Photos by Mare Czinar Kachina Trail

KACHINA TRAIL

Kachina Peaks Wilderness
near Flagstaff

The mountains of Flagstaff are known to create their own weather. In summer, that means it rains almost every day around the peaks, spiking the air over the Kachina Trail with an earthy-sweet dampness. Benefiting from its auspicious location on the windward side of the mountain, this trail sprouts green in rainforest proportions. Aspen clusters mimic whiteout conditions, and hip-deep swaths of frothy ferns tumble over the slopes in vivid emerald waves. Add to this already amazing hike a cozy lava cave, terrific views and fields of lupines growing in manic abundance and it’s easy to understand why this hike ranks as one of Arizona’s best.

HIGHLIGHTS: sun-drenched alpine meadows, musty pine forests, interesting geology

LENGTH: 10 miles round trip

ELEVATION: 8,600-9,500 feet

RATING: moderate

DOG RATING: ***   

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 155 miles one way (2.5 hours)

GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, go north on US 180 for 7.3 miles to Snow Bowl Road (Forest Road 516). Follow FR 516 to the signed turnoff for the large trailhead on the right.

INFO: Peaks Ranger District, 928-526-0866,
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/kachina-tr.shtml

Sunset-Little Bear-Little Elden Loop

SUNSET-LITTLE BEAR-LITTLE ELDEN LOOP

Coconino National Forest
near Flagstaff

Deciding which trail to hike in Flagstaff’s Dry Lake Hills can be difficult because there are so many fine trails here. Thankfully, this “three-for” loop hike solves the dilemma. Combining a trio of crowd-pleasing trails, this route swings around high-altitude hillsides in lazy-Susan-style for a smorgasbord of sights and varying levels of difficulty. Each trail embodies a unique collection of sweet spots and curiosities.

Little Bear, one of the newest trails in the area, is a narrow cut on a steep slope wandering among fir forests, crumbling bluffs and stone escarpments overlooking Sunset Crater and the Painted Desert. Sunset Trail showcases glimpses of the San Francisco Peaks as it makes a substantial climb through mixed pine-oak forests and fragrant alpine meadows. Little Elden – the easiest segment – heads northwest through fern-laden foothills and stands of spruce trees to complete the loop.

The hike begins on the Sunset Trail with a 1.6-mile uphill climb to the Little Bear Junction. Turn left (northeast) and head 3.5 miles downhill on Little Bear to the Little Elden junction. Go left (northwest) and hike 1.7 miles back to the trailhead.

HIGHLIGHTS: undulating route with a variety of forests, meadows and views

LENGTH: 6.8 miles round trip

ELEVATION: 7,200-9,000 feet

RATING: difficult

DOG RATING: **   

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 155 miles one way (2.5 hours)

GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, go north on US 180 to Shultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420) at milepost 218.6. Turn right and continue 5 miles on FR 420 to the Sunset trailhead on the right.

INFO: Peaks Ranger District, 928-526-0866,
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/little-bear-tr.shtml

Waterline Road-Tunnel Trail

WATERLINE ROAD-TUNNEL TRAIL

Coconino National Forest
near Flagstaff

Closed to motorized vehicles except for those used by forest service workers to maintain springs on the northeast slope of San Francisco Peaks, this wide road makes for a pleasant stroll with exceptional views of northern Arizona’s cinder cone fields.

The gradual ascent is a cinch to follow and can be hiked in segments using maps available on the Forest Service website. Although ambitious trekkers can opt to sprint the entire length in a day, a popular alternative is to make an out-and-back hike to a 25-foot-long tunnel blasted out of a rampart of volcanic rock.

HIGHLIGHTS: easy route, unique lava tunnel

LENGTH: 14 miles one way or 4 miles round trip to the tunnel

ELEVATION: 8,000-10,400 feet; 9,400 feet to the tunnel

RATING: easy

DOG RATING: **   

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 155 miles one way (2.5 hours)

GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, go north on US 180 to milepost 218.6 and turn right onto Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420). Continue 6.5 miles to Forest Road 146, turn left and go .7 miles to a locked gate. Park in the pullouts along the road. Roads are maintained dirt/gravel and are passable by sedan, but high clearance is recommended.

INFO: Peaks Ranger District, 928-526-0866,
www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/little-bear-tr.shtml




WATERSHED TRAIL

Prescott National Forest
near Prescott

Melding the sweet-scented breezes of pine forests with sunny hillsides blanketed in agaves, manzanitas and cactuses, a hike along Prescott’s Watershed Trail No. 299 is a trip through an ecological transition zone. The trail itself is a mash-up of wide, old roads, groomed paths and eroded walkways, enhancing the hybrid flavor of the hike.

At roughly the half-mile point, look for Deer Lick Spring, a concrete trough situated in a gully off to the right. Here, seeping water fosters an incredibly lush green zone shaded by tall ponderosa pines flanked by beavertail cactuses bursting from rock outcroppings. Over its wavy route, the trail dips into ravines dotted with log homes and crosses high ridges for excellent views of Prescott area landmarks, including Goldwater Lake and the distinctive stony peaks of Granite Mountain and Thumb Butte.

HIGHLIGHTS: mix of lush, shady forests and sunny ridge views

LENGTH: 8.6 miles round trip

RATING: easy-moderate

DOG RATING: **   

ELEVATION: 6,200-6,900 feet

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 117 miles one way (2 hours)

GETTING THERE: From downtown Prescott, go east on Gurley Street .3 miles to Mt. Vernon Avenue. Turn south (left) on Mt. Vernon for 4.1 miles as it turns into Senator Highway. The Watershed No. 299 trailhead is on the east (left) side.

INFO: Bradshaw Ranger District, 928-771-4700, www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott/recreation/trails/pdf/rec_trai_b_watr299.pdf

Weatherford Trail

WEATHERFORD TRAIL

Coconino National Forest
near Flagstaff

Although it’s a long and difficult trek, breathtaking scenery and ever-changing ecosystems make the physical pain of taking on this quintessential mountain trail worthwhile. In less than nine miles, hikers are treated to a stunning journey that begins in grassy glens and ends abruptly on barren tundra beneath Arizona’s highest peaks. From dewy thistles in green alpine meadows to hardy bristlecone pines clinging to bare volcanic scree, this tough route showcases the complexity of nature on San Francisco Mountain.

HIGHLIGHTS: high-altitude forests, alpine meadows and Arizona’s only tundra environment

LENGTH: 12 miles round trip (to Doyle saddle); 16.5 miles round trip (to Fremont saddle); 17.5 miles round trip (to Humphreys Peak)

ELEVATION: 8,800-10,700 feet (11,350 feet to Humphreys junction; 12,633 feet to summit)

RATING: difficult

DOG RATING: *  

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 155 miles one way (2.5 hours)

GETTING THERE: From Flagstaff, go north on US 180 to Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420). Turn left and continue 6 miles to the Schultz Tank trailhead.

INFO: Peaks Ranger District, 928-526-0866, www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/weatherford-tr.shtml