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SPRING VALLEY CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS
Kaibab National Forest
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| Spring Valley Tank with Kendrick Mountain in the distance. |
By time the Sitgreaves
Complex Fire swept through the woodlands north of Parks, it was 98
years overdue. Nearly a century of unbridled vegetation growth
coupled with drought years had created tinderbox conditions and the
forest was ready for a good cleansing. So, when a lightning strike near Sitgreaves Mountain on July 13, 2014 ignited layers of forest
litter, fire managers used the incident to effectively treat 11,080
acres of unhealthy land. All but 53 acres of the blaze burned at
low-to-moderate levels of severity, creeping along the
The site is being
rehabilitated and can be explored via the Spring Valley Cross-Country
Ski Trails that pass near and through the footprints of both this event and also the 2010 Eagle Rock Fire. Roughly a third of the 8-mile RS Hill
and Eagle Rock Loop system has been impacted by fire. The trailhead
is intact as are the first couple of miles, but halfway through the
Eagle Rock leg, the trail enters the first of a mosaic of burn sites.
As would be expected, heavy damage to the trails requires stepping
over snags and dodging scoured gullies. Thankfully, new signs clearly
mark the route. Hiking here involves leap-frogging from
marker-to-post-to-tree-blaze, so be sure to sight the next sign
before proceeding. In between the charred patches, pine seedlings
have been planted and fences installed to protect aspen sprouts from
browsing elk. Two beautiful stock tanks, plus views of Kendrick Mountain
the San Francisco Peaks and the moist green fields of Spring Valley
augment this trip through the genesis of a healthier high
country forest.
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| The 2010 Eagle Rock Fire burned parts of the trails. |
LENGTH: 8 miles per the forest service map. Our gps readings measured 8.8 miles for the two loops.
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 7160' - 7893'
GETTING THERE:
From the Interstate 17/40 junction in
Flagstaff, travel 15 miles west on I-40 to the Parks exit #178. Go
0.2 mile, turn right at a stop sign and continue 0.2 mile to a second
stop sign on Old Route 66. Turn left, drive 0.6 mile to Spring Valley
Road (CR 141), turn right and go 5.5 miles to the trailhead on the
left signed for Sanderson Pass Road and FR787B. Roads are paved and
sedan-friendly cinder.
INFO: Williams Ranger District, Kaibab
National Forest, 928-635-5600
MORE PHOTOS:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202779711332614.1073742017.1795269672&type=1&l=db2e64be07
