Arizona's White Mountains
Mogollon Rim Interpretive Trail #615
Elevation: 6,800 feet                 Season: All seasons             Use: Very heavy     Difficulty: Easy
The Mogollon Rim was named for Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon, who was the Governor of the Province of New Mexico from 1712 - 1715.

Attractions and Considerations: This trail is very popular and is visited annually by hundreds of people from around the world. The trail follows a rather level terrain through the forest to the very edge of the Mogollon Rim. There are excellent scenic vistas along the trail. The first 1/2 mile of the trail is paved. A hike along this self-guided interpretive trail gives visitors a great appreciation of the characteristics of the Mogollon Rim and its uniqueness as the dividing line between the Colorado Plateau and the Gila-Salt River watersheds, as well as an appreciation of the water resources in Arizona. The trail is a 1 mile loop and takes about an hour.

It is likely that more kinds of trees, bushes, and shrubs can be seen growing side by side along this trail than any other area in the district. Some of the more common species of trees are: ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, pinyon pine, alligator juniper, Utah juniper, Rocky Mountain juniper, Gambel oak, and scrub oak. Some shrubs are: manzanita, mountain mahogany, and Fendlers ceanothus or buck brush.
Pacific willow and Bebb's willow, together with a wide variety of water plants and sedges can be found growing along an irrigation ditch which has an interesting history relating to pioneers in the area.


Access: Follow State Highway 260 three miles west then north of the Lakeside Ranger Station. After passing Camp Tatiyee, look for the Mogollon Rim Trail sign. A good parking lot is available. Walk through the "V" walk-through and follow the signs.

Big Springs Environmental Study Area
Elevation: 6,950 feet     Difficulty: Easy     Use: Moderate     Season: All seasons, except extreme cold, icy, wet weather.


Attractions and Considerations: Big Springs is a major source of crystal clear spring water flowing into Rainbow Lake. The existence of fresh water shrimp in the waters immediately surrounding the spring is an indication of the purity of the water. There is evidence the spring area was used for Indian ceremonial purposes as many Indian artifacts have been recovered from the mud and slime surrounding the spring. The stream and the somewhat marshy area immediately below the spring is an excellent nature study and bird watching area, especially for marsh and waterfowl birds. This area is under special use permit to the Blue Ridge School District.

Access: Drive south through the Lakeside business district on State Highway 260. Turn right at traffic light on Woodland Road and continue about .6 miles. Parking is available on your left. Cross the foot bridge. The trail to the right follows along the creek to the spring and then back to the bridge above the meadow.

Arizona's White Mountains
Springs Trail #633
Elevation: 7,140 - 7,190 feet.     Season: Late Spring to early winter     Use: Heavy     Length: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy for hiking. Easy for horses. Moderate for bikes.


Attractions and Considerations: The Springs trail is perfect for the beginner trail-user or even for the more advanced who are looking for a less strenuous loop. The Springs trail is on FR 182, a short distance from Pinetop-Lakeside. It consists of 3.8 miles of trail with little change in elevation. During the rainy season the trail may become very muddy. Equestrians should think twice about riding this trail at these times because horses can do great damage to a muddy trail.

The most distinctive and certainly an attractive part of the trail is where it crosses and parallels Thompson Creek. Areas in close proximity to streams and rivers, known as riparian habitat, harbor a great variety of interdependent plant and animal life. For that reason, they are extremely sensitive to human interference. Human waste should not come within 150 feet of any watercourse. No garbage should be left behind; pack it in - pack it out! Watch for signs of animals that are directly dependent on the creek as well as those that are attracted by ample food and cover.

If you're looking to do a longer hike, take the Little Bear Connector to the Blue Ridge loop, or the Iron Horse Connector to the Country Club loop.

Access and trailhead location: From Lakeside, take AZ 260 towards McNary. Turn left on Bucksprings Road. Drive 0.6 miles. Turn left onto Forest Road 182 (road to Sky Hi Retreat). Drive 1.1 miles to the trailhead on the left.

Arizona's White Mountains
Country Club Trail #632
Elevation: 7,190 - 7,612 feet.     Season: Late spring to early winter     Use: Moderate     Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate for hiking. Easy for horses. Moderate for bikes.

