Show Low

[Mattrgrs12]

Im going to be in Show Low on Thursday. Anybody know any good hikes in the show low area?

[azbackpackr]

How far do you want to drive from Show Low? Also, how much mud and snow do you want to slog through?

From the intersection of 260 and 60 go west, back toward Globe a mile or so, you'll see a trail sign. That's the Buena Vista Trail. It's a nice moderate trail, not too interesting, but nice.

Otherwise most of the hikes are up closer to Lakeside and Pinetop, a few miles up 260. And they may still be pretty snowy, although the weather has been warm up there this week. I was through there on my way to and from my house in Springerville on the 15th and 16th. There was snow everywhere, but as I say, it may have melted by now.

If you get to Lakeside, go to the Ranger Station at the corner of Niels Hanson Lane and 260/White Mtn. Blvd. They should have a free packet. Also as you are driving on 260 there are a few trail signs right out on the highway, so those trails are easy to find.

When there's a lot of snow in the forested areas, I hike the grasslands. This area is on Hwy 60 between Show Low and Springerville. The snow generally melts off this area quickly. There are no trails. You just park and start hiking, and there are a lot of cinder cones (small rounded hills) which are VERY steep and provide you with a nice little workout and a great view. You can hike for hours and hours or just for an hour or so.

[Hoffmaster]

Head north out of Show Low to Snowflake. A couple of miles after Snowflake is 7 Mile Draw. It looks like it would be a cool canyon to explore. Or keep driving and go to the Petrified Forest.

[PaleoRob]

keep driving and go to the Petrified Forest.

You can't go wrong with that suggestion.

[azbackpackr]

keep driving and go to the Petrified Forest.

You can't go wrong with that suggestion.

I guess, if you like that barren place. It's kind of interesting, I guess, but if someone is going up to Show Low for only one day, why would they then drive about 60 more miles to go to Putrified Forest? If they did go there they would have time only for the tourist parts of it, which are not all that interesting, if you ask me. One big fossil log looks about like another. Newspaper Rock is pretty neat, though, but not for the distance he'd have to drive to see it.

I know, you didn't ask me!

This person isn't even reading our posts, anyway, I don't think.

[Hoffmaster]

if someone is going up to Show Low for only one day, why would they then drive about 60 more miles to go to Putrified Forest?

Yeah, I forgot that it was only going to be one day. But the rest of what you said is utter craziness. Maybe you should spend some time there getting off the road and opening your eyes. The immediate Show Low area can just as easily be described as boring. One ponderosa pine "looks about like another." Head east of there (towards your house) and the barren waste land truly begins.

Wow. Talking trash about PeFo is one way to get me all riled up apparently.

[PaleoRob]

I got the impression he was going to be there Thursday through the weekend. Don't know where I got that idea after rereading the thread. Hmm...

[Mattrgrs12]

I am reading the posts. I have been looking for trails and just havent seen much right in the Show Low area. A lot of the trails I have found around quite a far drive from show low. I guess I will just have to find a creek and follow that. Thanks for the suggestions though

[azbackpackr]

Oooh boy, here we go!

[te_wa]

Im assuming, you have either already seen this, or you havent. (seems like a safe bet ;) )
http://hikearizona.com/Region-Hikes.php?RID=11

[Mattrgrs12]

you are correct

[Strand]

Lot's of trails, still enough snow melt to make things muddy. I've been holding of on hiking after the last snow storm due to the mud, but it's getting better. Hope to be in the woods this weekend, probably on the Timber Mesa trail or if it's still muddy I'll try Buena Vista as I haven't had a chance to hike that yet.

How many miles do you want to hike, and what do you want to see? The lower elevations on the west side of town will be drier, anything over 6500' is likely to have some mud. AzBackpackr's advice is dead on, hit the ranger station and pick up a Tracks map and maybe get some advice on trail conditions.

A list and maps of most of the locally maintained trails is online. Just do a search for "tracks white mountains" - tracks is the name of the local trail group who have built, mapped, marked, and maintained the local hiking/biking/horse trail system.

[Mattrgrs12]

I ended up going up to sedona instead. I went down to oak creek and then up to the devils bridge. Thanks for all the advice anyways.

[azbackpackr]

I somehow had the impression you were going to Show Low on business, and wanted to get in a hike in addition to that. If you had said you were going to Show Low just to hike I would have responded differently. Like, why Show Low?

If you plan a trip to the White Mtns. be sure to also check the local newspaper's website for hike write-ups. Their web address is wmicentral. I had forgotten to mention that earlier. But truthfully, the best hikes in the White Mtns. are in summer, and they would be up around Greer, Big Lake, Black River, Hannagan Meadow, etc. There is some nice hiking around Pinetop, also. Heber has some interesting areas, such as Chevelon Canyon, but the ranger station there is not very helpful in helping you find the hikes. I called them once to ask about Chevelon, and they knew nothing, and then I found out that a lot of other people also called them about it, and learned nothing. They couldn't even tell me if there would be water in the creek there! They referred me to someone who is part of the USFS fire unit there. I asked him if there would be water in the creek because I was taking a bunch of friends there for a two-night backpack. He said, "Yeah, there might be a few pools along there, you might find a little water." When we got there and found that there is a ton of water in there and that it is one swimming hole after another for 8 miles between the Crossing and the Dam, I realized he was trying to keep me OUT of that place, by making it sound like there wasn't much water. Not a very good public servant! You will have better luck with the Lakeside and Springerville ranger districts.

Alpine RD, on the other hand, you have to go there and get the maps, because the people who answer the phone in that office know absolutely NOTHING. They are total idiots. I tried to find out the length of the Fish Creek trail and they tried to tell me it was 6 miles, when I could see on my maps it had to be 12. Turns out it is 12.

Also, over by Springerville the Game and Fish dept has developed three wildlife areas with hiking trails. They are really neat to see. There is Wenima, White Mtns. Grasslands and Sipe Wildlife Area. Since I live by Springerville I am familiar with trails and other places to hike over by there. To me it's preferable to hikes around Pinetop because I rarely see anyone, even on big holiday weekends, if I choose my hikes well. The main problem we have up there right now, though, is trying to protect our designated non-motorized trails agains ATVers.

[Mattrgrs12]

No, I have a buddy that wants to start hiking with me and I guess his family has some land in the Show low area. He wanted to go up that way to show me the land but I could not find many hiking trails around it. He had never been up to Sedona before so we decided to go up there instead.

[azbackpackr]

Yeah, save your White Mtns. trip for warmer weather, June--Oct. And it's too far from Phx. for one day, so I'd suggest planning a long weekend. The nicest time up there is actually starting around the middle of September, after the monsoon is over, because we usually have a big wildflower bloom about that time. We do not have spring wildflowers, at least not many.

[Hoffmaster]

The nicest time up there is actually starting around the middle of September, after the monsoon is over, because we usually have a big wildflower bloom about that time.

Not to mention the elk should be bugling about that time as well. Makes for good camp music.