Equine Explorer

Timber Mesa Trail White Mountains

Here is another great trail in the White Mountain Trail System.

From the Lakeside Ranger Station travel one-quarter mile south on AZ 260.Turn left on Porter Mountain Rd. for 1.5 miles,then right to stay on Porter Mountain Road (Navajo County 45). Travel one-half mile to the trailhead on the left.

The Mogollon Rim and Rim Road

Along 200 miles of dirt road on the edge of a great rim, you can find coolness, fantastic views, towering pines, deer, elk, bear and some of the most beautiful trails in the state of Arizona.

The Mogollon Rim was uplifted ages ago. Once it marked the shore of a vast inland sea that covered much of southern Arizona. An east-west cliff, the Rim crosses nearly half the state, roughly Sedona to the New Mexico border. The southwest edge of the Colorado Plateau 

Its average height of 7,000 feet makes the Rim Road the longest continuous "high road" in the state of Arizona.

The route is more than 100 years old. It was pioneered in 1873 by Gen. George Crook while he was the U.S. Army commander in Arizona. Crook wanted a way to move troops and supplies to various Army posts scattered along Arizona's center section.

Unfortunately, the state's geology has erected some tremendous natural obstacles to east-west travel. The easiest, flattest terrain was - oddly enough - in the higher elevations.

 On the south side of the Mogollon rim the rain runs off into the Salt and Verde rivers . On the other side the water flows north toward the Little Colorado River.

But, along the edge of the cliffs,  the land is relatively level.

The first segment of the road, from Fort Whipple at Prescott to Fort Verde, was comparatively easy to build.

But from Fort Verde, which was beside the Verde River, the planned route climbed some 3,000 feet from West Clear Creek to the head of Fossil Creek and then edged its way east along ever-rising ridge lines.

Once among the pine trees, ax-swinging troopers had to chop their way through the forest. And most of the 200-mile length of Crook's Trail, as the road became known, was in thick ponderosa pine.

When completed in 1876, the road connected Fort Verde with Fort Apache.

Gen. Crook's road builders did such a good job that much of their work is now paralleled by paved highways.

The Rim Road, using modern place names and towns, runs beside Baker Butte, General Springs, Overgaard, Clay Springs, Pinedale, along the Rim south of Show Low and then drops off the Rim past Cooley's Ranch (now a burned ruin beside Arizona 73) to Fort Apache near Whiteriver on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

Parts of three national forests cover the old road: Coconino, Sitgreaves and Apache. The longest stretch of the original Crook's Trail remains beside the Rim Road between Arizona 87 and 260. Here, if you look carefully, you still can see remains of the old wagon road snaking its way beside the top of the cliffs.

Most of the old route was marked by Boy Scouts in the 70's. Look for double-reflective white chevron markers nailed to trunks of pine trees, or stones piled up along the right of way. If you're real lucky, you may find one of General Crook's old marker trees, where soldiers blazed a smooth patch on a tree trunk and burned in the mileage. Most have a V, like V122, which means 122 miles from Fort Verde.

The miles were measured by tying a rag around a wagon wheel and counting the revolutions.

When a certain number were counted, a mile had been covered; a mile marker tree was blazed or a rock cairn erected.

This section of the Rim Road is a very popular route for visitors. Along its route (Forest Road 300) are a number of small trout lakes, built by the Arizona Game and Fish Department more than 25 years ago. These include Knoll Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, Willow Springs Lake, Black Canyon Lake and Chevelon Canyon Lake.

Access is easy, even for  modern cars. Back roads, most of them converted logging roads, are rougher, and should only be traveled by 4 wheel drive. Since most of the road is within national forests, camping is permitted nearly everywhere.

There are developed campgrounds near lakes, but real fans prefer to car camp or park their RV vehicles right beside the cliffs.

From vantage points, one can take in the huge expanse of mountain and forest of the Tonto National Forest from Payson to Kohl's Ranch.

Less crowded is the segment from Arizona 260 to U.S. 60 near Show Low. Here the road is narrow and more bumpy, but with more chances to see wildlife and the views are just as breathtaking as found along Forest Road 300. This section connects with the White Mountain Trail System, many of which you can view on my blog.


Getting there: The Mogollon Rim can be reached by three highways from Phoenix. From the west Valley, take Interstate 17 north to Camp Verde and then the General Crook Trail highway east to Arizona 87, proceeding north on 87 for approximately five miles to the Rim Road (Forest Road 300).

From the east Valley: Take Arizona 87 north to Payson and then continue on 87 up the Mogollon Rim, or take Arizona 260 from Payson up the Mogollon Rim. The Rim Road lies between Arizona 87 and 260.

Eastern Rim Road: To reach the road's eastern segment, take U.S. 60 from the Superstition Freeway through Globe and the Salt River Canyon to Show Low.There are no tourist facilities along the Rim Road, but nearby towns, such as Camp Verde, Payson, Heber, Overgaard and Show Low, can provide for nearly every need.

Juniper Ridge Trail White Mountains

Juniper Ridge is another trail in the White Mountain Trail System

Juniper Ridge Trail travels through Manzanita-pine country. The trail passes the Juniper Ridge Lookout Tower. There is a short loop cutting the trail roughly in half. Parts of the trail were burned in the Rodeo-Chediski Fires of 2002.

