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Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop - 6 members in 12 triplogs have rated this an average 3.2 ( 1 to 5 best )
12 triplogs
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Jul 28 2024
avatar

 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,191
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock LoopPayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 28 2024
pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290
Hiking4.62 Miles 591 AEG
Hiking4.62 Miles   1 Hour   41 Mns   2.86 mph
591 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
no photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
  1 archive
Nov 06 2023
avatar

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

69 male
 Joined Jan 20 2009
 Far NE Phoenix,
Stewart Pocket Grand CirclePayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket Grand Circle
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 06 2023
The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760
Hiking8.29 Miles 836 AEG
Hiking8.29 Miles   3 Hrs   21 Mns   2.52 mph
836 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Stewart Pocket - South Loop
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Stewart Pocket - Phx St / Gibson Ct PAT TH
Boulders Loop Trail - PATS
Cypress Trail - PATS
Partners partners
Tortoise_Hiker
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
The turtle and I got started at the crack of 10 AM, with comfortable temperatures. There were six or more cars at the trailhead, which we later found out were escapees from a 55+ community.

It's a beautiful area back here, filled with large boulder formations. The actual trails intertwine with several user-created trails, so having a map of the area comes in handy. We did get off track a few times, once because someone had obscured the trail intersection. It was at this point where we encountered the escapees again. Denny tried to blend in with them, but to no avail.

Off we went, leading the way, and we never saw them again. I really enjoyed this hike and will probably explore a variation of this trail again.

It was great catching up with the turtle.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
_____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry 🦅
 
Nov 06 2023
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 148
 Photos 9,924
 Triplogs 3,652

63 male
 Joined Apr 02 2005
 Mesa, AZ
Stewart Pocket Grand CirclePayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket Grand Circle
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 06 2023
Tortoise_Hiker • Triplogs 3,652
Hiking8.29 Miles 836 AEG
Hiking8.29 Miles   3 Hrs   21 Mns   2.52 mph
836 ft AEG      4 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Stewart Pocket - South Loop
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Stewart Pocket - Phx St / Gibson Ct PAT TH
Boulders Loop Trail - PATS
Cypress Trail - PATS
Partners partners
The_Eagle
Met up with Bruce to do an 8 miler in Payson. I was not familiar with the trails in this area. Reminded me of the Dells in the Prescott area without the lake. More trees here though. Nice trails although the Boulder trail section had some sand/granite that made that section a little more work.
Nice outing and nice to get in a hike with Bruce!
Thanks for driving, Bruce. Like HAZ, you rock!
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
_____________________
Tortoise Hiking. Stop and smell the Petrichor.
 
May 21 2023
avatar

 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Cypress Trail - PATSPayson, AZ
Cypress Trail - PATS
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 21 2023
fricknaley • Triplogs 4,124
Hiking4.64 Miles 640 AEG
Hiking4.64 Miles   2 Hrs   18 Mns   2.02 mph
640 ft AEG7 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Partners none no partners
after driving up to payson we decided to do a little hiking before checking into our rental for the week. Did some hodge podge loop using these trails lol. Nice area and trails, easy access. Very pleasant!
_____________________
hi
  1 archive
May 21 2022
avatar

 Guides 25
 Routes 376
 Photos 5,897
 Triplogs 346

40 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock LoopPayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 21 2022
John10s • Triplogs 346
Hiking4.68 Miles 511 AEG
Hiking4.68 Miles   2 Hrs   14 Mns   2.13 mph
511 ft AEG      2 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
TboneKathy
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
After hiking Gibson Peak Loop earlier in the day, we drove a little further east to the cul-de-sac at the end of Phoenix Road to check out Stewart Pocket. There are a lot of nice houses in the area, though it's interesting to see how the neighborhoods transition quickly into small trailers a few miles to the west. Parking wasn't an issue...it sounds like these trails can get busy, and maybe it was because we were starting later in the afternoon, but we didn't have any trouble finding a spot.

We hiked the loop clockwise, and there seemed to be a lot more unmarked trails than the two "official" ones on the sign near the trailhead (Cypress and Boulder). It was quick, easy hiking all the way...the reward-to-effort ratio is pretty high here, with beautiful granite formations and views of the rim with relatively flat, smooth trails. Again, it may have been the time of day, but it was surprisingly empty out there--we only saw one trail runner and no bikers.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the hike other than being consistently pleasant, and it was too bad we didn't have time for the longer Grand Circle route. But this one was a good add-on after hiking Gibson Peak earlier in the day, and it was nice to see the landscape up close after looking down on it from above earlier the day.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Hedgehog Cactus  Prickly Pear
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Cairn  Informational/Interpretive Sign
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mogollon Rim  Stewart Pocket
 
Nov 07 2021
avatar

 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,191
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock LoopPayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 07 2021
pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290
Hiking4.51 Miles 610 AEG
Hiking4.51 Miles   1 Hour   41 Mns   2.82 mph
610 ft AEG      5 Mns Break
 
no photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
  1 archive
Jun 13 2021
avatar

 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,191
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock LoopPayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 13 2021
pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290
Hiking4.28 Miles 540 AEG
Hiking4.28 Miles   1 Hour   28 Mns   2.92 mph
540 ft AEG
 
no photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
  1 archive
May 14 2021
avatar

 Routes 36
 Photos 2,658
 Triplogs 1,347

67 male
 Joined Jul 28 2004
 Scottsdale, AZ
Boulders Loop Trail - PATSPayson, AZ
Boulders Loop Trail - PATS
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 14 2021
mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347
Hiking4.70 Miles 400 AEG
Hiking4.70 Miles
400 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Cypress Trail - PATS
Stewart Pocket Loop Payson
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Partners none no partners
Took a visitor on this easy loop :)
Saw no one else.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
 
Oct 24 2020
avatar

 Guides 8
 Routes 19
 Photos 304
 Triplogs 51

76 male
 Joined Oct 06 2011
 Payson, AZ &
Stewart Pocket Grand CirclePayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket Grand Circle
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 24 2020
donqcryer • Triplogs 51
Hiking7.00 Miles 802 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles   3 Hrs      2.33 mph
802 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Stewart Pocket - South Loop
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Boulders Loop Trail - PATS
Partners none no partners
Just posted the Guide and Route for this Trail. This is one of Payson's best, if not THE BEST. The 2mi Old Fox Farm connector section keeps on being hidden by branches as was today. See Photoset to help locating the intersection. Absolutely beautiful hike and nice to have a longer loop in Stewart Pocket.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
Sporactic yellows, but this trail never is a good fall foliage
_____________________
  1 archive
Jun 22 2019
avatar

 Guides 4
 Routes 93
 Photos 302
 Triplogs 697

51 male
 Joined Jul 05 2008
 Gilbert, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock LoopPayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 22 2019
adenium • Triplogs 697
Hiking5.17 Miles 795 AEG
Hiking5.17 Miles   2 Hrs   19 Mns   2.23 mph
795 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
Jun 13 2019
avatar

 Guides 187
 Routes 989
 Photos 12,068
 Triplogs 864

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Balanced Rock Loop, AZ 
Balanced Rock Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Jun 13 2019
markthurman53 • Triplogs 864
Hiking4.99 Miles 689 AEG
Hiking4.99 Miles   2 Hrs   41 Mns   2.29 mph
689 ft AEG      30 Mns Break15 LBS Pack
 
Linked   linked  
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Partners none no partners
The second hike for the third day in Payson was the Stewart Pocket Balanced Rock Loop. This loop is another great loop hike in the Stewart Pocket area. The 700 feet of AEG is hardly noticeable as the scenery keeps you plenty entertained. The trail is easy to follow with a crossover trail that makes for a shorter loop, it doesn't go by balanced rock though. I included the route for this crossover trail on the GPS route. Whether going CW or CCW on the loop, If you are doing the extended loop trail, (the one that goes past balanced rock) keep a good eye out for the trail when you get to the crossover trail, it is not real obvious. I took the crossover trail for about a tenth of a mile before I realized I took the wrong trail. If you plan on doing the Gibson Peak Trail I recommend doing the trails in Stewart Pocket first, (Cypress, Boulder and Balanced Rock Trails) it will give you a better perspective of what you are looking at from Gibson Peak and Ridge. If I only had time to do one trail in the Payson Area Trail System (PATS) I would do this trail.
_____________________
 
Apr 14 2019
avatar

 Photos 6
 Triplogs 6

38 male
 Joined Feb 07 2017
 Phoenix
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock LoopPayson, AZ
Stewart Pocket - Balanced Rock Loop
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 14 2019
expphoto • Triplogs 6
Hiking3.87 Miles 428 AEG
Hiking3.87 Miles   2 Hrs   38 Mns   1.64 mph
428 ft AEG      16 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Great hike with pretty views. Trail is pretty clear cut, but we still had to check the route a couple times.
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.39 mph

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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