Fall foliage is just beginning to emerge on the Mogollon Rim. Today we noted lots of sulfur yellow in Boxelders, spotty groves of amber oaks and gold-kissed aspens on.....
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| Oak color, October 4, 2012 |
HOUSTON BROTHERS TRAIL #171
Mogollon Rim
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| Wild geranium |
The densely wooded terrain of the Mogollon Rim is riddled
with water-sculpted canyons and bizarre fossiliferous limestone
formations. The fractured earth
makes for an interesting mix of flat-floored forests and steep gorges where
water collects and cool air settles in pockets of perennial, mossy
dampness. These secluded, moist
microclimates feed communities of Big-tooth maples, willows, boxelders and oaks
that burst out in flaming color palettes when nudged by the cool nights and low
light of early autumn. The Rim’s
Cabin Loop system of trails wiggles among spring-fed meadows and water
harboring draws that play host to autumnal splotches of honey-and-crimson-colored
foliage. The best part about Rim country fall color is its relative rarity---it
pops up willy-nilly among the pines and firs making each "find" feel more special than the
last. Cabin Loop trails
Barbershop, U-Bar, Fred Haught and--as we visited today---Houston Brothers--all
dole out visually delicious color spots that add elements of treasure hunting
thrills to the routes.
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| Fall color at Aspen Spring, Oct 4, 2012 |
LENGTH: 7 miles
one-way
RATING: easy. follow the tree blazes where the path is faint.
ELEVATION: 7,000'-7,774'
GETTING THERE:
From Payson, travel north on AZ87 (Beeline Hwy) to Clint's
Well. From here, continue 9.4 on
AZ87 to just before milepost 300 and turn right onto FR95. Follow FR95 6.5 miles to a bridge over
East Clear Creek and veer right to stay on FR95. Continue 4.5 miles to FR139A (a few yards past a sign for
Houston Draw), turn left and go 0.2 mile to the trailhead marked by a sign for
Fred Haught Trail. Roads are
good gravel/dirt with winding mountain grades—sedans okay.
INFO: Mogollon Rim Ranger District, Coconino National Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=54994&actid=50
MORE PHOTOS:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3185653818995.102947.1795269672&type=1&l=b981857b94
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