From Show-Low travel west on AZ 260 for 11 miles. Turn left on the Farnsworth Ranch Road and the trail head is 2 miles ahead on the left.

Buena Vista Trail White Mountain Trail System

Larry and I had a wonderful ride on the Buena Vista Trail. 

The trail head has ample space for a truck and trailer.

This 9-10 mile loop begins just a short distance from Show Low. The trail is rated as moderate .

Elevation: 6,520' to 6,773'

While a lot of the trail meanders through stands of Ponderosa pine and manzanita, sections of loose rock on short, steep grades . This lovely trail follows and crosses sections of old roads, and grand vistas await you . Keep your eyes open for trail markers .

Access: Drive 4.8 miles west from Show Low toward the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Pass the Summer Pines turnoff and look for mile marker 337. Just past the mile marker is a sign saying "Entering the White Mountain Apache Reservation." Just before that sign is a turn to the left onto Forest Road 300 (Rim Road). Take that left and go 300 yards, the trailhead is on the left.

White Mountain Trail System Chihuahua Pine Connector

Larry and I are now in Show Low staying in his folk's condo in a golf and equestrian community called Torreon. Smoke and Phlame have a nice place to stay here at the equestrian center. Trails lead right out from the equestrian center into the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests . There is a connector trail here also that is part of the White Mountain Trail System. This connector trail is call the Chihuahua Pine Connector. It links the Buena Vista trail to the Los Caballos Trail loops. It is 4.5 miles long. The trail is named for the Chihuahua pine. Compared to Ponderosa pine, Chichuahua pine is found at lower elevations. Two years ago we stayed here and rode several of the trail loops. Ghost of the Coyote , Timber Mesa, Buena Vista, and Juniper Ridge Trail. Saturday we rode out from the equestrian center and revisited this trail we rode 2 years ago.

Horse Trail Ride to Fanning Tank

The Catalina Mountains are a blaze with wild flowers! I followed Rosemary up Deer Camp Trail and then we split off North and East higher and higher. The desert cactus began to fade and the Juniper began to appear. Everything was so green and small streams where flowing everywhere.  She told me we were headed to Fanning Tank named for a local rancher . She had heard that the tank, or pond, as I found out when I saw it ,had recently been dug out and made larger and deeper for cattle to drink from. Such a surprise to see high in these mountains. Snow covered peaks in the background and a waterfall fed pond to sit and have our lunch by. Not an easy ride, some pretty technical rock maneuvers but no problem for a good trail horse. As we sat, we could look out and see the Biosphere Dome in the valley below. And the ride back down was spectacular views of the distant Tucson Mountains framed by canyon walls. Great Day!

Took Hwy 77 to Golder Ranch Rd. east to Coronado National Forest . Cross cattleguard and turn north on the Equestrian Trail. We parked at the cow pens. 11 miles there and back.

Riding on Sutherland Trail

Rode 11 miles Thursday on the Sutherland Trail with side trips to see the wild poppies. We always take a trip up to Dripping Springs Waterfall this time of year . There is still lots of snow on Mt. Lemon and the waterfalls are spectacular!

INFO FOR SUTHERLAND TRAIL

50 Year Trail

The 50 year trail that starts at Catalina State Park and ends North in the Golder Ranch Area is nearly 8 miles one way, and if you add a loop trail off of it and then go back to the park nearly  20 miles round trip. In fact I rode a 25 mile CTR/Endurance ride here put on by a local riding club the County Line Trail Riders of Catalina  (I took 2nd place heavy weight on Smoke, and a friend,  took 1st light weight, and novice on Phlame.)

This is just too cool. I was looking for a map on line to show you the 50 year trail that leads out of Catalina State Park and I found this , it is an app for iphone. Someone on a bike rode the trail and was able to make this map. WOW , ok now maybe I'll have to get an iphone.

50 Year Trail

Map your trip with EveryTrail I have done this whole trail on horseback. Close to 20 mile round trip. And yes you share the ride with mountain bikes, but with the open terrain you see them coming. Here is a cool video that show you just what the trail is like. And yes it is from a bike.  

Here is some more information from a local bike riding website on the trail and also some spur trails.

50 Year trail map and info.

Timber Mesa Trail White Mt. of Arizona

Yes the last photo was in the White Mountains of Arizona near Show Low. It was the Timber Mesa Trail east of Pine Top. Here is a video we made of that ride.

Desert Riding

Smoke and Phlame have settled in here at Oro Valley at my good friend Rosemary Minters. They truly remember being here . They were happy to see all their old buddies , Lucky, Shorty, and Baylee.
I miss my Grandsons alot! But being able to ride in the desert is peaceful and beautiful. I have been able to ride both at Catalina State Park and at the Tortillina Reserve Trail. I am so proud of both Phlame and Smoke, with all the travel they are both very solid and adapt to every thing that's thrown their way.
I rode Phlame at Catalina State Park, where Rosemary took me up Alamo canyon to an amazing waterfall. Sorry no pictures, I left the camera at home so I could just focus on riding as Phlame had not been on trail for close to a month. Needless to say he was perfect. Yesterday I rode Smoke in the arena he was a little rough, but responded well and felt good about taking him out with Rosemary and Baylee today. Smoke had a little trouble loading in Rosemary's trailer (he has only ridden in our slant load) but we had a wonderful 9 mile ride.