Rim Lake Vista Trail #622, AZ

Rim Lake Vista Trail #622 skirts FR 300 and the Mogollon Rim from start to finish. It is an easy hike with great views just a few feet from the rim's edge. Since we were camping at the Mogollon Campground we hiked the trail from west to east starting at the Mogollon Trailhead and ending at the Rim Top trailhead.

Our hike started out on a paved path which led all the way from the campground to the second of three vistas with parking, which also might serve as trailheads for those wishing to only hike a shorter section of the trail. Along the path leading to Vista Lookout, the first vista, were several great vantage points which made for great pictures. We proceeded on the paved path for a little less than a mile from Vista Lookout to Woods Canyon Vista. This is where the paved path ends a few hundred feet down the trail. This is also the junction with the Meadow Trail which leads to Woods Canyon Lake.

We again followed the Rim Lake Vista Trail for not quite a mile to Military Sinkhole Vista. This vista also serves as a trailhead to Sinkhole Trail #179. At 3.4 miles into the hike we then reached the trail junction to the Rim Campground. Here, a sign indicates it's a half mile north to the Rim Campground or 0.8 miles to the Rim Top Trailhead. The last section of trail follows an old jeep trail for part of the time until you arrive at the FR 300 crossing. Once you are across the road, the trailhead is just a short distance.

There is also a short section of the trail from the Rim Top Trailhead further south-east to Hwy 260 if you wish to extend your trip from a total of 4.2 miles to near 5 miles. We didn't have anybody waiting for us at the Rim Top Trailhead so we just followed the path back which made for a nice 8.4 mile day hike full of great views all along the way.

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2012-07-21 charlieaz