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BEARFOOT TRAIL
Pine-Strawberry
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| Junipers and Ponderosa pines shade the trail |
UPDATE March, 2016:
Several new trail signs have been installed and a bridge is being built across Pine Creek. Thanks to hiker Randy Cockrell for the photo and update.
Several new trail signs have been installed and a bridge is being built across Pine Creek. Thanks to hiker Randy Cockrell for the photo and update.
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| New signs installed 2016. Photo by Randy Cockrell |
Officially introduced in May 2014 during Pine-Strawberry
Trail Days festivities, the area’s newest hiking path connects with Tonto National Forest routes Pine Canyon
Trail #26 and Forest Road #608 (a.k.a. Rock Wall Trail). The hike takes off from a small pull out
along Highway 87 and follows a ridgeline above the town of Pine. There are no signs along the route and
finding where the path begins is a little tricky. From the trailhead, pass the gate, veer right and hike 0.2
mile on the power line road to a 4-way junction where the road gets very steep.
Pick up the trail heading right and from here on, the route is obvious. While hiking, note the beautifully
constructed native stone retaining walls and drainage ditches. The din of the
highway accompanies outstanding views of the Mazatzal Mountains for the first
mile, but the noise recedes as the trail curves to the northwest, dipping and climbing among
cypress pockets, juniper-studded gullies and cool pine-shaded woodlands backed
by Mogollon Rim vistas. You’ll pass by several private residential communities
and Camp Lo Mia before connecting with Trail #26 in Pine Canyon.
LENGTH: 5.6 miles one-way
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 5690’ – 6050’
GETTING THERE:
From Payson go 20 miles north on AZ87 to the trailhead at
milepost 270 on the right. There’s
parking for about 4 cars, but additional space is at the Trail #15 lot a few
yards up the road on the left.
INFO:
MORE PHOTOS:
