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Aspen Nature Loop - 23 members in 73 triplogs have rated this an average 3.5 ( 1 to 5 best )
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73 triplogs
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Aug 07 2025
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 Guides 41
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 Photos 14,983
 Triplogs 2,762

69 male
 Joined Jan 20 2009
 Far NE Phoenix,
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 07 2025
The_EagleTriplogs 2,762
Hiking1.96 Miles 326 AEG
Hiking1.96 Miles      51 Mns   2.31 mph
326 ft AEG2 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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Ladyeagle
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
We were in Flagstaff for the day and had some time to kill, so we drove up to the Snowbowl area. The temperature at 3 p.m. as we turned off SR-180 onto Snowbowl Road (7,340 feet) was 91 degrees. The temperature in the nearly empty Lot 1 trailhead (9,365 feet) was a more comfortable 79 degrees. Breezes made this short loop even more pleasant. After completing the loop, I gave Deb the choice of driving down to Veit Springs (8,598 feet) for a hike, or up to the Agassiz Lodge (9,560 feet) for a barley pop and a cider. We were done hiking for the day.

Up next, pie at NiMarco's Pizza and then off to the Lowell Observatory for the evening. We'd never been before, so it was a late night observing the stars, learning about the solar system, and hearing the history behind the observatory. Once again, using our cultural passes, we saved $60!

It was a fun day.
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry 🦅
 
Oct 19 2024
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 Guides 94
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 Photos 22,068
 Triplogs 1,994

52 male
 Joined Sep 18 2002
 Tempe, AZ
Snowy Kachina Aspen Wander, AZ 
Snowy Kachina Aspen Wander, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2024
chumleyTriplogs 1,994
Hiking12.37 Miles 2,425 AEG
Hiking12.37 Miles   6 Hrs   3 Mns   2.31 mph
2,425 ft AEG      42 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
The forecast called for snow and I didn't want to camp in a cold storm, but knew that in October we'd have to be there early to catch the best conditions before it melted. So after an early drive up north we were presented with a perfect wintry autumn morning.

To avoid the cluster that is Aspen Corner, we set out from Hart Prairie, crossed Snowbowl Road, and found our way up to the Kachina Trail. A handful of other hikers were enjoying the day in the first 12 feet of the trail, and after that there was nobody else. Borderline comical if you really think about it.

On the return, we considered hitting Agassiz for a bevvy, but the traffic near HP quickly put the kibosh on that plan, and upon seeing the shoulder to shoulder line of people heading down the nature loop, we opted to skip that part for a more direct path through the prairie. As is 100% reliable here, we encountered at least a dozen deer enjoying the afternoon.

The forecast had called for scattered snow showers with some accumulation all day ... none of which materialized as clear skies dominated. That changed as we set out to find somewhere to camp, with a fierce evening snow squall that quickly dumped 3-4 inches, reduced visibility, and made finding somewhere dry and clear impossible, even 2000 feet lower in elevation.

So, alas, camp was a bit of an adventure, but we were prepared enough to make it an enjoyable night. It never did stop snowing, though the ground melt offset the snowfall somewhat with only about 8" of accumulation in the morning.

We spent a few hours enjoying the hills around the peaks before heading back down to the valley.

You can never be sure when the first real snowfall of winter happens (sometimes not until January!), so I'm glad I made the effort to take advantage of this brief October aberration.
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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
 
Jul 23 2024
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
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48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 23 2024
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
Hiking3.50 Miles 560 AEG
Hiking3.50 Miles
560 ft AEG
 no routes
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Evening hike with Alice from Aspen Corner to Snowbowl parking lot and back, via the AZ Trail. Cool and slightly overcast to the west, squirrels and deer out. Snowbowl construction has part of the route realigned.
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Jul 19 2024
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 Guides 9
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 Triplogs 626

79 male
 Joined Dec 07 2010
 Phoenix, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 19 2024
Oregon_HikerTriplogs 626
Hiking2.00 Miles 250 AEG
Hiking2.00 Miles   1 Hour   12 Mns   1.67 mph
250 ft AEG
 
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This was a repeat of a family hike with Mrs OH, my Daughter and her family that we took back in July 2017. A few things have changed. My three Grandkids are now teenagers with the oldest in college, I'm finding it harder to keep up with them, and the lolly-pop stick part of the hike has been moved to the bottom of the ski slope to make room for construction. I didn't check to see what was being constructed.

