Short Cut Trail #166 • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Apr 15 2022

nonot

Guides 107
Routes 249
Photos 2,067
Triplogs 514

male

Joined Nov 18 2005
Phoenix, AZ

Nelson Trail #159

Camp Verde, AZ

Nelson Trail #159

Camp Verde, AZ

Backpack		Apr 15 2022
		nonot • Triplogs 514

Backpack	17.00 Miles	3,200 AEG

Backpack	17.00 Miles
	3,200 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Pine Mountain Verde Rim Loop

Pine Mountain Short Cut Trail Loop

Pine Mountain Trail #14

Verde Rim Trail #161

Salt Flat Connector Trail

Partners

none

no partners

My plan for this backpacking trip didn't really work out because of the lack of water. The only available water appeared to be within 1 mile of the trailhead from a series of 4 springs that collectively appear to be called Nelson Place spring.

If I would offer a suggestion it would be to explore the Pine Mountain Wilderness via dayhiking. The Salt Flat campground area is pretty nice, though you have to bring all your water with you.

I would also warn potential backpackers that other triplogs reporting water for "several miles along the start of their hike" probably aren't really counting their distance and don't realize that the water ends after the first mile.

While the Nelson trail was in good shape, most of the other trails are in poor condition. The worst was the Salt Flat connector trail, and the second worst was the Verde Rim trail. Surprisingly you will find cows along every trail, including at the top of Pine Mountain itself!

I ran through 90% of my water when I was only halfway through my Saturday loop, likely due to the higher than forecast temperatures, so I struggled to finish the trip.

Takeaways:
The spring fed areas along Nelson trail are very nice, and I was surprised to see all the trout.
Pine Mountain is an enjoyable destination, and there are great views of the entire Mazatzals from the top.
The rest of the trails suffer from significant overgrowth. Some also suffer from not-existingness in sections. There was easily a half mile stretch of Pine Flat trail where I didn't see any evidence of a trail.
For some reason, once you get away from Nelson trail by more than a quarter mile (except Pine Mtn itself), you will only see Junipers, no pine trees.

Driving: Lots of triplogs speak to road conditions. I would say the last 7 miles to the trailhead is rated a high clearance rd. I think 2wd with limited slip differential or else 4wd is helpful due to the rough road. From highway 17 to trailhead took 60 minutes. From trailhead to highway 17 took 56 minutes.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

Beehouse Canyon

Dry

	Beehouse Spring	Dry	Dry
	I was on the lookout for this spring, but didn't see anything wet.

	Bishop Spring	Dry	Dry
	No water in this area that I saw, perhaps I didn't go far enough off trail downcanyon?

	Black Alder Spring	Dry	Dry
	Perhaps I missed the spring, but didn't find anything.

	Nelson Place Spring	Gallon + per minute	Gallon + per minute
	A lifesaver. Collectively the 4 different areas water came out of the ground probably add up to 100 gallons per minute.

	Willow Spring	Dry	Dry
	Perhaps I missed the spring, but didn't find anything.

_____________________

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3 archives

Jan 03 2021

AugustWest

Routes 174
Photos 471
Triplogs 184

51 male

Joined Mar 16 2019
Phoenix

Pine Mountain Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jan 03 2021
		AugustWest • Triplogs 184

Hiking	13.67 Miles	2,738 AEG

Hiking	13.67 Miles	5 Hrs 59 Mns	2.53 mph
	2,738 ft AEG	35 Mns Break

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Willow Springs Trail #12

Nelson Trail #159

Partners

none

no partners

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Got this idea from a loop that @The_Eagle did about 10 years ago. Arrived at the Salt Flat TH at about 10 AM. It was in the low 30's. There was just one other truck parked with no one present.

Started out on Nelson Trail for just a bit. When I planned this out my thought was to go clockwise, but ended up changing my mind at the last minute. That may in fact be the better way to go in retrospect.

Just before the Pine Flat Trail takes off into Beehouse Canyon I ran into a young couple who were camping practically right on the trail. About 20 feet past their campsite was the entrance to the Canyon. Beehouse falls nicely at the midpoint of the best and worst of today.