Attractions and Considerations: Country Club is a moderate to easy trail just a short distance from Pinetop-Lakeside. The trail loops three and 1/2 miles through ponderosa pine, juniper, and oak woodland.
The half-mile spur trail to the top of Pat Mullen mountain is well worth the extra time and effort, even if you are pedaling a bike. Take the time to notice the views of the surrounding forest, the very old and impressive examples of alligator juniper, and the signs of past forest fires. Let them be a reminder to us to be extremely cautious with fire in the forest.

Notice the 1-mile Iron Horse connector trail between Country Club and The Springs, and the Los Burros/Country Club Connector Trail.

Access and trailhead location: From Lakeside Ranger Station drive south on AZ 260 towards McNary. Turn left on Bucksprings Road. Drive 0.6 miles. Turn lerft on FR 182 (road to Sky Hi Retreat). Drive 2 miles. You will pass the Springs Trailhead on the left. Where FR 182 veers to the left, proceed straight on to FR 185 (past Sierra Springs Ranch entrance). Trailhead is on the right 100 yards down FR 185.

Arizona's White Mountains
Woodland Lake Park
Elevation: 6,950 feet     Season: All seasons,     Use: Heavy        Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Attractions and Considerations: Woodland Lake Park may be the ideal outdoor area for the entire family. Facilities include tennis courts, softball fields, spacious picnic shelters and public restrooms. Birdwatchers will find a number of species of waterfowl around Woodland Lake, as well as other species in the surrounding woodlands.

There are several short, interconnected trails at Woodland Lake Park. The 1.25 mile Lake Loop Trail is level and paved. From there, one can take a side trail to the Hitching Post Loop Trail (2 miles) or a walk to Big Springs Environmental Study Area.

Walnut Creek Trail was first developed in 1967 as the beginning of the Lakeside District's visitor information program. It gets its name from several small springs bubbling from the east side of the creek and the black walnut trees that are part of a favorite habitat of birds and squirrels. The nature trail, once clearly established, is not as well defined today as when it was being used regularly on guided tours. Some horse trails are more clearly marked. Don't be confused, but follow the old trail until it turns left into the creek. Then follow the path downstream to the old bridge. The path leaves the canyon at this point and leads back to the point of beginning.

Access: Follow State Highway 260 south through Lakeside toward Pinetop, past Blue Ridge Schools. Turn right on Woodland Lake Road. Turn into Woodland Lake Park. Drive to the turnaround near the fishing pier. The trails are marked.

Petrified Forest National Park and The Painted Desert

Petrified Forest National Park is located in east central Arizona, just off of I-40, about 18 miles west of Navajo, Arizona. The Petrified Forest National Park is really two parks in one, the Painted Desert at the North end and the Rainbow Forest at the South end. The park covers over 93,533 acres and consists of six separate "forests" That took over 200 million years to form.

There are excellent loop hikes in order to explore the many fascinating sights of natural log bridges, crystals and logs along with the many colors of the layered rocks and hills of the Painted Desert.

Hiking Information
Petrified Forest National Park backcountry includes 50,260 acres of established wilderness. Day hikes are the most popular way to explore the backcountry. Many features can be reached in one day trip, most lying within a few miles of the park road. There are no developed trails in Petrified Forest wilderness, so most hiking is cross country style. Clear air, a lack of heavy vegetation, and a variety of landmarks combine to make conditions excellent for this type of hike. Since water and shade are not available, hikers should carry their own. A wide brimmed hat and long sleeve shirt will provide good sun protection.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Canyon de Chelly National Monument offers visitors the opportunity to learn about Southwestern Indian history from the earliest Anaszai basketmakers to the Navajo Indians who live and farm here today. Its primary attractions are ruins of Indian villages built between 350 and 1300 AD at the base of sheer red cliffs and in canyon wall caves.

Setting
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is located on a high plateau in northeastern Arizona near the center of the Navajo Reservation of the Four Corners. It encompasses 130 square miles and three splendid, red-walled canyons --- Canyon del Muerto, Monument Canyon and Canyon de Chelly, from which it derives its name.

The Four Corners area is centrally located on the Colorado Plateau at an average elevation of 6,000 feet, lying between the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains. Canyon de Chelly is a gorge cut through the Defiance Plateau, an uplift of a gently sloping monoplane separating Black Mesa Basin to the west from San Juan Basin to the east. The eastern section of the Defiance Uplift ends in the Chuska Range comprised of (from north to south) the Lukchukai, Trunicha and Chuska Mountains.

