Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim Photoset • rmartin • 2020-08-07 • HikeArizona.COM

Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim, AZ

	2020-08-07
	17 by rmartin

page 1 2

Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim

Payson, AZ

Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim

Payson, AZ

Backpack	18.70 Miles	2,398 AEG

Backpack	18.70 Miles	2 Days
	2,398 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

linked

U - Bar Trail #28

Barbershop Trail #91

Houston Brothers Trail #171

Partners

none

no partners

I started around noon on Friday from the Houston Draw parking cutout and made my way to Pinchot cabin to start the east side Cabin Loop going clockwise. Starting mid-day on the exposed section of the U-Bar was not my brightest move of the day. Just before FR139, I saw the only other person of the day, a mountain biker going counter-clockwise. He gave me a heads-up about the joys Barbershop Canyon but it didn't quite register until my knees were barking at the stairstep boulders on the trail into the canyon. It was absolutely gorgeous down there with Barbershop Creek flowing pretty well. After climbing out then going down and up in Dane Canyon, I made my way to Dane Spring for a well needed refill of my water supply. Sitting for a couple minutes and eyeing the campsites, I decided I was done for the day. The spring and cabin remains made it a very memorable campsite.

I ran into many groups going CCW on Saturday as I finished the loop. The only trouble I had with route finding was when I ran into car campers on the U-Bar that had their easy-up next to the trail sign. I had missed it as I tried to avoid their campsite. The stretch of Barbershop Trail by Coyote Springs was very pleasant with a good amount of water in the drainage. I stopped for lunch at Barbershop spring and regretted not bringing a scoop to get water out of the pools. Had I not been spoiled by the flowing water at the other sources, I would have thought Barbershop spring was a good source. As that was not the case, it was mildly frustrating. The rollers from where Houston Brothers meets Barbershop to where Houston Bros starts the long downhill section reminded me how much I enjoy heavy roots on the trail. The coast from where the rollers stop to Aspen Springs was wonderful with plenty of water and hip high ferns. I had not been to Aspen Springs since 2012 so I was saddened to see the hay barn is in much worse shape though it is still a cool site along the trail.

Barbershop canyon creek

Medium flow

	Dane Spring	Gallon + per minute	Gallon + per minute
	Great flow from the pipe.

	McClintock Spring	Dry	Dry
	Either dry or I couldn't find it.

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