FR-9267C
Total Miles
1.4
Elevation
2,048.05 ft
Duration
0.5 Hours
Technical Rating
Best Time
Spring, Fall, Summer
Trail Overview
This is a slightly less rocky, bumpy trail than some of the others it connects to. It is an out-and-back trail that pokes along through the trees. A couple of fire rings at the beginning of the trail make for a nice secluded camping spot up in the trees. There is a wire gate towards the early part of the trail that has wire running up high across the town poles. It would be a problem for 9-foot-tall and up vehicles. The middle section of the trail gets rocky and bumpy. Then, the trail opens up quite a bit toward the end with some small grassy areas. The trail's end is a loop with a couple of nice dispersed campsites. There are some interesting little geode-style rocks all around at the end of the trail. Check for fire restrictions before coming out. There is minimal cell service out here. It fades in and out on Verizon and AT&T. Be sure to download your offline maps before you come out here and explore.
Photos of FR-9267C
Difficulty
This is a narrow trail through the trees with spots for oncoming vehicles to pull off. Bumpy lava rocks on the middle section of the trail require good tire placement to prevent sidewall damage or a blowout. Be aware of deep, muddy sections in the springtime after the snow melts or springtime storms.
History
The Mogollon Rim is a rugged escarpment that forms the southern limit of the Colorado Plateau. It extends across the entire forest, approximately 200 miles in total, and provides excellent views within plateau country and desert canyon country as well. Dropping as much as 2,000 feet in some areas, the Rim offers some of the most far-reaching scenery in Arizona. Views stretch from its rocky precipice to Four Peaks of the Mazatzals northeast of Phoenix. Sightseeing is a favorite activity along the Rim. Still, this forest area also boasts a historic system of hiking and horseback trails, a couple of picturesque lakes for boating and fishing, and backcountry skiing for wilderness adventurers. The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of Arizona. It extends diagonally approximately 200 miles, starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the New Mexico border. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. The Rim is an escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. Its central and most spectacular portions are characterized by high cliffs of limestone and sand, namely the Kaibab limestone and Coconino sandstone cliffs. This escarpment was created by erosion, faulting, and cutting dramatic canyons into it, including the Fossil Creek Canyon and Pine Canyon. The name Mogollon comes from Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon, the Spanish governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715. The Mogollon Rim's limestones and sandstones were formed from sediments deposited in the Carboniferous and Permian Periods. Several of the Rim's rock formations are also seen on the walls of the Grand Canyon. The extensive basaltic lava flows cap or even bury the Rim in many places. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Mexican spotted owl. Other wildlife present on the Rim will be herds of elk and deer. You may see black bears, mountain lions, and even the occasional red-tailed hawk or peregrine falcon. There are also coyotes, horned toads, and rattlesnakes. This area frequently has fire restrictions early in the season. Be sure to contact the local ranger station for information about the current campfire restrictions. Or, at the minimum, check the Coconino Fire webpage. https://www.coconino.az.gov/2595/Fire-Restriction-Information