MOENKOPI (a.k.a. Jack's Canyon)
Near Winslow
UPDATE JULY 2012: area is closed indefinitely due to damage from the Canyon Fire.
There’s a whole lot of nothing along AZ 87 between the dusty streets of Winslow and the edge of the Mogollon Rim. From the highway, this dismal strip of badlands and tumbleweeds appears to hold little opportunity for outdoor recreation.
However, this grit-cloaked backyard of the boondocks holds a secret. Just a few miles beyond the pavement, a fracture in the landscape harbors a lusty green oasis and some of the best sport climbing routes and exploratory hiking paths in the state. A short spur trail heading west (go left) from the trailhead register through a grove of junipers leads to the edge of Jack’s Canyon, which is also known as Moenkopi, a Hopi word meaning “place of running water”. From here, a mildly steep trail drops from the sun-parched savanna into a grape vine-laced riparian corridor hemmed in by striated limestone walls. Myriad footpaths on the canyon floor weave among cottonwood trees, junipers and willows forming a maze of hiking options. Adventurous hikers may choose to venture beyond the beaten paths to bush whack and scramble into the remote reaches of this Garden of Eden in the middle of nowhere.
LENGTH: up to 4 miles roundtrip
ELEVATION: 6,245’ – 6,097’
RATING: moderate, exploratory
DOG RATING: fair
KID QUOTIENT: just okay
DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 153 miles one-way
GETTING THERE:
From Payson, go 62 miles north on AZ87 to milepost 313 (roughly 30 miles south of Winslow). Turn left (west) onto Forest Road 9736F, pass the gate (close it behind you) and set your odometer. At 0.3 mile, turn left at the fork, continue to another fork at the 0.5-mile point, veer right and continue 0.7 mile to the trailhead. A high clearance vehicle is required.
FACILITIES: restroom, primitive camping
INFO: Mogollon Rim Ranger District, 928-477-2255
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