Houston Brothers Trail - Aspen Spring Access • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

FR139G TH to Aspen Spr and McFarland Spr, AZ

Hiking		Jul 08 2022
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	2.70 Miles	255 AEG

Hiking	2.70 Miles	2 Hrs 15 Mns	1.20 mph
	255 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Houston Brothers Trail to Aspen Spring

Partners

none

no partners

From my July'22 Mogollon Rim - Cabin Loop area, 8 day Vehicle Camping Trip, my first of two favorite short area hikes that always bring me back again and again

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aspen Spring Houston Draw McFarland Spring

Aspen Spring

Dripping

McFarland Spring

Quart per minute

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

Jun 10 2022

kgustin

Routes 3
Triplogs 3

62 male

Joined Dec 23 2019
Phoenix, AZ

Partial cabin loop, AZ

Hiking		Jun 10 2022
		kgustin • Triplogs 3

Hiking	28.14 Miles	2,996 AEG

Hiking	28.14 Miles	44 Hrs 44 Mns		2.20 mph
	2,996 ft AEG	1 Day 7 Hrs 55 Mns Break	36 LBS Pack

no photosets

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Fred Haught Trail #141

Blue Ridge - AZT #27

Railroad Tunnel Trail #390

Colonel Devin Trail #290

Partners

none

no partners

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

0.03 miles - 4:04 pm
Water flowing along Fred Haught here. Saw large herd of mule elk and calfs-10

Sep 04 2021

jillyonanadventure

Routes 175
Photos 2,335
Triplogs 191

44 female

Joined Jan 21 2019
Pine, AZ

[ checklist ] Bull Thistle Indian Paintbrush Western Wallflower - Orange

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Sep 04 2021
		jillyonanadventure • Triplogs 191

Hiking	6.15 Miles	670 AEG

Hiking	6.15 Miles	2 Hrs 17 Mns	2.69 mph
	670 ft AEG

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none

no linked trail guides

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none

no partners

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

I was in the mood for a solo trip up to some {hopefully} less populated areas with nice temps. I didn’t have a specific destination in mind, just a general area and no plan plan. As expected, the main areas near kinder & horse crossing were pretty busy, so I just kept driving and driving until there was not a soul in sight. I initially picked a campsite at the end of a dead end road, but it seems that was close by a trail as I saw a whopping 4 backpackers.

I settled in for camp for night one, then got up semi early to go see about some hiking nearby. I hadn’t pre downloaded anything but I was able to see based on the map that I was nearby a trail with access to a spring, yay! While I was getting ready to leave camp, a group of 6 ATVs drove right up to my camp. (There was a downed tree blocking further access of the road and apparently there’s a cabin down there). They park literally in a way that is completely blocking me from leaving {by driving} my camp. I ask them if they are parking there bc it’s blocking me. They say yeah well you’re just camping there so no big deal, right? There is a child with remote car driving it right next to my truck. So I say no I’m actually just leaving, so you’ll have to move. They move right next to my truck and I just took any of my remaining stuff and threw it in the back and got out of there. So rude! Anyway, sorry I digressed but explaining below my game time change of plan… lol

I was going to walk from camp to add some mileage but I got to park right at a nice access point along my loop instead. I dropped down into a nice quiet foresty area and it was so beautiful! No people around, nice trail, gorgeous weather. There was remains of a cabin down there near the spring and a really cool ancient oven thing. It had a smell like someone had even recently used it! The spring was a little trickle but looked nice and clear. The hike was so peaceful and I was loving it. The loop I was following was going up to the left and it was a tad bushwhacky (or maybe I missed the path lol). It was dropping me off onto a road walk, but I was more interested in walking in the woods so I forged my own path. Apparently the reason it wanted you to road walk was so you didn’t have to cross any canyons, but they were super easy to navigate. I successfully looped back to Tessa without much road walking.

There was a second spring I passed somewhere along the way as well. My maps weren’t even fully loaded due to no service so I was kinda just following a line. Successful create your own loop, no people, cool stuff to see. Loved every second of it! Found a new campsite for the next night nearby so I could continue hiking in this area the next day!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Atlantis Fritillary Butterfly

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ Rides Unknown VV Triangle Marker

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aspen Spring

Wildflowers Observation Light
A decent amount of wildflowers! Springs trickling!

	Aspen Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Trickling. Some clear pools tho!

_____________________

Restless between adventures...

