Allanna Jackson

When it’s too snowy or muddy to hike the White Mountain Trail system around Pinetop-Lakeside you don’t have to go very far to find someplace just a little lower and drier to walk. In our rural area, even the “urban” trails are nature trails. Snowflake has such a trail starting on the north side of Highway 277 which is also identified as West Snowflake Blvd and W 3rd Street N. The trail begins less than half a mile from the junction with Highway 77/ Main Street. There is no trailhead as such, just a wide spot beside the road where it is safe to park. This trail is limited to hiking only with horses and motorcycles specifically forbidden.

The trail crosses the dike separating a pond on the east side of Brimhall Cinders and Trucking from Cottonwood Wash. The top of the dike is narrow and the sides are quite steep. A variety of species of waterfowl can be seen in the pond and in Cottonwood Wash all the time. Canada Geese, Mallards, Coots, and Great Blue Herons are common here. We’ve also seen Snowy Egrets, some other species of herons, and several species of ducks. Blackbirds, Ravens, Robins, and a variety of other songbirds can be seen as well. In Feb 2023, Cottonwood Wash has what appears to be a beaver dam and lodge just north of the Highway 277 bridge.

After crossing the dike the trail descends to the paved remnants of the Old Bypass Road/ N Snow Blvd, which is no longer a functioning road. The pavement makes a nice dry walking surface. To the north are farm fields where Canada Geese graze and rabbits evade coyotes. Deer sometimes graze the fallowed fields along with the cattle. Turn right to follow the Old Bypass Road as it angles northeast parallel to Cottonwood Wash. The road dead-ends at a gate beside Highway 77. A dirt trail follows Cottonwood Wash under the Highway 77 bridge. There is a small island under the east side of the highway 77 bridge. The underside of the bridge looks like it might be a habitat for bats, but we haven’t seen any. The trail continues beside the wash for another quarter mile or so until it dead ends at a private property fence near the convergence of Cottonwood Wash and Silver Creek. At the dead-end turn around and backtrack to the Old Bypass Road. Following Cottonwood Wash is a fine place for birding.

Turning left from where the dike trail meets the Old Bypass Road/ N Snow Blvd the trail follows the old road southwest to the gate that is the property boundary of Brimhall’s Sand and Rock quarry. A dirt trail follows the fence line north beside the West Snowflake irrigation ditch through a line of Cottonwood trees before abruptly turning west to curve around and up a hill.

The most majestic birds to be seen on this trail are the pair of Bald Eagles that nest in the Cottonwoods beside the irrigation ditch. A game and Fish sign asks hikers to not use this portion of the trail during the Eagles’ breeding season, or at least not loiter near the nest or approach it.

After passing the Eagles’ nesting tree, the trail circles the hill as it climbs to the ridge. It follows the ridgeline across to the big white S on the southeast-facing hill overlooking Snowflake. The trail is above the S. Below the S, is another pond that also attracts a variety of birds. The eagles can sometimes be seen flying over this pond, which spooks and scatters the ducks. Looking east gives an aerial view of the pond and the fields. Looking west gives a view of undeveloped terrain.

 After passing the S, the trail follows a fence line between pastures straight north to the road identified as either West Flake Avenue or Flake Street where it simply stops at the road. Again, the easiest option is to turn around and backtrack the way you came to Highway 277. This trail could be walked from north to south, but there is no place to park at the north end on Flake St/West Flake Ave. The trail provides a leisurely afternoon outing for a pleasant walk with plenty of birding.