Pine Flat meets Shortcut Trail at the top of a rocky mesa and traverses this mesa for a relatively uninteresting 5 miles or so. This is rocky, open ground with some manzanita, juniper and the occasional pine tree to mix things up. Not gonna lie in saying that Shortcut was pretty boring.

The entire world changes at about 6.5 miles entering the upper sections of the southern part of Verde Rim Trail. In my humble opinion these are some of the most fantastic views that I have seen in Arizona. Better than Pine Mountain summit. I really don't know what to say other than that all our favorite ranges were front and center. No Grand Canyon, but pretty much everything else. These views along this portion of the trail were the first unobstructed views of the day and really took my breath away.

From here the Verde Rim Trail that leads to Pine Mountain was steep and brushy. I didn't have too many issues, but i think downhill might be a better choice for this section. Pine Mountain summit is flat and there was a soft spot to rest for a couple of minutes. The western views are obstructed from this vantage point by another mountain and young oak.

Willow Creek Trail is about a third burned but the sections that aren't burned are pretty glades of predominantly pine forest.

Everything I saw today was dry except at the lower elevations where Nelson Spring is running incredibly strong.

Finally a word on the roads in. CR 171 is decent with some washboarding. Things get worse on Dugas, but still Subaru-able. Once you turn onto FR 68 the road is just a rocky, tough Arizona forest service road. High Clearance absolutely, but how high? My truck did fine...no worries and I didn't need 4WD once.

Things were special enough in this wilderness to start working towards a multi day backpack incorporating Cedar Bench Wilderness which is connected at its southern end by FR 68G which to the south terminates close to the northern end of the Verde Rim Trail in the Pine Mountain Wilderness.

_____________________

Wildflower seed in the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again

1 archive

May 27 2010

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Pine Mountain Short Cut Trail Loop

Camp Verde, AZ

Pine Mountain Short Cut Trail Loop

Camp Verde, AZ

Hiking		May 27 2010
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	13.86 Miles	3,876 AEG

Hiking	13.86 Miles	7 Hrs 50 Mns	1.77 mph
	3,876 ft AEG

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Pine Mountain Verde Rim Loop

Nelson Trail #159

Pine Flat Trail #165

Willow Springs Trail #12

Pine Mountain 6814

Short Cut Trail #166

Partners

partners

Prickly Bill

From I17 and Happy Valley to Dugas Rd exit, 50mi 40min. From I17 and Dugas Rd exit to TH, 18mi, 60min. All worth it. For Dugas Rd/FR 68 I'd recommend high clearance. I don't think a passenger car would make it safely for the last 5 miles or so. 4x4 was not needed.

This is a highly recommended hike. Ponderosa Pines, Alligator Juniper, Oak Trees, Sycamore Trees, running creeks, birds, Elk etc., etc. you are in and out of all of these during the hike. There is allot of shade from the trees on this hike, but there are also exposed areas. I'd consider the hike moderate for the most part, with a few difficult sections on the climb to Pine Mountain and down into Beehouse Canyon (Steep and Rocky). A GPS with the track is highly recommended because the trail is overgrown or light in spots on the southern section of the Verde Rim Trail and the Shortcut Trail.

There are cairns in most of these sections to help you, as well as 4' long poles laid down on the down slopes for erosion protection. There is deadfall around the loop, but nothing too hard to navigate.

The views on the Rim and on top of Pine Mountain were nothing short of spectacular. Make the short trip to the top of the peak. Snow topped Mt Humphrey's to the North, Four Peaks, Weavers Needle, 5024 and the Flat Iron, Horseshoe Lake to the South and the Bradshaw's to the West.
Video from the Top
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqSFb_e2AlA

We saw an Elk cow and 2 babies but were unable to get pictures.
Also many Cottontail Rabbits.

There are many options for camping at the TH or along the trail.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Beehive Cactus Claret Cup Cactus Cliff-Rose Golden Flowered Agave Indian Paintbrush Larkspur (various) Trixis Unidentified Flora Winding Mariposa Lily

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cow

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cag Shot

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sycamore Creek Verde Rim

Wildflowers Observation Light

Beehouse Spring

Quart per minute

Bishop Spring

Dry

Black Alder Spring

Gallon per minute

	Nelson Place Spring	Gallon + per minute	Gallon + per minute
	Flowing strong

Willow Spring

Quart per minute

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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