PORTER
MOUNTAIN via FLUME CONNECTOR
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| White Mountains views from the summit of Porter Mtn. |
Anchoring
the heart of the 200+-mile White Mountains Trail System (TRACKS), the Timber
Mesa and Panorama loop trails offer easy access, moderate workouts and abundant
scenic beauty.
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| Exposed cinders along the road to Porter Mountain |
The
popular, close-to-town loops are tethered by two lesser-used connector routes:
Sawmill #626A and Flume #636B. While enabling seamless travel between the two
big circuits, the auxiliary routes also demonstrate that, like a crèam-filled sandwich
cookie, the best stuff is in the middle.
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| Porter Mountain seen from the Panorama trailhead |
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| Prickly poppies bloom April - November |
Of the
two, the Flume Connector is the easiest to reach. Beginning at the Panorama
trailhead, the shady single track moves through the woody space between Flume
and Porter Mountains before making a mild ascent to the top of Timber Mesa. But
to add some extra punch to the hike, a detour up Porter Mountain delivers the goods.
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| See-forever vistas from the scenic lookout point |
From the trailhead, follow Flume Connector 0.4-mile to where it crosses
Forest Road 223, the summit road. Make a mental note of this spot as it’s easy
to miss on the way back. Head right and begin hiking uphill, veer left at the
first fork and get ready for amazing displays of bizarre geology and White
Mountains scenery. Within a few yards, the road makes a hairpin turn through a
broken flank of the extinct cone volcano. Below, a gaping cinder pit sits below
volcanic outcroppings and disintegrating slopes of russet and black cinders.
Farther up the road, views of Scott Reservoir, Show Low Lake and the wetlands of Jacques Marsh sparkle through acres of pine forests and rangelands.
This area is particularly beautiful in late summer when
sunflowers paint the landscape brilliant yellow.
At the
1.1-mile point, a dirt turnout serves as a scenic lookout for enjoying see-forever
views of the Mogollon Rim and pockets of civilization surrounded by a patchwork
of trees, plains and isolated peaks. To get to the summit proper, hike past the
vehicle gate and make the final 0.4-mile climb toward an array of communication
towers. This final section showcases glimpses of Mount Baldy (11,403 feet) to
the southeast and dozens of lumps, bumps and prairies of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. In between
ogling the sights, don’t forget to look down to see the potpourri of plant life
protruding from the disturbed road margins and mountain escarpments. Wax
current shrubs, prickly poppies, globe mallow, rare Graham’s tick-trefoil and
the ubiquitous sunflowers sprout from seemingly inhospitable volcanic scree.
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| Flume Connector is part of TRACKS |
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| Prickly poppies are abundant along the route |
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| Distant Mogollon Rim viewed from Porter Mountain |
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| Black cinders spill from a break in Porter Mountain |
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| Wax current shrubs grow near the summit of Porter Mtn. |
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| Scott Reservoir (left) & Show Low Lake from Porter Mtn. |
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| The ponds of Jacques Marsh viewed from Porter Mtn. |
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| Mt. Baldy seen from Porter Mountain |
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| Graham's tick-trefoil is a rare sight along the route |
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| Beginning of the Flume Connector at Panorama trailhead |
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| Flume Connector toggles Timber Mesa & Panorama trails |
At road’s
end, wander around on several dirt paths that lead to photogenic vantage points
to cap off the show. When done exploring, descend back to the Flume Connector
and hike 2 miles west on the pleasantly shady, sparsely traveled route to
where the trail joins the Timber Mesa loop, the turnaround point for the hike.
LENGTH:
Porter
Mountain: 3 miles up-and-back
Porter
Mountain with Flume Trail: 8 miles out-and-back
Flume
Connector alone: 5 miles out-and-back
RATING:
moderate
ELEVATION:
Porter
Mountain: 6,961 – 7,584 feet
Flume
Trail #636B: 6,961 – 7,184 feet
GETTING
THERE:
From State
Route 260 (White Mountain Blvd.) in Pinetop-Lakeside, turn left on Porter
Mountain Road (Forest Road 45) and go 5 miles—watch for a sharp right turn-- to
the Panorama trailhead on the left. Roads are 100% paved.
INFO:
White Mountains Trail System
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