Just 20 miles south of Flagstaff, the who-knew routes of the Munds Park Trail System and the Kelly Motorized Trail System combine for over 100 miles of share-use paths in the forests between Interstate 17 and Mormon Lake.
The routes are made up of long airy roads, repurposed railroad beds and dirt single tracks that swoop through spaces far removed from the masses and the Interstate Trail makes for a good segue into the maze.
To reach this pleasant outlier, begin at the Janice Place trailhead. Follow the access path 0.2-mile to a “T” junction at Frog Tank Loop. Before heading left to continue the hike, look for an informal footpath behind the trail sign that leads a few yards to an overlook above a drainage gorge. A peek into the stony corridor that’s cluttered with willows and brambles, is a not-to-be-missed diversion.
Continue hiking the road to the 1.3-mile point at Frog Tank where a connector trail that leads to Forest Road 78A veers off to the left.
From the tank, follow the signs 0.1 mile to Forest Road 78A, cross it and pick up the Interstate Trail which is marked with a Kelly Motorized Trail System sign.
The narrow-cut trail makes a twisted course that runs parallel to the freeway for roughly 7 miles ending just south of the Kelly Canyon staging area.
LENGTH: 8.6 miles roundtrip (as described here)
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6,446 – 7,000 feet
GETTING THERE: Janice Place trailhead
- From Interstate 17 in Munds Park, take the Pinewood Blvd. exit 322.
- Turn right and follow Pinewood Blvd. 0.1 mile,
- turn left on Fairway Drive (which will turn into N. Lodge Dr.)
- continue 0.3 mile to Janice Place,
- turn right and go 0.2 mile to the trailhead on the left.
FACILITIES: none
HOURS: N/A
FEE: none