The summer monsoon rains have made the hillsides lush with tall grass and flowers so it was a scenic hike as usual for this time of year. We made it back to the car at noon just as the daily thunderstorm starting raining on us. This pattern of early afternoon thunder and rain would continue for the 3 days we were in the Flagstaff area.
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Oct 28 2023
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 Routes 1
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 Triplogs 17

female
 Joined Feb 26 2019
 Scottsdale, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 28 2023
azhelene27Triplogs 17
Hiking1.60 Miles 333 AEG
Hiking1.60 Miles   1 Hour      1.60 mph
333 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
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Nice easy hike at the base of Snowbowl's bunny hill. It's crowded on the weekends, and unfortunately saw more than one person carving into aspen trees, even after I educated them that its not allowed. Maybe Coconino Forest Service could put up some signage to at least try to discourage this. Most of the leaves were gone from the aspens but there were still some flashes of gold on the mountain.

Note: another trail guide shows this hike as 2.3 miles roundtrip. Not sure which is correct, but it did seem longer than 1.6 miles.
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
 
Oct 11 2023
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 Routes 10
 Triplogs 13

49 female
 Joined May 13 2019
 Chandler, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 11 2023
StaceygirlTriplogs 13
Hiking1.60 Miles 333 AEG
Hiking1.60 Miles   1 Hour   22 Mns   1.32 mph
333 ft AEG      9 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
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The main grove of aspen near the start of the hike is the highlight here! If you complete the loop, you'll see some views and a smaller grove, but mostly ponderosa. Lovely and crowded!
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
 
Mar 17 2023
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
San Francisco Peaks - AZT #34Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
 Snowshoeing avatar Mar 17 2023
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
 Snowshoeing3.00 Miles 550 AEG
 Snowshoeing3.00 Miles
550 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
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Evening snowshoe from Snowbowl parking lot, down Kachina Trail for a bit, then off trail to Aspen Corner, then onto the northbound Arizona Trail. Beautiful sunny day, cold and breezy, with very deep snow. Saw bobcat tracks along the route in Hart Prairie for a quarter mile or so. No other tracks on the AZT in this area. Nice sunset and alpenglow on the Peaks as I ascended Aspen Nature Loop. Great and memorable little adventure.
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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Oct 23 2022
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 Guides 33
 Routes 286
 Photos 445
 Triplogs 251

35 male
 Joined Oct 23 2017
 Tempe
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 23 2022
KingLeonidasTriplogs 251
Hiking2.42 Miles 372 AEG
Hiking2.42 Miles      58 Mns   2.50 mph
372 ft AEG6 LBS Pack
 
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Part 2 of our "see the leaves change color" trip

This was a fun one, hiked Aspen Nature loop with Victoria to see the leaves changing color.

This one was pretty good. It is an easy hike in flagstaff that takes you around (and through) a large grove of aspens. In the fall when the leaves have turned yellow it is a very picturesque spot. It is also pretty popular as it is not very difficult. The cold front and wind storm that moved in a week prior blew away a good number of the leaves so they it wasn't quite a pretty as it probably was a week or two ago but it wasn't bad. I have and idea for a better more secluded spot for a fall hike next year.

