Autumn Comes Early on Flagstaff's Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop

ABINEAU-BEAR JAW LOOP

Aspens line Waterline Road on Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop.

With fall foliage season right around the corner, I’m already feeling the tug of the Abineau-Bear Jaw Trail.  Its location high on the north flanks of Flagstaff’s San Francisco Mountain means it’s one of the first places to show Autumn color.  Anxious hikers who can manage the rugged, 1,870-foot, thin-air climb in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness can get a jump start on aspen overload.

San Francisco Peaks seen from Abineau Canyon.

Aspens abound on the Abineau-Bear Jaw Loop

A short access path leads to a junction where the loop begins. You can go either way, but using the Abineau Canyon leg for the uphill climb affords the best views of the peaks without having to stop and turn around all the time.

Aspen color peaks early in Abineau Canyon

Abineau Canyon's deep woods.

View from the top of Abineau Canyon.

Damp and chilly, the moss-laced mixed conifer woodlands of Abineau Canyon is reminiscent of the alpine forests of Colorado—dense and claustrophobic in its immensity. Canyon winds rattle leaves from the aspens that sway among the dominant Ponderosa and limber pines, corkbark fir, spruce and Douglas firs creating golden cascades and crunchy drifts of spent foliage.

Aspen leaves collect on conifers.

Colorful Bear Jaw Canyon.

The 2-mile Abineau segment tops out on an exposed ridge beneath 12,633-foot Humphreys Peak, which is often snow-capped by early October.  Below, the cinder-cone dotted flatlands of the San Francisco Volcanic Field and the pastel wilds of the Painted Desert stretch out to the horizon. Next, you’ll catch a breather on the 2.1-mile walk along Waterline Road.  Wrapped in towering aspens, the wide dirt route and its easy tread is a real treat to hike. Without having to huff-an-puff, it’s easier to enjoy the surreal beauty of the white-barked forest, lemony canopies and mountain vistas. This is also prime habitat for blue grouse and the vociferous Clark's nutcracker. If you’re lucky, you might spot them swooping among the trees. Keep an eye out for a wooden sign for Bear Jaw Canyon on the left. This easy-to-miss turn off marks the start of the loop’s 2.3-mile descent.  A bit more open and less steep than Abineau, this twisting downhill passage is an enchanting trip through a ravine-riddled gorge. Near the bottom of the trail, sweet meadows harbor acres of fading ferns and the frazzled remains of summer wildflowers.  This is a hike I do almost every year and it never gets old.

Meadow near the trailhead. 

LENGTH: 7.2-mile loop

RATING: difficult

ELEVATION: 8,530-10,400 feet

BEST TIME FOR FAL COLOR: Late September-Early October

GETTING THERE:

From Flagstaff, go north on US180 (Fort Valley Rd.) to milepost 235.2 and turn right onto Forest Road 151 (Hart Prairie Road, north access). Continue 1.6 miles on FR 151 and connect to Forest Road 418. Drive 3.1 miles on FR418 to Forest Road 9123J (signed for Abineau-Bear Jaw), turn right and go 0.6 mile to the trailhead. Dirt/cinder roads are rutted but passable by carefully driven sedans. 
FLAGSTAFF FALL FOLIAGE UPDATES:
https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/leafometer/

INFO:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55058&actid=50

STORM TRAILS

STORM TRAILS

Curious rock formations on the Easter Island Trail.

The best trails are those that respect the terrain through which they cut, following the land’s natural contours to unwind like humble spectators rather than intruders. The newest additions to the Prescott Mile-High Trail System do just that in a seemingly impenetrable labyrinth of stone.

The Boulder Creek Trail adds a splash of green.

Early in 2018, the City of Prescott purchased a 160-acre parcel east of Watson Lake to preserve the geologically-unique space while allowing for recreational use. Shortly after the land was acquired, work on the Storm Trails system got underway and the first routes officially opened on March 31, 2018.

Use the Peavine Trail to access the Storm Trails

Situated deep in the striking beauty of the Granite Dells, the loopy network spins off from the Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail 1.5-miles north of the trailhead on Sundog Ranch Road.  

The Storm Trails explore Prescott's Granite Dells area.

The maze of short, interconnected paths meander among billion-year-old granite crags, secluded grasslands, washes and shady corridors of scrub oak. The first of several gateways to the system is located across from a vista point overlooking Watson Lake.  From here, the 0.67-mile Easter Island Trail wastes no time delivering the goods. The low-profile path dives right into a heart-of-rocks, artfully sidestepping obstacles on its way to a knoll above the lake with breathtaking views of Granite Mountain, Glassford Hill and a bizarre landscape of Precambrian stone pillars. Within the first half-mile, how the trail got its name becomes apparent. Perched atop a jumbled mound of weathered granite, two majestic monoliths that resemble the famous ancient sculptures found on Rapa Nui-- the volcanic Pacific reef also known as Easter Island—stand out above a basin of boulders. The nature-sculpted pair of human-esque forms---one with a bulging eye and the other wearing a mischievous smirk-- balance on a crest, silent and focused as if commanding an army of rock goblins.  Beyond the stony sentinels, the trail crosses Boulder Creek and evolves into an insanely entertaining web of stone-age-themed mini loops. 

Woolly Morning glories bloom near Watson Lake.

With names like Pebbles, Bam Bam, Dino Canyon and Bedrock City, the swooping footpaths that propel hikers through nooks, bends and narrow stone corridors are a perfect homage to their 1960s-era Flintstone’s cartoon namesakes. Immerse yourself in the playful theme and it’s almost like hiking in a page right out of history through the courtesy of Fred’s your two feet. (Props to the Hanna-Barbera jingle).

Follow the white paint dots to navigate slick rock sections.

Close up of the Easter Island sculptures look-alikes.

New Storm Trails are located east of Watson Lake.

There are no dull moments in this ticklish intersection of imposing natural wonders and amusing names.

A section smothered in high-desert vegetation.

Every turn reveals a fresh view or an interesting feature.  Even the stuff underfoot changes at the pace of a manic animated flick. 

The trails pass thru many stoney corridors. 

The mix of soft dirt single track, sandy washes and tricky slick rock passages where white paint dots guide the way make for a mildly challenging, ever tantalizing hike.  Even though the bizarre pillars and fractured joints of the Granite Dells are the main attractions, the system’s Boulder Creek Trail adds a splash of blue with a cottonwood-lined waterway, cascades and reflecting pools that soften the high-desert terrain. 

Secluded pockets of water add color to the high-desert trails.

The trails spin off the Peavine Trail 1.5 miles of the TH.

Scenic knoll with views of Watson Lake and Granite Mtn.

As satisfying as the Storm Trails are right now, they’re not finished yet. The planned 6-mile system is on track to be completed by the end of this year. Who knows; maybe Wilma and Fred will get trails too.

A grasshopper alights on a Sacred Datura flower.

LENGTH: 6 miles (not including the 1.5-mile one-way access hike on the Peavine Trail)

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:  5150 – 5300 feet

GETTING THERE:

1626 Sundog Ranch Road, Prescott.

From State Route 69 in Prescott, go 1.7 miles north on Prescott Lakes Parkway to Sundog Ranch Road, turn right and continue 0.2-mile to the Peavine Trail/Watson Woods Riparian Preserve parking area. There’s a $3 per vehicle daily parking fee.

INFO:

http://www.prescott-az.gov/recreation-area/storm-trails/