As forests and recreation sites start to reopen, please continue to observe safe practices as you begin stepping back out on the trails. Here's another less-used gem where there's room for physical distancing.
MUNDS
CANYON TRAIL to HORSE PARK
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| Water lingers at the bottom of Munds Canyon |
In the
pine forests that straddle the hilly acres between Lake Mary Road and
Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff, a network of shared-use trails connect
Arizona’s plateau lakes region with the community of Munds Park.
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| There's lots of shade on the Munds Canyon Trail |
The system of long, loopy routes is integrated
with the Kelly Motorized Trail System and forest service trails adopted by the
Munds Park Trail Stewards (MUTS), a volunteer group dedicated to working with
land management agencies for the establishment and maintenance of multi-use
trails in the Coconino National Forest.
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| Watch for wildlife near a tank along Rocky Road Trail |
With over 100 miles of new and
re-purposed trails, the Munds Park-Kelly Canyon Trail System provides
recreational access with the goal of preventing destructive trailblazing while
preserving access and forest health.
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| Woodhouse's Phlox blooms spring through fall |
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| Over 100 miles of trails in the Kelly-Munds Park systems |
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| Munds Park - Kelly trails are multi-use |
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| The route is well-signed and easy to follow. |
Open to
hikers, bikers, equestrians and smaller motorized vehicles, the Munds Canyon
Trail 240 is a pleasant walk through shady terrain that dips and climbs through
the contours of a shallow gorge. The
2.3-mile route is well-maintained and
signed and may be used in conjunction with several connecting trails for longer
treks. Beginning at the roomy Pinewood trailhead where there’s plenty of
parking for vehicles and trailers, the hike begins with an easy walk through
pine-oak woodlands and meadows. The trail soon encounters the edge of Munds
Canyon where a series of flowing switchbacks glide off the rim and into green
drainages cluttered with brambles and wildflowers that thrive in the moist
ecozones.
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| Larkspur grow in pine forest clearings |
Munds Canyon Trail ends at the
junction with the Rocky Road Trail 241. Turn back here for a 4.6-mile hike, or
head right on Rocky Road for a longer adventure with a few surprises thrown in.
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| An odd sinkhole stands out on the Rocky Road Trail |
This section of Rocky Road lives up to its name with lots of loose stones that
make foot travel manageable but potentially ankle-twisting. Watch your step and
you’ll be fine. At the 2.9-mile point, the trail crosses a cattle guard and
meets a massive sinkhole. The abrupt, boulder-jumbled crater looks strangely
out-of-place among tracts of arching oaks and colorful blooms. Not far beyond the stone pit, a noticeable
increase in wildlife activity—birds, squirrels, fox, racoon, elk-- hints at the
presence of a water source. Watch for a
large earthen berm off to the left which contains a wildlife water tank that
attracts dozens of animal species such as skunk, herons and bobcats. During the final half-mile of the hike, the forest opens up as it enters the sunny
grasslands of Horse Park.
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| Pine thermopsis blooms April - July |
The Munds Park Trail Stewards recently constructed
log fences to keep motorized traffic out of the previously damaged sensitive
environment. To help in its recovery and to keep from disturbing wildlife, even
hikers should respect nature by staying on designated trails. Trails and campsites are for people. The rest
of the forest is for plants and animals.
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| Munds Canyon Trail descends into a forested draw |
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| Fencing protects the recovering flats of Horse Park |
Even minimal foot traffic can disrupt fragile habitats.
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| Rocky Road Trail is rocky, as advertised. |
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| Lemmon's Star blooms spring through early summer |
Rocky Road
Trail meets Forest Road 700 at the 3.9-miles, the turnaround point for this
hike.
LENGTH:
7.8 miles round trip
RATING:
moderate
ELEVATION:
6,646 – 6,955 feet
GETTING
THERE:
From Interstate 17, take the Munds Park exit #322 and
continue 2 miles east on Pinewood Boulevard (Forest Road 240) to the parking
area on the left. Trail begins at the
north end of the lot. Roads are paved with a short section of maintained dirt
that's fine for all vehicles.
INFO & MAPS:
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