Getting There By Auto
From Interstate 40 just inside the eastern boundary of Arizona, take U.S. Route 191 north 75 miles to Chinle, AZ, then drive another 3 miles to the Monument Visitor Center.
Monument Tours
Autos should use paved roads only. To drive on the canyon bottom, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, a Park Service permit and an authorized Navajo guide are required. The fee is $15.00 an hour for 1 vehicle, $5 an hour for each additional vehicle with a 5-vehicle limit per guide.

Auto Tours
        · South Rim Drive (36-mile round trip -- 2 hours): National Park Road 7 offers seven overlooks into Canyon de Chelly itself: Tsegi, Junction, White House, Sliding House, Wild Cherry, Face Rock and Spider. The spectacular Spider Rock is an 800-foot sandstone spire rising from the canyon floor at the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Monument Canyon.
        · North Rim Drive (34-mile round trip -- 2 hours): National Park Road 64 provides four overlooks into Canyon del Muerto: Ledge Ruin, Antelope House, Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave.

Jeep Tours
        · Four-wheel drive tours are provided for a fee by Navajo guides who can be hired at Thunderbird Lodge and the Visitor Center. Free permits are required and reservations are recommended.


Trails and Hiking
Hiking within the canyon requires a Park Service permit and an authorized Navajo guide, except along the 2.5-mile White House Ruins Trail. One guide may take up to 15 people for $15.00 per hour.
        · White House Nature Trail (2.5-mile, 2-hour round trip). A scenic trail to White House from the overlook on South Rim Road descends 600 feet to the canyon floor, providing the only way visitors may enter the canyon without a ranger guide.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Directions: The park is located off Hwy 87, just 10 miles north of Payson. Please note speed limits on the steep, winding mountain road prior to the park entrance. Elevation: 4,530feet

Park Hours: Memorial Day - Labor Day 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Park Facilities
        · Walking trails and viewpoints
        · Picnic tables and gift shop
        · Portable restrooms

Brief History...
Tucked away in a tiny valley surrounded by a forest of pine trees, Tonto Natural Bridge has been in the making for thousands of years. It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point.

The discovery of the small and beautiful valley between Pine and Payson was documented in 1877 by David Gowan, a prospector who stumbled across the bridge as he was chased by Apaches. Gowan hid for two nights and three days in one of several caves that dot the inside of the bridge. On the third day, he left the cave to explore the tunnel and green valley surrounding it. Gowan then claimed squatter's rights.

In 1898 he persuaded his nephew, David Gowan Goodfellow, to bring his family over from Scotland and settle the land permanently. After a week of difficult travel from Flagstaff, the Goodfellows arrived at the edge of the mountain and lowered their possessions down the 500 foot slopes into the valley by ropes and burros.

Today, visitors can stand on top of the bridge or hike down below to capture the true size and beauty of this geologic wonder.

Geology of the Bridge:
According to state geologists, the formation of Tonto Natural Bridge went through several stages of development.

The west side of Pine Creek was formed by a flow of lava in the form of rhyolite. The rock eroded, leaving behind purple quartz sandstone. The rock layers were then lithified, tilted and faulted. The area was then covered by sea water, leaving behind a sediment of sand and mud. Volcanic eruptions covered the rock layers with lava, forming a basalt cap. Through erosion, the basalt cap broke down and was shifted by faults, creating Pine Creek Canyon.

Precipitation began seeping underground through fractures and weak points in the rock, resulting in limestone aquifers. Springs emerged as a result of these aquifers, carrying the dissolved limestone and depositing calcium carbonate to form a travertine dam. The waters of Pine Creek then eroded through the travertine and formed the Natural Bridge.

Trails:

Please carry drinking water while hiking trails. All park trails descend into Pine Canyon and are steep and strenuous.

Pine Creek Trail - about 1/2 mile long (400 feet developed - undeveloped in the creek bottom), leads to the Pine Creek natural area. Hiking shoes are recommended. (No pets or glass containers.) Follow the arrows, allow one hour.

Waterfall Trail - about 300 feet long, ends at waterfall cave. (No pets or glass containers.) Uneven steps.

Gowan Loop Trail - about 1/2 mile long, leads to an observation deck in the creek bottom. The trail is steep and rough. No trash cans. Hiking shoes are recommended. (No pets or glass containers.)