|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 8.79 Miles |
1,863 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.79 Miles | 4 Hrs 18 Mns | | 2.04 mph |
| 1,863 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Bear Flat Trail #178 is 8.4 miles end-to-end: Too far for this aging fat man to do an out & back, and too complicated a drive for my wife to meet me at the far end, near Pleasant Valley. In assessing the route, I noticed Horse Mountain is not far off trail, just a 300 ft. bushwhack above Warm Springs Trail #177, which marks the halfway point of Trail #178. 🗺
So, my plan became to hike Trail #178, from Bear Flat Campground to Bear Flat Tank and, if I was feeling good, head out on Trail #177 to summit Horse Mountain. Round trip to Bear Flat Tank is 7.7 miles, 1,700 AEG; the whole shot to Horse Mountain, 13.0 miles, 2,500 AEG.
There was one guy fishing in Tonto Creek when I started hiking. The concrete crossing was quite slippery. Just past the crossing, there is a large “No Trespassing” sign. Take a sharp right, along the outside of the wood rail fence. In 50 yds., on the left, is a wood forest service sign for Trail #178. I had to low crawl the barb wire fence, as I could not figure out how to open the gate. 
Trail #178 follows the wood rail fence line for a hundred yards, before turning right, away from the subdivision. Trail #178 then begins a very steep climb, through shady pine forest. It’s straight up; no switchbacks. The trail surface is pea gravel, so quite slippery, given the angle.
Near the top of the initial climb, Trail #178 enters a very old burn area. There’s still occasional shade, particularly at wash crossings, but for the most part scrub oak, manzanita and juniper predominate. (I saw one manzanita that was — no lie — 10 ft. tall!) Just past the top of the climb, Mescal Ridge Trail #186 is on the right. The sign was missing.
For the next ¾ of a mile, through the north edge of the wilderness, Trail #178 is single track. Little used, Trail #178 sometimes disappears in the grass. catclaw often grow in the middle of the trail. The grassy stretch is where most of the flower blooms are found, particularly vervain and, later in the afternoon, New Mexico fanpetals. (A new flower for me.) 
After 1½ miles, Trail #178 exits the wilderness. Just past the boundary is a small, unnamed, tank with a nice view west, down Bull Tank Canyon. At that tank, Trail #178 changes from single track to ATV trail, which continues at least as far as Bear Flat Tank.
Though the pine growth is not as aged as on the initial climb, the ATV trail portion of Trail #178 does have more shade than the old burn area. And, most importantly, no catclaw. A corral, and another unnamed tank, mark the two mile point of Trail #178.
Almost a mile later, Trail #178 splits: Left climbs to Upper Bull Canyon Tank, so stay right. (I missed the turn on my way back.) A ⅓ of a mile past the split, Trail #178 begins another steep climb with no switchbacks. Thankfully, it is only half the height of the initial climb. 
Just past the top of the climb, and before Warm Springs Trail #177, Bear Flat Tank is 100 yds. to the west of Bear Flat Trail #178. Bear Flat Tank is more of a pond, being dotted by small lily pads and lined by marsh grass. Deciding a push to the top of Horse Mountain would be unwise -- I was sore and behind schedule -- I ate lunch before heading back.
From the top of the initial climb, I had gnats, flies and mosquitoes buzzing around my head when I was moving, but oddly not when I was still. Not even at Bear Flat Tank. There were also quite a few butterflies. No bears, though there was plenty of bear scat — including one very impressive pile — on Bear Flat Trail #178. 
As you are aware, going “downhill” you often go up. (300 ft. in the case of Trail #178.) I took several breaks on my way back down.
The last break I took was just above the steep, pea-gravelled, descent to Tonto Creek. I slipped several times, but with the assistance of much cursing, managed not to fall. Sore though I was, it had been a good day in a new area for me. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/609251722 |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
Vervain, found in the old manzanita / grassy burn area, were most common. Several good patches of afternoon blooming New Mexico fanpetals in the same area. Plus skyrocket, pineywoods geranium, paintbrush, showy goldeneye, fleabane, hoary aster, paintbrush, goldenrod and several small purple species I did not feel like getting on my stomach to photograph. |
|
  |
Bear Flat Trail Tank |
51-75% full |
51-75% full |
| | | More like a pond, with reeds and other vegetation, than a tank. | | _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
.
) it seemed that it would be a straight forward hike...just follow the jeep road. That is close to being true, but first, I had to Find the jeep road. The trail starts just to the north of the trail sign and immediately had me cross a decent size stream. On the other side there was a trail sign that mentioned Bear Flat and Mescal trails straight ahead (there was an arrow pointing straight ahead). However, when I went through the gate to the right the trail appears to go off to the right (kind of following the river, before it goes straight up a steep incline). Do not follow this trail! This " trail" will basically lead you in a circle and will not get you to the jeep road. After circling this area a couple of times, I headed in an east northeast direction from the gated area. This took me through a forested area, covered in pine needles for about .2 miles and to the beginning of the jeep road. NOTE: There are homes just to the north of this route, so as long as you follow the private property fence, keeping it your left, you should come to the jeep road.
).