This was a good spot, I'm glad we did it.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
a bit lake, the wind and cold put the leave colors and quantities past their prime
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Oct 15 2022
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 Routes 167
 Photos 973
 Triplogs 130

male
 Joined Mar 17 2021
 Phoenix, arizona
Aspen Loop Trail, AZ 
Aspen Loop Trail, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 15 2022
JackArizonaTriplogs 130
Hiking2.68 Miles 371 AEG
Hiking2.68 Miles   1 Hour   55 Mns   1.56 mph
371 ft AEG      12 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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Oct 08 2022
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 Guides 94
 Routes 842
 Photos 22,068
 Triplogs 1,994

52 male
 Joined Sep 18 2002
 Tempe, AZ
Sufferfest 22, AZ 
Sufferfest 22, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 08 2022
chumleyTriplogs 1,994
Hiking22.23 Miles 4,467 AEG
Hiking22.23 Miles   10 Hrs   25 Mns   2.29 mph
4,467 ft AEG      43 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
I came up with this plan a month or so ago to take advantage of the pipeline closure area and hopefully hit some seasonal highlights. I had two weekends in mind, and we ended up choosing this over next. It didn't earn this name until it started snowing and we had only made it 20% of the way :sweat: .

In the time since making the plan, CNF updated the closure area, making it a little bit easier to get up here, but we decided to stick to the plan anyway.

Ryan and I drove up Friday and camped in Hart Prairie. The aspens were lemon-lime and the peaks took on some afternoon clouds above 11k which did not break for the next 3 days. We met up with SlowandBi9L :o at Snowbowl in the morning. It was a little bit jarring to my mental psyche exactly how many vehicles were already at the trailhead at this somewhat early hour! This is exactly the feces this planned route was supposed to avoid! ](*,)

Nonetheless, the handful of groups we encountered were quickly forgotten as we made steady progress uphill. We hit the cloud deck at around 11k, and it provided obscured views and some unexpected snow flurries. At the saddle we attempted to take a break, but the wind was miserable and the temps in the cloud and snow dropped to 34, so we put some effort into getting over to the basin and drop some elevation as quickly as we could. (None among us felt the need to add any mileage today to visit a peak we've all been to for the 50-feet views we would be blessed with!)

Near the bottom of the long Weatherford switchbacks we dropped below the clouds and got our first glimpses of the golden basin below. After a short stop at Doyle Saddle, we headed down 29, which has eroded into a rockfest that makes me reconsider my previous opinion of Y-Bar.

We encountered the basin's only other hikers hikers near the bus stop enjoying fall colors and some mushrooms. From here we took a delightfully tibberlike stroll across the Waterline over to Bear Jaw (lots of stops for photos). These 3 or 4 miles were the prime color spots on the day and made all the suffering worth it.

The crux was always going to be the 2 miles from ABJ to AZT. A mile or so was easily maneuvered via old two tracks and some pleasant meadows, but sort of as expected there was some slow going with thick forest and deadfall linking together with random elk tracks before reaching the AZT.

A few miles of mild uphill with great views and stunning autumn things brought us back to the start where dozens of tourists were enjoying the sunset views across Hart Prairie.

It got chilly fast as the sun disappeared and after a long day we went our separate ways to partake of food and beverage as a well-earned reward after this big loop in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness.

I'd actually like to see the FS establish a route between ABJ and AZT as I believe that the Flagstaff trail running population would really enjoy this loop without the extra mileage and annoyance of a few miles on the 418. Not holding my breath.
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Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
A couple spots in the upper IB past prime. Waterline and upper Bear Jaw perfect. Snowbowl, Aspen Corner, Nature Loop pockets of gold, but still a lot of green.
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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
 
Oct 08 2022
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 Guides 4
 Routes 491
 Photos 10,890
 Triplogs 1,257

55 male
 Joined Nov 20 2012
 Phoenix, AZ
Sufferfest 22, AZ 
Sufferfest 22, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 08 2022
BiFrostTriplogs 1,257
Hiking22.23 Miles 4,467 AEG
Hiking22.23 Miles   10 Hrs   25 Mns   2.29 mph
4,467 ft AEG      43 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Long loop around Humphreys but fun. We started from Snowbowl parking lot with the masses unfortunately but they thinned out as we ascended. By the time we reached the summit saddle we were in the clouds and a light snow was falling. Wind was brutal on the saddle so we quickly descended down the Weatherford trail and away from the masses. Continued on Weatherford to Inner Basin and since the road was partly closed the usual crowds were not an issue.

