PONDEROSA LOOP
Squirrel Spring Recreation Area
Fed by three gurgling mountain streams
and located adjacent to several campgrounds, Squirrel Spring
Recreation Area is a popular, year-round playground with ample
parking, picnic tables and restrooms. With over 14 miles of multi-use
trails, this destination offers easy hiking among gigantic Ponderosa
pines, bramble-choked creeks and glades. A good introduction to this
trail system is the Ponderosa Trail #2.
Like a walk through the mythical
earthly paradise of Shangri-La, the path wanders through a
grassy-green valley enveloped by rolling hillsides and abrupt, stony
escarpments. The route is somewhat befuddling, so, here’s the
plan: From behind the trailhead kiosk, walk a quarter-mile on the
wide, old road to a large metal gate. Pass through the gate and
continue uphill to a junction at roughly the 1.5 mile point. Stay on
trail #2. The trickiest intersection comes at mile 1.7 where there’s
a small “#2” sign posted on a tree on the left. Here’s where
you’ll leave the wide road and use the blue diamond symbols as your
guide to complete the loop.
HIGHLIGHTS: easy hiking with lots of
greenery and nearby campgrounds
LENGTH: 3.5-mile loop
RATING: easy
ELEVATION: 8,300 – 8,700 feet
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 237
miles
GETTING THERE:
From the stoplight in Eagar, go west on
AZ260 for 9.6 miles to AZ373. Go south (left) on 373 and
continue 2.2 miles to the Squirrel Spring Recreation Area on the
right.
INFORMATION: 928-333-4301
http://www.wmicentral.com/sports/take_a_hike/ponderosa-trail-loop-squirrel-spring-recreation-area/article_d332eda8-e71d-5726-a7be-a078d6481238.html
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