It felt good heading for the hills again with our low land temps this Saturday starting to feel like summer again. This is a super Mogollon Rim area loop that GPSjoe has put together. A combination of interesting, scenic, & challenging trails with some not so active forest roads to enjoy as well (with exception of the vehicle active Rim Rd FR300 which you can cut-off a good .5mls of road by hiking the parallel General Crook TR).

Our TH start from the popular lower Horton Springs Tr285/Derrick Tr#33 parking lot started off with a nice sunny morning, blue sky, and early puffy white clouds which made for some nice photo shots. The hike description for this "super loop+" is published as a clockwise loop, but we decided to enjoy it as a counter-clockwise loop, first starting on the Derrick Tr#33 and ending back at the lower TH start for Horton Springs Tr#285. This was my first time on all these trails except for #285 to Horton Springs & back. After reading the hike description & warnings regarding the tough downhill(steep, loose-rocky, with some exposure areas) on the Promontory Butte Tr#278(-1150' in .75ml), we decided it best for us to do this one going uphill. This was a good choice for me, but later proved a challenge for me coming down the also very steep, rocky & this day wet Upper Horton Springs Tr#292. In hindsight, either way to start and finish this loop is a fun challenge both mentally & physically. The upper TH for the Promontory Butte Tr#278 is at 7850' and for the Upper Horton Springs Tr#292 at 7945' (the highpoint for the day).

If you are up for the miles, elevation gain/loss, and feel confident after reading the HAZ hike description, then you will enjoy this one!