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 on a paved path that led from the campground to the second of three vistas with parking, which might serve as trailheads for those wishing to hike a shorter section of the trail. Along the path leading to Vista Lookout, the first vista, were several great vantage points that 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 #505 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 the 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 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 incredible views all along the way.

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2012-07-21 charlieaz