, wooden posts bearing chiseled images of dromedary profiles pay homage to the beasts that (kinda) helped construct the Beale Wagon Road. Back in the late 1800s, the desert-adapted beasts were imported to the States because they seemed like the perfect draft animals for working in the unforgiving, arid lands of the American frontier. Not. What nobody counted on was the fact that the worldview of the camels didn’t entirely embrace the need to cooperate with humans in their road-building efforts. By nature, camels are obstinate, uncooperative and consummate spitters with dead-on aim. As if spit wasn’t bad enough, historical accounts contain frequent references to the thick clouds of “foul aroma” that accompanied the camels wherever they went. Still, the natives of the Middle East managed to do enough work on the Beale Wagon Road to be immortalized on the trail markers that now denote the tread way. Under the direction of Navy Lieutenant Edward Beale, this historic causeway was commissioned by the military to provide a route from Fort Smith, Arkansas to the California border at the Colorado River. Abandoned when Route 66 was completed, the road nearly faded into oblivion before it was repurposed as a hiking trail. A work-in-progress, following this route requires good sleuthing skills. There’s no obvious path and the trail is marked only by a series of wooden posts, cairns and metal markers that leapfrog over the Kaibab plateau among wind-swept junipers and shards of 4-million-year-old volcanic glass which were deposited during the era when nearby Bill Williams Mountain was actively spewing lava. Still, history buffs and hard-core hikers alike will relish the great views and relative solitude along this obscure path. Although the west may not have been won entirely on the backs of camels, this trail preserves a singular slice of history when the foul-smelling spitters did their share of the work. HIGHLIGHTS: An historic mid-19th century wagon route with interesting trail markers and great views. LENGTH: 19.5 miles one way. (Easily hiked in segments) Rating: easy-moderate ELEVATION RANGE: 6,200’ – 7,200’ DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 185 miles one-way GETTING THERE:  From Flagstaff, travel west on I-40 to exit 171 (Pittman Valley). Drive north on Forest Road 74 for 7.7 miles to Forest Road 141. Go right on FR-141 and continue for a half-mile to the intersection with Forest Road 730. Head left on FR-730 and go 2.25 miles to Forest Road 115. Turn left onto FR-115 and follow it for roughly 2 miles to Forest Road 2030. Follow FR-2030 for just under a mile to the circular parking area and the sign for Laws Spring. Use the easy-to-follow signs to find the trail. Go left at first “T” intersection to locate the wagon trail ruins. Or, go right, for a more challenging adventure. INFORMATION & MAPS: Kaibab National Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kaibab/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=11675&actid=50

RED HILL

RED HILL Blue Range Primitive Area

This ambitious hike into the heart of the Blue Range Primitive Area, makes for a magnificent expedition into wonderland of rugged canyons, contorted rock formations and bountiful wildlife. The trail can be accessed from either Blue River Road at the bottom of the canyon or from the Rim off of Highway 191, making it a good candidate for a car shuttle hike. From the upper trailhead, the route is typical of trails in this area—primitive. Fallen trees, overgrown brush and exposed benches where the trail seems to disappear, make staying on track an adventure in itself. However, with good map and compass skills, experienced hikers will have little trouble navigating because landmarks such as the surreal geology of Red Bluff, Foote Creek and Blue River Canyon really stand out along the way. Much of the trail hugs the edge of steep canyon walls and stony outcroppings where vista views stretch all the way into New Mexico. At near the 10-mile point, the trail (#56) terminates at Tutt Hill Trail #105. To reach the lower trailhead, hang a left from here and follow trail 105 and then Forest Road 567P for one mile to Red Hill Road. Go right (downhill) to Blue Crossing Campground. The icing on the cake for this hike is a collection of petroglyphs located beyond the gate at the north end of the campground. UPDATE: The June 2011 Wallow Fire has impacted this trail. Check with the forest service before heading out.HIGHLIGHTS: epic views, interesting rock formations, petroglyphs LENGTH: 10 miles one-way RATING: difficult ELEVATION: 8,000 – 5,790 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 265 miles GETTING THERE: UPPER TRAILHEAD: From Alpine, drive 14 miles south on Highway 191to Red Hill Road (Forest Road 567). Follow FR 567 for one mile to Forest Road 567B, which is marked by a “Red Hill Trail” sign. Turn right and go a half-mile to the signed trailhead. LOWER TRAILHEAD: From Alpine, drive 3.5 miles east on Highway 180 to Blue River Road (a.k.a. Country Road 2104 or Forest Road 281). Go south on this good dirt road and continue 20 miles to Forest Road 567 Red Hill Road). Turn right, ford the river (usually shallow) and follow the signs to Blue Crossing Campground. There are no fees at the campground. Park here, or those with a 4x4 vehicle can continue up FR 567 roughly one mile to Forest Road 567P. Turn left and go a half-mile to the parking area for Tutt Hill Trail # 105. Follow trail 105 .5 mile to the Red Hill Trail junction and go right. INFORMATION: 928-339-4384, fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/recreation/alpine_trails/index.shtml