Stopped at the pumphouse for a break after enjoying some fall color in the basin. Then continued on the Waterline road to enjoy some more fall color. Very nice hiking on the road and great way to enjoy the foliage. Eventually we made it to the Bear Jaw turn off and descended down to the parking lot.

From there the not fun began. We had about 2 miles of off trail to where it meets the AZT. Lots of down trees and general messiness to hike through but eventually reached the AZT and nice trail.

AZT was a fast track back to Snowbowl with some fall color and late day sun made views over Hart Prairie scenic. Reached Snowbowl parking lot as it was getting dark and quite cold. Full day with the long loop!
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
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Aug 01 2022
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 Guides 187
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 Photos 12,084
 Triplogs 866

72 male
 Joined Jun 27 2015
 Tucson, Arizona
Aspen Loop Arizona Trail, AZ 
Aspen Loop Arizona Trail, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 01 2022
markthurman53Triplogs 866
Hiking4.46 Miles 712 AEG
Hiking4.46 Miles   2 Hrs   37 Mns   1.80 mph
712 ft AEG      8 Mns Break
 
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mamakatt22
On our second day in Flagstaff we headed to the ski area to hike the Kachina Trail. This trail was closed because of fire threat so we opted to do another trail, the Aspen Loop and a portion of the Arizona Trail. I am not sure why many of the trails are still closed there, after the rains it would be hard to start even a campfire. I heard they were going to open some of the trails up soon. Check on status before planning a hiking trip.

The Aspen Loop Trail and the Arizona Trail heading north from there are very scenic hikes, walks through aspen groves and wide sweeping views to the west. I remember this area well when hiking the Arizona Trail a few years ago and enjoyed it this time as much as I did then. We hiked the Arizona Trail north to where it starts dropping down into Hearts Valley (I think that's what it's called) and returned the way we came. The only wildlife we saw was a single mule dear and one little pocket gopher cleaning out his hole.

The weather was in the 70's and low 80's and thunderstorms held off to late in the day or evening. As can be expected there were lots of other hikers but overall it was not overly crowded, maybe 20-30 cars in the parking lot.
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Jun 02 2022
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 Guides 170
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48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 02 2022
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
Hiking3.20 Miles 333 AEG
Hiking3.20 Miles
333 ft AEG
 no routes
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Accessed this from Aspen Corner as usual. Hiked up to the big aspens just below Humphreys Trail. Lots of iris blooming and Hermit Thrush singing. Saw a male and female great horned owl in the trees above. Nice evening hike with Shauna. This was Alice pup’s first hike.
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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Oct 03 2021
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 Routes 154
 Photos 1,505
 Triplogs 266

31 male
 Joined Jun 02 2019
 Phoenix, AZ
Humphreys Loop, AZ 
Humphreys Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 03 2021
LJWTriplogs 266
Hiking23.54 Miles 6,120 AEG
Hiking23.54 Miles   10 Hrs   8 Mns   2.65 mph
6,120 ft AEG   1 Hour   15 Mns Break
 
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I did this loop last fall without the summit, and it ended up being a nice early fall route connecting some of the earlier changing aspen patches in Inner Basin and along the northern part of Waterline Trail. Added the summit because I'd never heard of anyone going up, down, and around Humphreys, and it seemed like a neat idea. Fall's late on the mountain, and I was a few days early. Just about everywhere on the mountain is 2-5 days off trend.

Started at 5am and hiked for an hour by headlamp. Passed two groups coming down above the saddle. Nobody else until Fremont Saddle, and the day got very busy. Passed maybe 50 groups total. Lots of very friendly people out and about. Not too many aspens have turned yet around the mountain, but I stayed on the north side of Inner Basin using a couple roads and found enough color to satisfy. Waterline a mix. Lots of people out on Abineau - Bear Jaw. That loop is turning unusually late as well.

