LAND OF THE PIONEERS
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| This box canyon is a highlight along the north leg of the trail. |
The bucolic
pastures and quiet backwoods of Vernon, Arizona--population 122--is the last
place you’d expect to be the scene of a vile triple homicide. It happened, though and the sad story is standard fare in local lore.
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| Ruins of a pioneer homestead. |
Pioneers began
settling the rural community in the eastern White Mountains in the 1890s, making
a living on the surrounding lumber-rich forests.
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| The ruins of an infamous pioneer cabin. |
Legend has it that among the early pioneers
were three women who lived in a log cabin just south of town.
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| Section 31 Tank attracts swarms of dragonflies. |
Back-fence
chatter about the women hiding a large amount of money on their property
eventually reached the ears of criminals.
The women were murdered and their homestead ransacked. No riches were
found. Today, all that remains of the
tragic scene are crumbling stone foundations and piles of rusty-nail planks.
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| Delicate Torrey's Crag Lily bloom in sunny spots. |
The historic homestead is one of many points
of interest on the Land of the Pioneers Trail #651 that’s located 5 miles south
of Vernon. Constructed in a
customizable, triple-loop format, trail No. 651 wanders through a mix of deep
pine-oak woodlands and airy, juniper-dotted meadows. The most scenic elements
of the hike are found on the north leg of the 8.7-mile circumference loop.
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| Beautiful White Mountains views from Ecks Mountain. |
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| Bright red paintbrush wildflowers stand out along the paths. |
From the
trailhead, the north leg departs at the kiosk following a dirt road. Just past
the first of several cattle gates, the trail bends left onto a single track.
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| A sunny section of the circumference loop. |
Like all White Mountains Trail System routes, this one is very well maintained
and outfitted with location markers placed roughly every quarter-mile.
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| Approaching the box canyon. |
The
markers correspond with downloadable maps, so you’ll always know where you are
on the trail. White diamond tags denote the main outer loop while yellow dots
indicate shortcuts for the three inner loops. The hike to the cabin site is just over a
mile. The first ruins appear at location marker L30 and the main cabin ruins
are a quarter mile farther at maker L29. This is also where the shortcut for
Loop 1 veers off for a 3.5-mile option. Next up on the big loop, look for a
short spur path on the left near marker L26 that leads to Section 31 Tank. The secluded
water hole reflects the sky and teems with multi-colored dragonflies.
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| Yellow dots indicate shortcut routes. |
After another 0.75-mile,
the trail traces the edge of rocky box canyon with steep drop offs and first
glimpses of dozens of eroding cinder cones in the Springerville Volcanic Field.
This is one of the prettiest spots on the trail. Beyond the canyon, the trail begins its ascent
up the flanks of Ecks Mountain.
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| One of several rustic gates along the route. |
To bypass this challenging section, take the signed
shortcut for a 6.8-mile moderate trek. Sweat expended on Ecks Mountain and an optional
short spur that leads to a vista point pays off with excellent panoramic views
of Greens Peak and rolling prairies that stretch into New Mexico.
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| Pink Windmills bloom through September. |
A set of
tight switchbacks mitigate the vertical descent down to the south leg of the
loop. The final miles back to the trailhead undulate through boulder-studded
ravines, moist drainages and fields of wildflowers shaded by the afternoon
clouds that roll in like clockwork during White Mountains summers.
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| Be prepared for afternoon summer storms. |
LENGTH:
Circumference
Loop: 8.7 miles
Loop 1: 3.5
miles
Loop 1-2 combo: 6.8 miles
RATING:
ELEVATION: 7220 –
7864 feet
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| Section 31 Tank is located along the north leg of the big loop |
GETTING THERE:
From the
junction of US 60 and State Route 260 in Show Low, go 19.4 miles east on US60
to County Road 3140 (Vernon Road/Forest Road 224). Turn right and continue 5
miles south, turn right onto Forest Road 5 and drive 0.5-mile to the trailhead
on the left. Forest roads are gravel and
dirt, suitable for passenger vehicles.
INFO: White
Mountains Trail System
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