MOUNT UNION

MOUNT UNION
Prescott National Forest
Priceless glimpses of Arizona’s beautiful central highlands await hikers on the summit of Mount Union--the 7,979-foot highpoint of the Bradshaw mountain range. Although this granite pinnacle is little more than the loftiest lump on a forested ridge above the Hassayampa River Basin, a hike to the peak still manages to deliver an enjoyable mountain experience complete with panoramic views, dizzying canyon drop-offs and a fire tower that has been in active service since 1933.
The uphill slog to “bag the summit” begins on the Dandrea Trail # 285. At just under the one-mile point, turn right onto the Yankee Doodle Trail # 284 and follow the cliff-hugging path to the peak through a landscape infused with weather-worn scrub and eroding volcanic rock.

HIGHLIGHTS: high point of the Bradshaw Mountain range
LENGTH: 4 miles roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6,849 -7,979 feet

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 130 miles
GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 262 for Highway 69. Go west (toward Prescott) on Highway 69 to Walker Road (County Road 57 which is just past the Costco center). Follow Walker Road south for 10. 5 miles to Poachers Row Road , turn left and follow the road to its end where there’s a sign for trail #285 across the creek. There’s limited parking along the road. Do not park in or block the private driveways in the area.
INFORMATION: (928) 443-8000, fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/bradsahw.shtml

SPRING VALLEY

SPRING VALLEY TRAIL
Hells Canyon Wilderness


The jagged terrain of the Hieroglyphic Mountain Range provides a bewitching backdrop for the stark beauty of the Hells Canyon Wilderness. The Spring Valley Trail wanders through golden grasslands that sprawl out from the bases of craggy cliffs and dissolve into the lunar-esque silhouettes of distant volcanic rock formations. Murky watering holes attract grazing cattle and feral burros just before the path turns abruptly uphill along a rise where the soft-blue waters of Lake Pleasant shimmer on the horizon. The final leg of the adventure is marked by a rugged descent along an exposed ridge to boulder-strewn Garfias Wash.

LENGTH: 5.8 miles round-trip
ELEVATION GAIN: 200 feet
RATING: moderate


GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, drive north on I-17 to exit 223 (Carefree Highway/State Route 74). Turn west (left) onto SR-74 and continue to the Lake Pleasant Regional Park turnoff. Turn north (right) onto Lake Pleasant Drive and continue for about 5.5 miles to Castle Hot Springs Road. Turn left on Castle Hot Springs Road and drive a short distance to just past a cattle guard where there’s some fencing on the left and park in the turnouts along the road. The hike begins at the “trail” sign with a steep descent into a wash. Once in the wash, go south (left) and head towards the big cairn. From the cairn, pick up the faint path that leads to the trail register. From there, go RIGHT and uphill.

INFORMATION: Bureau of Land Management Phoenix Field Office www.blm.gov/az/

KELSEY WINTER CABIN TRAIL

KELSEY WINTER CABIN TRAIL
Kaibab National Forest
Expansive Sycamore Canyon is Arizona’s second largest gorge. (Guess which one comes in first). Tucked into beautiful pine, juniper and oak forests, Kelsey Winter Trail #3 is the longest of the five trails that criss-cross the central portion of the canyon. It’s also the best way to sample the woodlands, high-chaparral prairies, historic ruins and many flowing springs that make this chasm such an interesting destination. The drive in to the trailhead is half the adventure—the access roads are nasty. Yet, the beauty of this trail makes the kidney-jarring ride worth the effort. From the trailhead, begin hiking downhill along the canyon wall on the Kelsey Spring Trail. Views of Sycamore Canyon along this passage cast an eye-opening spotlight on the magnitude of this “little crack in the earth”. At the half-mile point, the trail meets Kelsey Spring. Here, a short spur trail plows through a wind-swept field of silken grasses for a fun side trip to a trough set up to collect the precious water that seeps from the cliffs. From Kelsey Spring, the trail moves through thick mixed-conifer forests, volcanic boulder fields and open meadows shimmering with vivid purple Wheeler Thistle and blaze-red skyrocket flowers. Babe’s Hole—a spring protected by a funky old cement rim and wood planks—marks the 1.2-mile point just before the junction with Geronimo Spring trail. From here, stay left and continue on the Kelsey Winter Trail--where route finding becomes a challenge. Fallen trees and overgrown vines sometimes obscure the trail past this point. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry a good map and compass when hiking this trail. Once past the obstacles, good signage leads the way to Dorsey Spring, the cabin ruins and yet another spring, which spews fresh cool water year-round.

