CHILDRESS TANK ROAD

CHILDRESS TANK ROAD

The Ortiz and Hull families of Mesa on Childress Tank Road

What do you do when you want to take friends or family with young kids or mobility issues on a hike but still want to get in a good workout? 

Childress Tank sits on a mesa below the Mogollon Rim

The answer might be found on dirt roads

that spiral off the short, barrier-free trails that cater to the “hiking lite” crowd.  One such place is the Shoofly Village Ruins north of Payson.  For years, this has been my go-to destination for introducing non-trekkers to the history and beauty that lies beneath the Mogollon Rim.  

A visitor reads a sign about an ancient room at Shoofly Village

The site offers an approachable, intriguing way to get outdoors without the preparations needed for more remote or wilderness hikes. 

Gateway to Childress Tank Road

All you need for gear is stable footwear, sun protection and a bottle of water.  The self-guided tour is outfitted with interpretive signs describing dozens of excavated ruins of a Native American community that was occupied between 1000-1250 A.D.

Southwestern lewisia blooms March -June

Stephanie Markoff of Chandler intros her dogs Kona & Louie

Although walking the roughly quarter-mile of easy trails with good company has always been a pleasure, the call of the wild sometimes left me wanting more trail time. Per the Tonto National Forest map of the Payson area, the “more” I craved was always right around the bend.  Adjacent Forest Road 1164 adds a refreshing 3.2 miles to the ruins hike. 

Eli, Annie and Jo Hull on Childress Tank Road

Although it’s too rocky for those without good balance or proper gear, the road can be a fun diversion for adults and energetic kids.  Also known as Childress Tank Road, the rugged two-track swoops through the juniper scrublands of Houston Mesa and Walnut Flat with unobstructed views of the Rim, foothills and rolling grasslands.

Twenty-two-month-old Jo Hull cries for more blueberries

Annie Hull and Anthony Ortiz of Mesa supervise snack time

To find this road, hike north from the parking lot and follow the wide dirt path to a barbed wire fence. Pass the gate and continue down the main course (go straight) to the Forest Road 1163/1164 junction. Turn right, hike one mile, take either fork at the FR 1167 junction and head toward the earthen berm of Childress Tank.  The hike has lots of interesting sights to keep antsy young ones engaged. 

Juliana Ortiz and Jo Hull take a snack break

Wildflowers, scurrying wildlife and continually-changing terrain put the kibosh on boredom.  The road ends at the stock tank where a muddy fringe of animal tracks inspires some detective work. The outdoor classroom is a fun place to try to identify prints that include elk, bobcat, skunk, deer, raccoon, coyote and of course, domestic cattle and dogs. 

I recently hiked this road with Juliana Ortiz (age 5), Eli Hull (age 3) and Jo Hull (22 months) and their parents. Juliana trekked like a pro while Eli and Jo alternated between walking and riding in kid carrier backpacks.  The boys’ mom, Annie Hull and Juliana’s dad Anthony Ortiz of Mesa, brought along plenty of water and snacks and took frequent breaks to keep the kiddos happy.  Except for one tiny meltdown---over blueberry snacks---the kids enjoyed the hike for its achievable length and entertaining qualities. The quick out-and-back trek satisfies the urge for an extra leg stretch while non-hikers can hang out at the trailhead to sketch, picnic or catch up on reading. It’s an outing that everybody can enjoy on their own terms.

Snack time.

Hiking with kids!

Juliana, Kona, Louie and Stephanie at the trailhead

Views of the Mogollon Rim dominate the hike

LENGTH:  3.2 miles roundtrip (4 miles with the ruins tour)

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 5075 - 5263 feet

GETTING THERE:

From the State Route 87/26 junction in Payson, go 2 miles north on SR87 to Houston Mesa Road (Forest Road 199). Turn right and continue 2.8 miles to the Shoofly Village Ruins turnoff and follow the access road to the trailhead.  Roads are 100% paved.

