Schultz Creek Trail

SCHULTZ CREEK TRAIL

Aspens thrive on the upper reaches of Schultz Creek Trail

Slung between he edge-hugging dirt track of Schultz Pass Road and the sheer foothills below Mount Elden, Schultz Creek Trail rolls out like an emerald half-pipe.  Because of its fluid, north-south track, hairpin turns and mild jumps, the historic route in the Mount Elden-Dry Lakes Hills area just a few miles north of downtown Flagstaff is a magnet mountain bikers and hikers who don’t mind sharing the path with swooping wheeled traffic.

Mixed-conifer woodlands dominate much of the hike

The pine-cloistered trail clings to ledges above numerous drainages and the course of Schultz Creek.  The U-shaped space through which the trail runs is short on mountain views but long on woodland diversity.

The route shares space with the Arizona Trail

Throughout the hike, slash piles—pyramids of cut logs and brush--are stacked neatly off to the side.  The piles are part of the ongoing Midway portion of the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project, a joint effort of state, city, and Coconino National Forest teams to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and post-fire flooding through treatments such as tree thinning and fuels reduction.

Views are spare in the "emerald half pipe."

Arizona gilia bloom May - September

Forest service contractors will be using heavy equipment to move the slash around Schultz Pass now through March 2022. Trail users should exercise caution and steer clear of oversized trucks around the Sunset trailhead and surrounding forest roads.  Parking at the south trailhead or overflow lot will be the smart move for the next few months.

Aspen fleabane color the trail July - October

The trail ducks among deep woods & aspen glens

Schultz Creek trail presents a constant but moderate climb that begins in Ponderosa pine forests that gradually merge with fir and spruce as the path approaches its higher elevations. 

A slash pile (center right) awaits removal

The first 2.9-mile slice of the route is also part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail Passage 34, one of the most beautiful and popular sections of the 800+-mile, state-traversing path. 

Yellow columbine bloom April - September

Right about where the Arizona Trail spins off to the left, aspen trees commandeer the landscape.  A break in the deep-woods shade that dominated much of the hike up to this point allows plenty of sun into the steep-walled ravine where the white-barked alpine trees thrive in moist meadows. 

Goldenrod is a common alpine summer bloomer

The final 1.5 miles to the north terminus at the Sunset trailhead stay close to Schultz Pass Road and the course of the creek. 

A monsoon storm brews over the Arizona Trail

Paralleling the seepy, swampy, willow-cluttered creek, the trail passes among colorful wildflowers fields and brambles before meeting the Schultz Loop trail, an optional mile-long detour that lands hikers near Schultz Tank where numerous routes link with the Fort Valley trail system, Kachina Peaks Wilderness and more Dry Lakes Hills paths.

Willows & brambles grow around Schultz Creek

LENGTH: 4.3 miles one way

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 7,200 – 8,080 feet

GETTING THERE:

South trailhead & overflow parking:

In Flagstaff, go 3 miles north on U.S. 180 and turn right onto Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420).  Continue for a half mile then make a hard left at the FR 557 junction to stay on FR 420 and go another half mile to the Schultz Creek trailhead.  There’s additional parking at the FR420/557 junction.

North trailhead:

From the Schultz Creek trailhead turnoff, continue another 4.9 miles on FR 420 to the Sunset trailhead.

INFO:

Coconino National Forest

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55172

Arizona Trail

https://aztrail.org/explore/passages/passage-34-san-francisco-peaks/

Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project

https://flagstaffwatershedprotection.org/