S-CANYON

S-CANYON Blue Range Primitive Area Loosing touch with your inner wild? A hiking expedition to the Blue Range Primitive Area just might help you reconnect. Spanning 173,762 acres of some of Arizona’s most remote, untouched lands, “the Blue” is an isolated pocket of solitude and raw beauty where the state’s only packs of Mexican gray wolves roam wild and free. The Blue Range Primitive Area is the last of its kind. Set aside in the 1930s by the Forest Service along with 75 other areas in the United States to “maintain primitive areas of transportation, habitation and subsistence” the Blue (as it is referred to by the locals) is the only area that has not been absorbed into the current Wilderness Preservation System. Although managed by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest as a wilderness area, the Blue retains its strikingly primitive character. Situated at the eastern most edge of the Mogollon Rim near the New Mexico border, the S-Canyon trail provides a tour of the outlandish diversity and breath-taking beauty of this remote and seldom-visited area. The hike begins at the bottom of Blue River Canyon following the water briefly before heading uphill. The environment gradually transitions from riverside greenery to sun-washed ledges surrounded by low-growing junipers before ending at the Cow Flat Trail junction in a forest of aspens and firs. UPDATE: the June 2011 Wallow Fire did NOT reach this trail, or the Lanphier Trail, however, access may be restricted.  Check with the forest service before heading out. HIGHLIGHTS: amazing route through the nation’s last remaining primitive area LENGTH: 11 miles roundtrip RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 5,680 – 7,600 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 270 miles GETTING THERE: From Alpine, go east on Highway 180 to Blue River Road (also shown as Country Road 2104 and Forest Road 281 on some maps). Follow Blue River Road for 23 miles to the signed Blue Camp trailhead on the left side of the road. INFORMATION: 928-339-4384, fs.fed.us/r3/asnf/recreation/alpine_trails/index.shtml

EAST CABIN LOOP

EAST CABIN LOOP CIRCUIT Coconino National Forest Stream-filled canyons, substantial timber lands, flowing springs and three sites where the ruins of decommissioned forest service cabins stand in aspen-framed alpine meadows combine for an especially interesting hike. This route uses three of the five trails that make up the Coconino National Forest’s Cabin Loop System of old fire roads and shelters. Not for amateurs, this hike requires a fair amount of map and route-finding skill. The trail is marked by tree blazes—pairs of short and long gashes in the bark of trees. To stay on track, leap-frog from one blaze to the next. HIKE DIRECTIONS: Begin on the Barbershop Trail # 91 located across the road from Buck Springs Cabin. Follow #91 for a half-mile to the U-Bar Trail # 28, go right (north) and continue 7.6 miles to the Houston Brothers Trail #18 junction near Pinchot Cabin. From here, go left (south) and follow #18 7.5 miles back to trail #91, go left (east) and hike 4 miles back to the trailhead. See the Forest Service map for other loop and day hike options. HIGHLIGHTS: creeks, canyons, springs and historic ruins LENGTH: 18-mile loop RATING: moderate ELEVATION: 7,000 – 7,500 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 157 miles GETTING THERE: From Payson, go east on Highway 260 for 30 miles to Rim Road (Forest Road 300) just past milepost 282. Follow FR 300 for 23 miles to Forest Road 137. Turn right onto FR137 and go 4 miles to the sign for Barbershop Trail on the left side of the road, across from Buck Springs Cabin. INFORMATION: 928-477-2172 or fs.fed.us/r3/Coconino