An excavated room at Shoofly Village

INFO:

https://www.paysonrimcountry.com/shoofly-indian-ruins

HOUSTON LOOP

HOUSTON LOOP

Payson Area Trails System

View of the Mogollon Rim from Houston Loop

For a short, moderate-rated trail, this one really packs a punch. It's wide, well-signed and within shouting distance of suburbia, but what's not advertised about Payson's Houston Loop is its unrelenting ups-and-downs that can catch the first-timer off guard. The quad burning workout pays off with

high point vistas of the Mogollon Rim hovering above the metal rooftops of woodland retreats. Where the trail dips into the canyons around Houston Creek, Ponderosa pine trees throw shade over moist drainages imprinted with elk tracks. Elk rarely venture more than a quarter mile from water sources, so keep an eye out for them where the trail hops over rivulets and puddles. The trail's bonus attraction is a Cold War Era curiosity known as a seismic bunker. The metal structure built into a hillside has been abandoned for years and is now under siege by local graffiti rebel forces. It's a dank, creepy place (mind the Bud Light cans underfoot) that you'll want to observe from the outside only. Beyond the den of debauchery, the trail redeems itself as it ascends an exposed ridgeline and heads into the woods. The route follows deeply rutted, dodgy 4x4 roads that are popular with bikers and ATV riders. In my experiences on this trail, the wheeled users have been responsible and courteous around hikers. With its carousel of changing scenery, history side show, challenging dips and climbs and close-to-town access, this trail makes for an entertaining Rim Country trek.

LENGTH: 4.5-mile loop from the Chaparral Ranch trailhead OR 9.6 miles roundtrip from Houston Mesa trailhead

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:

4,800’ – 4,950’ (Chaparral) OR 4,800’ – 5,200’ (Houston Mesa)

GETTING THERE:

Chaparral Ranch Trailhead: From the intersection of State Routes 87/260 in Payson, go right (east) onto 260 and continue 2.4 miles to Chaparral Pines Drive. Turn left (north) and go 1.2 miles to the Chaparral Ranch Trail access turnout. There's parking for about 3-4 vehicles. Do not block private driveways in the area. Large groups should access this trail via the Houston Mesa Trailhead. Houston Mesa Trailhead: From the intersection of State Routes 87/260 in Payson, go 1.7 miles north on 87 to Houston Mesa Road. Turn right (east) and continue 0.8 mile to the trailhead on the right (past the “horse camp”). From here, follow Houston Trail 3 miles to the loop.

Cold War Era bunker

INFO & MAPS:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/5b27be_ac107b0dfb5e48689a45387e775aa37f.pdf

Hiking Payson's Houston Mesa

HOUSTON MESA

Payson 

View of the Mogollon Rim

When I first hiked this trail in the early 1990s it was a very confusing trek.  I got through using map, compass and a few lucky guesses to navigate the maze of roads and cross paths that bisect the main route.  Since then, the trail has been incorporated into the Payson Area Trails System (PATS), given a facelift and marked with directional signage.  So, when I hiked it again this past week, finding my way was a breeze.  Featuring a close-to-town trailhead accessible by paved roads (my tires thanked me), this

Pines and junipers on Houston Mesa

hike near the geographic center of Arizona offers occasional shade, big mountain vistas and active wildlife.  Located in high altitude desert terrain, vegetation is an interesting hybrid of coniferous woodland and desert scrub. Ponderosa pines, junipers and Gambel oaks tower over manzanita, barberry, paddle cactuses and myriad wildflowers.   The trail alternates between damp forests and arid, sunny mesas on its way to the Houston Loop junction. Here, you can add the loop (3.6 miles, 4,860' -4,950') or return the way you came.

LENGTH:  9.6 miles roundtrip (with loop option)

3.0 miles one way from Houston trailhead

4.6  miles one way from Horse Camp 

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 5,192' – 4,860'

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

KID FRIENDLY?:  yes

FACILITIES: none

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX:  96 miles one way

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, take AZ87 north to the AZ260/87 junction in the town of Payson.  From here, travel 1.8 miles north on AZ87  to Houston Mesa Road (FR 199)  on the right. The Horse Camp lot (trailers) is 0.3 miles from the turnoff and the Houston (hiker) trailhead is 1.3 miles up FR 199 on the right.

INFO: Payson Area Trail System (PATS)

http://www.paysonrimcountry.com/MountainRecreation/HikingTrails/PaysonAreaTrailsSystem/HoustonLoopTrail.aspx

MAP:

http://www.paysonrimcountry.com/Portals/0/Trails_Legal%206-11-08%20(2).pdf

MORE PHOTOS:

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