Dude Creek flows over the Highline Trail |
A section of new alignment of the Highline Trail |
VOAz's Paul Paonessa on the new AZT bridge |
Scar of the 1990 Dude Fire |
In 2012, VOAz in
partnership with the Tonto National Forest, began planning for an ambitious restoration project
to stabilize and, in some cases, reroute the trail. Fueled by grants and
thousands of hours of volunteer labor, the project has rescued the trail from obliteration
and created a safer, more scenic trek. Paonessa points to the leadership and vision of Michael Baker, Executive Director of VOAz as the driving force behind the massive endeavor.
"He is the one who fought for the funding, arranged all the resources, found the various volunteers, contractors and myself ( #1 crash test dummy ) to devote the time and energy."
Paonessa, a former City of Phoenix Park Ranger, describes the work as bringing the trail back in sync with the terrain.
“We rerouted parts of the trail to follow the natural
contours of the landscape. Sections of old trail that went through overgrown
depressions or plowed straight up inclines were moved onto more sustainable
surfaces with better views that also keep natural watersheds intact. All
the “fall line” sections of trail (deep ruts with loose rock and downed timber)
have been redone or replaced by 5% grade climbs. In other words, you can now hike
it, not crawl through it. Also, this October, the Arizona Trail folks installed a
pedestrian bridge over the East Verde River where the AZT departs the Highline
and heads north.”
Another
objective of the restoration project is to enhance user experience. “We look to
incorporate interesting control points when working on trails.” Paonessa adds.
“Things such as historic artifacts like old culverts, unique botanical
specimens and geological features add to a trail’s character.”
"He is the one who fought for the funding, arranged all the resources, found the various volunteers, contractors and myself ( #1 crash test dummy ) to devote the time and energy."
Paonessa, a former City of Phoenix Park Ranger, describes the work as bringing the trail back in sync with the terrain.
Badly eroded section of trail that was re-routed |
Sustainable new alignments frame epic Rim County views |
One section of notable improvement is where the trail was
relocated from a brush-addled thorn tunnel onto an open slick rock ledge that
unwinds like taffy beneath limestone escarpments that frame views of the Mazatzal
Mountains previously obscured by scrub.
Just beyond this Sedona-esque passage,
the route winds down to meet a breathtaking half-pipe water chute at Dude
Creek. Core work on the trail has been progressing at about 2 miles per season
(4 miles per year) and is likely to conclude in the near future.
Paonessa on a restored section of the Highline Trail |
Once complete, the Highline Trail will have gained extra length and
renewed stature as one of Arizona’s premier hiking, biking and equestrian
trails.
Bigtooth maples and Gamble oaks in shades of autumn |
WASHINGTON PARK
to DUDE CREEK DAY HIKE
LENGTH: 6-miles
roundtrip to Dude Creek and back.
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6250’
– 6100’
GETTING THERE:
Washington Park
Trailhead:
From Payson, go 1.7
miles north on State Route 87 to Houston Mesa Road (Forest Road 199), turn right and
continue 10 miles the “T” intersection at Control Road (Forest Road 64) in the
Whispering Pines community. Turn left, go 0.6-mile and take a right on Forest Road
32. Go 3.2 miles to Forest Road 32A (sometimes
signed as Belluzzi Blvd), turn right and continue 1 mile to the trailhead. Start
at the Highline Trail sign, cross the bridge and head right.
Roads are
maintained dirt suitable for carefully-driven passenger cars.
Sign at the Washington Park trailhead |
To learn how you
can help with trail rehabilitation across the state:
Volunteers for
Outdoor Arizona (VOAz)
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