Jun 12 2020

Oregon_Hiker

Guides 9
Routes 473
Photos 8,433
Triplogs 626

79 male

Joined Dec 07 2010
Phoenix, AZ

Aspen and McFarland Springs - Mogollon Rim, AZ

Hiking		Jun 12 2020
		Oregon_Hiker • Triplogs 626

Hiking	3.00 Miles	262 AEG

Hiking	3.00 Miles	2 Hrs 18 Mns	1.30 mph
	262 ft AEG

Linked

linked

McFarland Spring - Mogollon Rim

Partners

partners

Grasshopper

Grasshopper and I checked out several springs on the Mogollon Rim on this day. We drove as close as roads would allow to each spring and then hiked the short distance to the spring. Yes, we're getting old and lazy.

The springs visited were Lower Buck Spring, Dane Spring, Aspen Spring and McFarland Spring. This triplog and photoset is for the longest hike of the day, an in-and-out 3 mile hike to Aspen and McFarland Springs from FR139G. All four springs were flowing with Dane Spring probably having the most flow from a pipe which would make it easy to fill water bottles.

The areas around both Aspen and McFarland Springs are quite scenic and both offer good places to camp for Backpackers on the Houston Bros Trail.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aspen Spring Houston Draw McFarland Spring

_____________________

Jun 12 2020

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

FR139G TH to Aspen Spr and McFarland Spr, AZ

Hiking		Jun 12 2020
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	2.90 Miles	315 AEG

Hiking	2.90 Miles	3 Hrs	0.97 mph
	315 ft AEG

Linked

linked

McFarland Spring - Mogollon Rim

Partners

partners

Oregon_Hiker

From a 7 night/8 day Mogollon Rim vehicle camping trip, R&R get away at 7435 feet, first hike day and number three of three short area hikes to check-out some local Perennial Springs.

At Perennial "Aspen Spring", this hike connects with Houston Brothers Trail #171 and continues up trail for ~1 mile to the recommended "off-trail" waypoint location (see my posted Gps Route) across Houston Draw for the short access to Perennial "McFarland Spring" and recommended Backpack Campsite area.

A very pleasant and scenic out and back short dayhike with history too!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aspen Spring Houston Draw McFarland Spring

	Aspen Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Quart + per minute

	McFarland Spring	Gallon per minute	Gallon per minute
	First time I have viewed this Perennial Spring with as much as a Gallon/minute flow.

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

3 archives

Jun 13 2019

Houston Bros Tr Loop via U-Bar Tr-FR139G

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Houston Bros Tr Loop via U-Bar Tr-FR139G

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Jun 13 2019
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	3.50 Miles	335 AEG

Hiking	3.50 Miles	2 Hrs 25 Mns	1.68 mph
	335 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Partners

partners

Oregon_Hiker

On my recent 6nt/7day Mogollon Rim- Camping/Hiking trip (6/12 to 6/18), for my first full day outing this was Oregon_Hiker and my first planned hike stop of three to check out the perennial status of local springs in this area.

This short loop hike takes the back way into the scenic, historic, Aspen Spring meadow area, perennial Aspen Spring, and the historic Aspen Spring Guard Cabin complex, then north onto the Houston Brothers Trail #171 to perennial Pinchot Spring and on to the historic Pinchot Guard Cabin area connecting with the U-Bar Trail #28 back to FR139G to complete the loop.

This was my 3rd time to hike this very pleasant, short loop, and this visit with the most lush greenery and water flowing from perennial Aspen Spring, perennial Pichot Spring, and within Houston Draw drainage.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Western Wallflower

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aspen Spring Houston Draw Pinchot Spring

Aspen Spring

Quart per minute

Pinchot Spring

Quart per minute

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

1 archive

Jul 18 2018

Camp Grasshopper - Mogollon Rim-C/Site#3

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Camp Grasshopper - Mogollon Rim-C/Site#3

Payson, AZ

Car Camping		Jul 18 2018
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Car Camping

Car Camping		6 Days

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Merritt Draw Riparian Area - Mogollon Rim

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partners

BEEBEE

Lukesm

Six nights / Seven days at my favorite place to be on our Mogollon Rim. Monsoon Rains on Wed-7/18 arrival day 10:30am which made for a more challenging "Camp Grasshopper" setup, but got it all done before sunset

Lots of cooking with R & R at 7435ft and cooler temps with only three short area hikes planned. Nice to visit again with HAZ-BeeBee (Brian) who arrived on Sat-7/21 afternoon to Sun-7/22 late morning. Brian towed in his very cool custom built camping trailer with custom, high end pop-up tent.. an impressive setup that Brian designed and built.