YEAGER CANYON LOOP

YEAGER CANYON LOOP Prescott National Forest This scenic route melds three unique trails into one wide loop along the southern slopes of Mingus Mountain. In order to get the tough climbing out of the way, it’s best to hike clockwise. From the trailhead, head down into the pinion-and-juniper-dotted drainage and hang a left to pick up Yeager Canyon Trail #28 which parallels Highway 89 for a short stretch before angling east where it takes on the exposed ridgelines above Prescott Valley. At the two-mile-point, veer right at a three-way intersection, continue a few yards on an old dirt road and look for the (easy-to-miss) sign for Yeager Cabin Trail # 111 on the right. Here, the trail drops into a side canyon, cutting through a dense forest of Ponderosa pines and oaks with many sun-soaked clearings. After summer storms, water can be found in the low-lying ravines. Trail #111 continues for 1.9 miles to Allen Springs road. Here, turn right onto the road and hike about a quarter-mile to Little Yeager Canyon Trail #533 on the right. This final segment showcases a vibrant splattering of blooming shrubs and wildflowers against a backdrop of wide-angle vistas of Prescott Valley. HIGHLIGHTS: expansive views of Prescott Valley LENGTH: 6-mile loop RATING: moderate ELEVATION RANGE: 6,000 – 7,200 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 125 miles GETTING THERE: From Prescott, go east on Highway 89A for 10 miles to an unmarked dirt turnout on the right side of the road. The parking area is near a road sign that states: “Flagstaff 69, Jerome 10.” INFORMATION: Verde Ranger District, Prescott National Forest, 928-443-8001
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/verde/yeagercan28.shtml

KENDRICK PEAK

KENDRICK PEAK Kaibab National Forest
UPDATE: The June 2017 Boundary Fire impacted this trail. The forest service has CLOSED the trails on the mountain indefinitely. CHECK STATUS BEFORE YOU GO.  In summer, wild roses and high-altitude flowers perfume the cool air on Flagstaff’s second highest volcano. The Kendrick Peak Trail was moderately affected by the 2000 Pumpkin Fire, which charred 15,000 acres of wilderness and the colorful blooms stand in stark contrast to the patches of eerie black matchsticks that look, ironically, as if they had been extinguished in a volcanic holocaust. Most of the trail remains pristine and wonderfully varied, passing through pine forests, fern gullies, aspens and alpine meadows. Near the summit, a one-room cabin, erected in 1911 to accommodate fire lookout workers, still stands and makes an interesting detour before tackling the series of switchbacks that lead to the fire tower that caps the 10,418-foot-high mountain. Usually staffed with a forest service worker during the summer fire season, the tower is open to visitors. A stroll around the tower’s rickety metal catwalk provides bird's-eye views that transcend the blackened forests below and stretch into the hazy ocher deserts of Utah on the northern horizon. HIGHLIGHTS: outstanding views of the highlands surrounding Flagstaff LENGTH: 9.2 miles roundtrip RATING: moderate ELEVATION RANGE: 7,980 – 10,400 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 175 miles GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, drive north on Highway 180 to Forest Road 245 (near milepost 230). Follow FR 245 for three miles to the junction with Forest Road 171, turn right, and follow the signs for three more miles to the trailhead. A high clearance vehicle is recommended. INFORMATION: 928-635-5600, fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/trails/wil_kendrick.shtml

GADDES CANYON

GADDES CANYON Prescott National Forest Perched on a mountaintop above Jerome, the Mingus Mountain Lookout tower soars over the old-growth pine trees that clutter the peak. Winds churned up from the cool, surrounding canyons clamor up the slopes whipping around the guy wires that strain to steady the groaning metal structure that seems to pierce the clouds. A series of rickety stairs lead to the depression–era cabin atop the 60-foot fire tower. Beneath the tower, a tiny house sits in a clearing overlooking Prescott Valley and serves as cozy refuge for fire lookouts. Although there are many ways to get to this lookout, one of the most scenic approach is via the Gaddes Canyon Trail #110. Mostly canyon-bound, the trail crawls up the eastern flanks of Mingus Mountain, ducking in-and-out of forests of juniper and scrub oak, sunny meadows and rocky ledges where glimpses of vertical canyon walls emerge from the timberlands at every turn. On the summit, a picnic table surrounded by a showy mix of wildflowers including Buffalo Bur, New Mexico Yellow Flax and wild roses, makes for a relaxing lunch break before heading back down the canyon. HIGHLIGHTS: historic fire tower, pine forests, views of Prescott Valley LENGTH: 5.2 miles roundtrip RATING: moderate ELEVATION RANGE: 6,773 - 7,743 feet DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 145 miles GETTING THERE: From Prescott, follow Highway 89A north for 25 miles to Mingus Mountain Road (Forest Road 104). Turn right and continue 1.5 miles to Allen Springs Road (Forest Road 413). Turn right and follow FR 413 for 3 miles to the signed trailhead. INFORMATION: 928-777-2200 fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/verde/gaddescan110.shtml