Tule Loop, AZ

Overview
Tule is a scenic loop hike that takes you up to Pinyon Peak at 5,240 feet revealing some great views of Roosevelt and Apache Lakes, Four Peaks, and all surrounding mountains. After the peak, Sun_hiker and I hiked across the ridge on the 2 Bar Ridge trail to the Tule trail where we dropped down into Tule Canyon and hiked 3 miles in the Tule Canyon to get us back to our vehicle to end the 11.8-mile loop. This is a delightful mixture of a peak, a ridgeline, and a canyon.


Hike
Along the loop at 0.85 miles of hiking on FR83, we reached the 2 Bar Ridge Trailhead & Parking Lot. There are no issues hiking on the road. The reason we parked 0.85 miles before the actual 2 Bar trailhead is to do the 500 feet of elevation in the morning rather than at the end of the hike.At 1.5 miles we reached Pinyon 5268 hiking 2 Bar and an off-trail piece. Our off-trail route is one of many that could be selected. From the 2Bar TH parking lot, we hiked uphill on the trail about 1/4th mile to the signs and open gate and started immediately off trail there. After visiting the peak with its beautiful views, we continued hiking across the mountain descending to an opening in the barbed wire fence and re-connecting with the Two Bar Ridge Trail #119. This seemed to be a route with the most gradual up and down even though it was steep. The gain was 750 feet in 0.8 miles. At 4.4 miles we reached the signed intersection of 2 Bar Ridge and Tule Trails hiking on the 2 Bar Ridge trail. This was my fourth time doing the loop and there have been some positive changes since the 3rd time. The 2 Bar Ridge trail is part of the Arizona Trail system. There are now many, many more cairns on it than ever probably as a result of volunteer work by the Arizona trail organization. Navigating the trail is now much easier as a result.

At 8.1 miles we reached Tule Canyon at a Coral there hiking on the Tule Trail. The first part of the Tule trail follows a scenic ridgeline. It then begins a steep descent through a rocky channel and goes on using a narrow shelf that is partially eroded. These are not difficult spots but they will slow you down a bit if, like me, you don't want to fall off the mountain.

At 10.9 miles we reached the car by hiking off-trail through Tule Canyon. Hiking in the canyon is surprisingly easy. About 80 percent of the trail is on the wide sandy bottom of the canyon. There is one waterfall (usually with some water flowing from Tule springs but not too much) where we had to hike up, around, and down again to get by. Tall spidermen may be able to go directly up. The remaining few rock formations can be hiked using a direct approach. At about 1/3rd mile from the car, you must know where to climb out of the drainage. There are no markers and you have to pick sand channels through the vegetation to get up the 200 feet or so of elevation to the rim and then to your car. Not at all difficult to find with a mapping GPS and the track loaded. Even way pointing your car will let you navigate to it from inside the canyon.

Notes: The hike is 10.9 miles and 2,955 feet of cumulative elevation when started from a point on the loop off of Forest Road 83. The hike also can be done from the Tule Trailhead and it then is a lasso hike of 14.4 miles and 3,600 feet of cumulative elevation. Having done it both ways, my preference is the 10.9-mile loop.

2007-12-24 gpsjoe