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MONUMENT PEAK LOOP SNOW HIKE
Payson Area Trails System
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| Snow hiking Monument Peak Loop: Dec. 13, 2015 |
Snow days in Payson are rarer than
those in Flagstaff or the White Mountains, but when they do occur,
getting to good snow hiking trails is a lot easier than at the higher
elevations where deeper accumulations and unplowed forest roads can
thwart access and frustrate even the most experienced trekkers. The
Payson Area Trails System (PATS) network of routes winds around a
through town with easy-to-find trailheads along residential streets
so there's usually no need to chain up or kick in the four wheel
drive to enjoy a wintery walk.
A good bet for a snow hike
is the Monument Peak Loop. Because it runs through a mix of shady
pine forests, manzanita scrub and sunny meadows with intermittent
streams, you'll get a smorgasbord of deep drifts, gentle dustings,
frost-kissed cypress trees and ice capped pools. The trail is
well-signed and heavily traveled by locals so chances are the path
will have already been packed down by time you arrive. However, it's
smart to head out with equipment to keep yourself safe. Hiking
poles, layers of technical fabric clothing (ditch the cotton jeans)
and boots with good traction are essential. Some hikers insist that a
pair of slip on crampons make all the difference. Additionally, keep
in mind that snow and ice is most treacherous when it starts to melt.
An early start means you'll face colder temperatures, but you'll also
have a better chance of avoiding slips and muddy boots. The photos
here are from a hike on December 13, 2015 following a storm on the
previous day. It was 27 degrees when we started around 9 a.m. and 34
degrees at 10:30 a.m.
LENGTH: 3.3-mile loop
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 4,630' - 4,795'
GETTING THERE:
From the intersection of
State Route 87/260 in Payson, go less than a mile east on SR260 to
Granite Dells Road (located just past the Safeway center). Turn right
and go 3.3 miles on Granite Dells Road (which will turn into Forest
Road 435 after 1.3 miles) to the Monument Peak trailhead on the left.
INFO & MAPS:
Payson Area Trails System
MORE PHOTOS:
