Stewart Ridge

 STEWART RIDGE

View of Mazatzal Mountains from Stewart Ridge

The Stewart Ridge Trail has been around for ages, existing as a gray zone social trail.

Summit on Stewart Ridge

For years the popular route was neither sanctioned nor actively blockaded by the forest service.

North Peak--center horizon

Mogollon Rim vista

But as part of a major trail enhancement push in the Payson-Pine-Strawberry area, Stewart Ridge has finally gained legal status.

Yuccas on Stewart Ridge

The trail is located in Tonto National Forest and had been adopted into the Payson Area Trails System (PATS).

Hike starts on the Over the Top Trail

While it’s just under a mile in length, Stewart Ridge delivers generous doses of both physical exertion and scenic beauty. 

A herd of elk on Stewart Ridge

From the Mud Springs Trailhead not far from downtown Payson, the hike begins with a short walk over slick rock and tree-lined edges on the newly adopted Over The Top Trail.

Trail on Stewart Ridge

At the 0.3-mile point, a sign post marks the turn off for Stewart Ridge.

Edgy section on the ridge

Right from the start, the trail heads uphill over a rocky single track.

Stewart Ridge junction

There are a few segments of level path, but it’s mostly a steady, not-too-difficult climb.

summit

Once out of the lower elevation tree cover, the ridge is open to the sky with views of the Mogollon Rim on one side and the Mazatzal Mountains on the other. 

Near the high point of the trail

Rife with cactus, yucca, agaves and sporadic junipers and firs, the trail moves among boulders and waist-high grasses before taking on the final push to a small summit at trail’s end. 

Summit mound ahead

The rock cluttered mound reveals breathtaking 360-degree vistas of national forest, wilderness, distant mountain peaks and pine-shaded residential neighborhoods.

Overlooking Payson

 

To extend the hike, just descend and pick up the mile-long Over The Top trail which tethers to the recently unveiled maze of loops and connectors in the Boulders Area Trail System. 

Mud Springs trailhead

LENGTH: 2 miles round trip (out-and-back hike)

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 4,758 - 5,433 feet (1,284 feet of accumulated elevation change)

GETTING THERE:

MUD SPRINGS TRAILHEAD:

From State Route 87 (aka Main Street)  in Payson, go 1 mile east on E. Phoenix Street and turn right on Gibson Court.  Continue a short distance to the trailhead on the left.  There’s limited street side parking in the residential area.  Mind the private property.