On the Merritt Draw Riparian Area hike Sat-7/21am, prior-to reaching perineal Merritt Spring, there was a large cow elk that managed to lock itself into the first large Riparian enclosure [ photo ] along this hiking route. It appeared to have been in this large rectangular, 8ft high enclosure for a number of days with enough vegetation to eat, but with no water source available. On my unplanned and unexpected drive to/back from Strawberry, AZ, this same Sat-7/21 afternoon, on FR95 (my late afternoon drive back to Camp G/H), at around 4pm I was able to stop a Ranger from the Mogollon Rim Ranger District and communicate this cow elk's location details. He said he would later contact AZ Game & Fish with the details. Two kind, courtesy kudos for me this day

the first of which driving to Strawberry, AZ, turned-out to be very stressful & risky for me.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merritt Spring

	Merritt Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Minimal spring water present in the constructed old spring box but enough seepage to filter with an extended filter tube;

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

7 archives

Aug 06 2016

Dirt4dinner

Photos 24
Triplogs 20

45 male

Joined Oct 20 2005
Mesa, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Aug 06 2016
		Dirt4dinner • Triplogs 20

Hiking	1.00 Miles	150 AEG

Hiking	1.00 Miles
	150 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Took my son on his first backpacking trip! The only thing I want to add to the current description is a little better explanation of the actual parking spot and where you begin hiking. When you make the turn onto 139G (kind of easy to miss, but obvious that you've missed it if you get to higher letters...like I did). It's about .5-.7 miles to the parking spot on the LEFT. The road is very faint, as it's been closed for a long time. There are two posts, and a sign with # 9738N.

Aside from a little wandering finding out spot. The meadow and camp site are just AMAZING. We saw a young couple cruise by on friday evening evening aroun 5:30pm and then a larger group of 5-6 well after dark at 8:45pm, both groups across the creek from the cabin on the main trail. Firewood will be tricky, but there is a nice fire pit. The cabin is a TERRIFIC spot to get some cover (shade/ rain) while packing unpacking. I didn't see any signs of wild critters in it like some cabins in the back country.

Water was REALLY shallow, but fairly clear and easy enough to scope a little out with a cup. Saw a MASSIVE crawdad in there, so it apparently never dries up. We boiled the water and enjoyed.

Absolutely the PERFECT first hike for my 3 year old. I did have to hold his hand while hiking because the road is pretty steep and rocky...but for .5 mile I am happy to hold his hand.

_____________________

*****Dirt4Dinner***** - I like anything fast enough to do something stupid on.

Aug 10 2014

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 840
Photos 22,055
Triplogs 1,993

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Aug 10 2014
		chumley • Triplogs 1,993

Hiking	0.94 Miles	144 AEG

Hiking	0.94 Miles	45 Mns	1.25 mph
	144 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

John9L

A little side trip down to the spring. Met a group of backpackers taking a break.

	Aspen Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Low flow. But reliable as always.

_____________________

I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Aug 10 2014

John9L

Guides 6
Routes 183
Photos 5,612
Triplogs 1,647

male

Joined Mar 12 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

General Crook Trail #130 - Coconino NF

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Aug 10 2014
		John9L • Triplogs 1,647

Hiking	0.94 Miles	144 AEG

Hiking	0.94 Miles
	144 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

chumley

Nice "hike" with a cold beer and flip flops.

_____________________

May 17 2014

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 840
Photos 22,055
Triplogs 1,993

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

West Cabin Loop, AZ

Backpack		May 17 2014
		chumley • Triplogs 1,993

Backpack	15.94 Miles	2,754 AEG

Backpack	15.94 Miles	5 Hrs 43 Mns	2.79 mph
	2,754 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim

Fred Haught Trail #141

Houston Brothers Trail to Aspen Spring

Partners

partners

Tough_Boots

Kyle and I decided on this as an easy overnight with the pups. I've always enjoyed this area, and this trip was no different.

I brought my bike and rode the 4.5 miles along FR300 to save us from having to do that less interesting section on foot. I was surprised how green and wet everything is, especially with the early fire restrictions this year. It really is early season up there, with many aspen not yet showing their leaves, and the maples just getting started.

Last time I did this section was in a freak April snow storm a couple of years ago, so it was neat to remember how things looked that day. Saturday was just borderline warm in the sun, but Sunday cooled off and was perfect, with cloud cover, breezy, and in the 60s.

I always forget about the numerous little draws to cross on the southern half of Houston Brothers, it's such a different hike from the northern half.

We stopped at Baker Butte on the way out. Shirley has been there for 18 years, and it's been at least 7 since I carried an antique sewing machine up into the tower for her, and she has since acquired a horse. The tower has been upgraded and now has new windows and doors and an outdoor walkway around it.

The views were nice, but a little bit hazy today.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Bridge Informational/Interpretive Sign Trail Signs and Markings

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Baker Butte General Springs Canyon Houston Draw McFarland Spring

	Aspen Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Low flow, but nice clear, cold trickle. Great for filtering.

