Los Burros trail head is located at the far end of the Los Burros campground. It is a 13-mile loop trail with a 7.75-mile shortcut trail. Beautiful aspen and towering ponderosa line a trail with views of Wishbone Mountain and amazing wildflowers. This is one of the best trails to see aspen fall colors and is considered not only a great hiking trail, but one of the best biking tails as well. Each October it is the site of the Annual Tour of the White Mountains put on by Epic Rides, which is growing in number of participants each year. The trail has a connector trail to the Four Springs Trail that takes you past a spur trail to Lake Mountain Lookout located on top of a extinct volcano) and the Land of the Pioneers Trail.

The trailhead is located at Los Burros Campground. From Lakeside, take State Highway 260 to McNary on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. In McNary, turn left on Forest Road 224, following signs to Vernon. Drive approximately 8 miles until road signs direct you to turn right into Los Burros Campground. Drive to the far end of the campground to find the trailhead.

Located on AZ Route 260, about 8 miles south of Sunrise Park Resort and about 3 miles from the town of Greer.

Pole Knoll

Pole Knoll Recreation Area (PK) has eleven trails, all of varying length, totaling 18 miles and ranging from 8,900' to 9,600' in elevation. It's a web of trails that circumvent a mountain with the outer trail, "Pole Knoll Loop," at the lowest elevation and longest length and "Viewpoint Trail," being the highest and most difficult. It is a great Nordic destination (thus its name) in the winter with cross-country trails that are well marked, but is an awesome trail year-round, especially in the fall because of the huge aspen stands. I have witnessed many herds of elk while hiking this trail.

Location: Pole Knoll is located off of AZ Rt. 260 between the Junction of AZ Rt. 273 (Sunrise Ski Park) and AZ Rt. 373 to Greer. There is a large parking lot, restrooms and ramadas

 A-1 Lake: Located on the White Mountain Apache Reservation on AZ Route 260, half a mile from the Sunrise Park Resort junction.

Dick Wilson built A-1 Lake, which was named “Wilson Lake” for a while until the White Mountain Apache Tribe changed the name to honor Chief Alchesay, using the tag number given to him by the Military. It is one of the most beautiful lakes on the White Mountain Apache Reservation with its majestic mountain background scenery. 

Horseshoe Lake: Located on AZ Route 260, approximately 2 miles north of A-1 Lake. Located just a few miles before A-1 Lake, Horseshoe Lake has a lot of waterfowl and other wildlife. It is a great place to kayak surrounded with the fall colors.

Mount Baldy/Sheeps Crossing: Located on AZ Route 273. Turn right onto AZ Route 273 (Sunrise Park Resort Junction) from AZ Route 260 and follow AZ 273 approximately five miles to the Mount Baldy West Trailhead. From the West Trailhead, travel another few miles on AZ 273 to the Mount Baldy East Trailhead (both on the right).

Big Lake is 575 acres, and makes a convenient base for other local lakes like Crescent Lake, Lee Valley Lake and the East and West Forks of the Black River. Choose your site from one of nine campgrounds and experience exceptional hiking and mountain biking trails, wildlife viewing, and trout fishing. Campers have the convenience of paved roads, a dump station and showers, but no electric hookups. Apache Trout, the largest campground can accomodate RVs (max 45 feet) as well as in sections of Grayling Campground. Two campgrounds give tent campers the entire campground all to themselves.

There’s something special about hiking along the banks of a river. The sounds of its water flowing and rushing across boulders is soothing to listen to and it makes me feel calm and relaxed. The Thompson Trail, located off Forest Road 116 behind Big Lake and close to the Thompson Ranch, follows the West Fork of the Black River and is one of my favorite hikes around April and May and then later in the summer after the monsoon season. It is always flowing pretty well and the willows and wildflowers are beginning to bud and bloom in the spring and, later in the summer, you can feast on raspberries and strawberries. The Trail travels close to the riverbank but rises up and over tree roots and through boggy meadows. There is plenty of wildlife that survive off the riparian wetland. We only saw a blue heron fly past us a few times and some Ruddy ducks but there’s a lot of scat and tracks that tell us that others are nearby.

The trail is about 6.5 miles roundtrip and connects with the West Fork Trail #628. Because of the sensitivity of the wetlands, the riverbank trail is only open to foot travel. Horses and bikes can take the old railroad berm located upslope which follows the river but at a distance. There are rock structures or fish barriers known as “gabions,” that are designed to allow fish to swim downstream but not upstream. This keeps the exotics and non-native trout from the upper reaches of the river — they create some incredible waterfalls and FYI: there is “blue ribbon” fishing to be found along the West Fork of the Black River.

 

To find the Thompson Trail, follow Rt. 260 to Rt. 273 (turn right at the Sunrise billboard) and continue on this road until you get to FR 116. Turn right and stay on FR 116 until you see the kiosk on the right. Park at the kiosk and walk across the street to the beginning of the Trail, which is marked by a sign.

Escudilla Mountain: Travel from Eagar, AZ for approximately 25 miles (39 minutes) south on US-180/US 191 toward Alpine. Turn left onto Forest Road 56 and follow the dirt road past Hulsey Lake to the Trailhead for Escudilla Mountain. The lower portions of the trail are covered with aspen but the high elevations are still recovering from the Wallow Fire.

AZ Route 260: Up and down AZ Route 260, starting from Payson, up the Rim, around Woods Canyon, Heber, Show Low, all the way to Hannagan Meadow south of Alpine (the highway switches to US 180/US 191 past Eagar), you are sure to find some pretty breathtaking views. Go to www.getyourmountainonaz.com for more information.

www.trackswhitemountains.org