HIGHLIGHTS: Dense coniferous woodlands, canyon views, several springs and cabin ruins.
LENGTH: 11 miles round-trip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6,600’ – 6,100’
DOG RATING: 1 paw
Driving distance from Phoenix: 175 miles one-way
GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, go west on Historic Route 66 to Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231). Turn left onto FR 231 and drive 14 miles to Forest Road 538. Turn right onto FR-538 and go 5.7 miles to Forest Road 538E. Turn right onto FR 538E and go another half mile to Forest Road 538G. Continue straight ahead on FR 538G for one mile to Kelsey Trail Road on the left. Because this road is so rough beyond this point, it’s smart to park at the turn off and hike the final quarter-mile to the trailhead. A high clearance vehicle is required.
INFORMATION: (928) 635-8200 or fs.fed.us/r3/kai

SECOND WATER TRAIL

SECOND WATER TRAIL
Superstition Wilderness

Classic desert landscapes, a sprawling valley populated with thousands of teddy bear cholla and a tiny pocket of green where spring water feeds willows and waist-high grasses are the highlights of the Second Water Trail #236. Because the trailhead is easy-to-access and the route is relatively straight forward, this trails attracts lots of visitors. The hike begins on the Dutchman Trail #104, following it for a short distance to the junction with trail #236. From the junction, turn left and follow Second Water trail through a maze of creek beds, sandy flood plains and open fields studded with cactuses and thorny shrubs. As the trail undulates through canyons and washes, views of the stark, yet beautiful landscape chiseled from volcanic landforms open up along the high points before the trail ends at the junction with the Boulder Canyon trail where there’s a tiny spring-fed riparian eco-system tucked into a reed-lined cove.

LENGTH: 6.3 miles round-trip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 1,900 feet – 2,450 feet

GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, take Highway 60 east to the Idaho Road exit (Highway 88), go left onto Highway 88 following the signs to Lost Dutchman State park. Continue to one-quarter mile past the park entrance and turn right onto First Water Road (Forest Road 78). Follow FR78 for 2.6 miles to the First Water Trailhead. FR 78 is maintained dirt with a few rough spots. There are restrooms at the trailhead.

INFORMATION:
Visit fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/hikingtrail/wilderness/Trails/superstition/ or call
(480) 610-3300

SLATE MOUNTAIN

SLATE MOUNTAIN
Coconino National Forest
Not actually made of slate, this hill is a laccolith, or a solidified heap of lava that pushed up the earth’s crust like a blister, but never broke the surface. Time has since eroded away the mountain’s top layers to expose the grayish-blue igneous rock called rhyolite, which early explorers mistook for “slate”. The moderate 5-mile round trip hike climbs 855 feet to the 8,215-foot summit.

LENGTH: 5 miles round trip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 7,360 - 8,215 feet
INFORMATION: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino (928) 527-3600

GETTING THERE:
From Flagstaff drive north on Highway 180 to Forest Road 191 between mileposts 242 and 243. Turn left (west) and continue on FR 191 for just under 2 miles to the signed turn off for the trailhead on the right.

RED MOUNTAIN

RED MOUNTAIN
Coconino National Forest


Of the more than 600 volcanoes that define northern Arizona’s landscape, only one offers an opportunity for hikers to walk into the innards of a dormant mountain of fire. For reasons not entirely understood by geologists, the northeastern flank of Red Mountain collapsed, exposing the intricate internal structure of the 740,000-year-old cinder cone. Tiny cinders crunch underfoot along the ponderosa-shaded trail that leads into a visually striking arena of towering stone pillars and contorted lava formations.
A secured six-foot ladder must be climbed in order to get into the most spectacular part of the mountain where disintegrating layers of red, ocher and black cinders create a maze of clefts and canyons and to explore.

LENGTH: 2.5 miles
RATING: easy
ELEVATION GAIN: 400 feet

GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff. Connect to Highway 180 and continue north for 33 miles then turn left at mile marker 247. Follow the dirt road for .4 mile to the fenced parking area. There are no fees and no facilities at the trailhead.