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| Hiking | 7.50 Miles |
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| | Hiking | 7.50 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 1.25 mph |
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| no partners | | Hannah, Skippy, and I were "history detectives" completing sections of the Historic Trail between Law's Spring and Government Prairie. I've been gathering "bits and pieces" of information piecing together the exact route the old wagon road/immigrant trail followed in anticipation of creating a HAZ hike description.
Today was a combination of off-roading (actually following a variety of Forest Roads) and hiking. Our mountain bikes could have come in handy completing some of the sections.
Law's Spring section turned out to be a 2.2 mile loop hike as we parked our truck along FR115 where the Beale Wagon Road crosses. We headed west along the wagon road following the 4x4 posts and cairns along the way until we found the side trail heading to Law's Spring. Once at the spring, we sought out various rock art symbols and historic engravings. There is a parking lot near the spring at the terminus of FR2030. We hiked back to the truck via FR2030 and FR115 completing the loop hike.
Obsidian Tank to Breckinridge Spring was a 2.0 mile return side trail that mostly follows Obsidian Road from FR100 near Obsidian Tank. The route from Law's Spring to Obsidian Tank was a complicated Forest Road route that more-or-less paralleled the Beale Wagon Road. Take FR115 to the intersection of FR707 & FR712. Take FR712 in a northeast direction until you join FR713. FR713 is directly on top of the old Beale Wagon Road. At the junction of FR713 & FR141, follow FR141 east to FR97. There are Beale Camel signs at both these intersections. FR97 will join back onto FR141 through Spring Valley. When FR141 bends sharply to the south, look for FR100 heading east. Follow FR100 to Obsidian Tank.
Government Prairie section was a 2.8 mile return trail that follows the original rutted path followed by the wagons. Remains of settler's homesteads are dotted along the trail. This is a fascinating section of the trail. We parked the truck at the intersection of FR100 and FR107 and entered through the barbed-wire gate. There are many side trails that lead to a rather confusing route. 4x4 posts with the distinctive carved camels indicating the Beale Wagon Road are few and far between. In general, follow the rutted wagon tracks east from the intersection of FR100 and FR107. When you reach the edge of the woods, spot the 4x4 posts across the field directly south towards Rain Tank Hill. You will enter a wooded section and pop out beside a fenced section indicating private lands. The wagon road follows the east side of the fence, confirmed by a couple of 4x4 posts with carved camels. As the fence line ends, the wagon ruts turn to the southeast across the prairie. We stopped where the trail crosses FR793 that passes the north side of Rain Tank Hill.
Rain Tank Hill is a 0.5 mile hike up a bare cinder cone that reminds me of the knolls around Springerville AZ. We parked at the intersection of FR107 and FR793. NOTE; there is no signage for FR793.
Government Knoll is further east along FR793. The monsoon storm earlier in the day rendered this 4WD path impassable. We didn't want to risk running our 2WD F-150 through this mucky-muck and getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with the sun going down!
We'll return soon, perhaps with our mountain bikes, to complete the section between Government Knoll and Leroux Springs near Snowbowl
3 of the sections hiked are described in "FLAGSTAFF HIKES" by Richard and Sherry Mangum.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... ikearizona
Maps from historians Donna & Jack Beale Smith plus Neil Weintraub at the Kaibab National Forest Service came in handy today...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... ikearizona |
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