Dude Lake

26-50% full

	Fred Haught Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Light flow and pools throughout the draw

	Houston Draw Head	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Nice pool of water at the seep, trickling down into the draw.

	McFarland Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Very light flow at spring source, but plenty of water just downstream. Nice trickle flow and small pools.

	Pinchot Spring	Gallon + per minute	Gallon + per minute
	Reliable and cold as always

	Quien Sabe Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Just a pool of muddy water.

_____________________

I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

Aug 24 2013

matthewkphx

Photos 5
Triplogs 3

54 male

Joined Dec 16 2012
phoenix

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Aug 24 2013
		matthewkphx • Triplogs 3

Hiking	1.00 Miles	150 AEG

Hiking	1.00 Miles
	150 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

My son and I just got our backpacks and I picked this as a very easy first trip for both of us. We had the site all to ourselves. We chose to hang our hammocks across the stream from the cabin in the trees near the trail. We enjoyed the meadow, looked at the cabin and the spring. We used the fire ring farther away from the cabin and found the little rock "table" a handy place to set up our stove and later to sit on next to the campfire.

This is a great, easy hike for introducing a child or family to backpacking.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aspen Spring Houston Draw

	Aspen Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Water was flowing nice and clear but slow.

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Jun 22 2013

jdcollard

Triplogs 3

53 male

Joined Dec 06 2003
Scottsdale, AZ

Washington Park - Cabin Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jun 22 2013
		jdcollard • Triplogs 3

Hiking	30.00 Miles

Hiking	30.00 Miles

no routes

no photosets

Linked

8 linked trail guides

Colonel Devin Trail #290

Fred Haught Trail #141

General Crook Trail #130 - Coconino NF

Barbershop Trail #91

Dane Canyon Loop

U - Bar Trail #28

Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim

Partners

none

no partners

Had been wanting to do this trip for some time and decided to finally do it last weekend. Got a late start out of Phoenix Saturday morning and made our way up to the Washington Park trailhead. It was a warm day! Plenty of elevation right off the bat on the Colonel Devin trail. First part of the trail paralleled the pipeline then broke off into switchbacks climbing the rim to some looser rock closer to the top. Nothing terrible. Just got the heart rate up and the legs warm. From there we traveled over to the General Springs cabin and up the Haught trail. We were looking for good water sources up the trail but never found anything significant. The trail itself is easy to follow and the scenery was beautiful. Just not much in the way of water. Therefore we hauled it over to the Pinchot cabin then down Houston Brothers to Aspen Springs for the night, where we knew there would be water. Day 2 we ventured South on Houston Brothers down to Barbershop. Given that we needed to head back early Monday we were looking to place camp as close to the Houston Brothers/Barbershop junction as possible. We found a perfect spot at Barbershop Spring, just 10 minutes from the junction. We made camp, set up the tent and day hiked for the rest of the day. We took Barbershop over to Dane Canyon, then decided to head north to explore. Given how dry it has been, the canyon itself was very easy to navigate. I could see when the area gets wetter how difficult this area could get. There are many faint game trails and multiple ways to get around in there. We came across 7 elk in one area - a beautiful site. The day was getting late and we had decided to try and exit the canyon near Dane Springs. From the canyon, about 0.2 miles from the Springs we located a faint trail up the canyon - we took it up and it popped us out on the U-Bar about 1000 feet South of Dane Springs. We reloaded on water there - this is an awesome spring with an excellent flow of water. Back south on the U-Bar over to Barbershop and back to Camp.
Monday morning an early start and back on the Barbershop over to Houston Brothers and then General Crook/Rim Road. In thinking about all of our mileage, I thought to myself - the section from Dane Canyon on Barbershop west all the way to Houston Brothers to Rim Road is pretty brutal. Constant up/down. The trail runs perpendicular to the land contour, so you are constantly going in and out of drainages. Feel the burn!!
The crook trail. This trail is a nightmare. Tried following it using posted coordinates, and in places it is so overgrown or has dead and downed trees that it is almost impossible. There are white markers in some sections then in other areas there is nothing. It really was hard not to just go to the road and say the heck with it, but we stayed on the trail as much as possible, until the trail veered away from the tunnel/Colonel Devin trail. We took the road directly back to that trail and cut off the half mile back to the Springs cabin and then over to the marked tunnel trail.
Overall it was a great weekend. Water was available, but mainly on the Central and Eastern side of the loop. Saw very few people up there and I feel like this area is a true gem for us Phoenix folks looking for a getaway in the Summer months.

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Jun 15 2013

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