From the Waterline/Abineau junction I went over the ridge west of Abineau Canyon. It was cloudy and cold this time around, so I used the clearing that ends at the patch of rock fall. Maneuvered below as much as I could before going up. Had a much easier time avoiding bushwhacking, couldn't find a solution to how steep it is. Down White Horse Canyon, the upper parts of which are awesome. Views from Kendrick to Kayenta. Open forest and loose footing turns into a deadfall nightmare lower down. It isn't so bad in the canyon, but once circling around SW toward the AZT it is, well, super irritating. Eventually dumped into a long meadow that has a trail running from it's eastern end to Lew Tank and the AZT. Took that back around to the Snowbowl connector and back up to the TH.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Light
Snowbowl still green, Inner Basin just turning higher up, a week away lower down, Bear Jaw nearing peak, Abineau still mostly green, Waterline a mix
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
  5 archives
Aug 21 2021
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 Guides 94
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 Photos 22,068
 Triplogs 1,994

52 male
 Joined Sep 18 2002
 Tempe, AZ
Humphreys Summit Trail #151Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 21 2021
chumleyTriplogs 1,994
Hiking13.41 Miles 4,159 AEG
Hiking13.41 Miles   6 Hrs   4 Mns   2.31 mph
4,159 ft AEG      16 Mns Break
 
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I glanced at my self momentum stats for the first time in a few months and realized that to catch Dixie on the all-important peaks list, I had to get one or two more.

I immensely enjoy this trail and summiting this mountain, but in an uncommon occurrence it's an opinion that a lot of other people also share. In recent years the checklist crowd has moved this one down my list so I was thrilled to see that a special event would be closing the Snowbowl Road access to the trailhead, effectively closing the trail itself.

As I'm not opposed to a little extra mileage and gain, I set off from the 151, reaching the empty trailhead at Snowbowl in under an hour and proceeding up a deserted wilderness trail on a beautiful summer Saturday without the threat of severe weather.

The wind was fierce above the saddle and I could have used a long sleeve option, but instead took a quick turn at the summit to get back below the treeline. All in all, it was a delightful day on the mountain. They should close the road more often!
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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
  1 archive
Oct 02 2020
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 Routes 154
 Photos 1,505
 Triplogs 266

31 male
 Joined Jun 02 2019
 Phoenix, AZ
San Francisco Peaks Loop, AZ 
San Francisco Peaks Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Oct 02 2020
LJWTriplogs 266
Hiking21.01 Miles 5,313 AEG
Hiking21.01 Miles   8 Hrs   56 Mns   2.57 mph
5,313 ft AEG      45 Mns Break
 
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I did a hike similar in concept earlier in the year: up Humphreys, down Inner Basin, Waterline to something to get me back around. Last time I used Kachina to the south, and it made me curious about a shorter northern loop. This time I went north on Waterline, up the ridge at Abineau, and down White Horse Canyon. North-side peaks, earliest color, and even with a late fall there was plenty to be found on that side of the mountain.

Humphreys a little before sunrise. Half dozen groups going up. Aspen Loop week+ away. On Weatherford views down into Inner Basin looked promising. Gold on the slopes and to the west. Best color to be found on the trip to Snowslide Spring from the pumps. Not bad in Inner Basin higher up, but still several days or more away. Not close in the lower forest. Dozen or more groups out and about.

Waterline couple more hikers, some bikers. Autumnest stretch from mile east of Bear Jaw to Abineau. Got to the upper end of Abineau and had a look at my next hour. 800ft up to the ridge and over into White Horse.

Headed up at first through a clearing on the slope. Direct sunlight led me into the forest to the north. Steep boulder fields needed climbing. Pretty clear and good trails through the forest. Up to the ridge, careful not to cross above the 11,400ft contour. Route down starts in open bristlecone forest with good views north up the plateau. Ends up in an aspen and conifer mix. Lattice of deadfall on the ground and in the drainage for the last ~mile. Not terrible, but slow going.

Eventually reached a long meadow that leads down to the Arizona Trail. Took that to the Snowbowl connector. Saw as many people in that last mile as I had all day.
foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
Cumulatively substantial. Bear Jaw Canyon and surrounding is near peak, as is White Horse Canyon. Abineau good higher up, green lower down. Same for Inner Basin. AZT week or more away.
  3 archives
Sep 27 2020
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 Guides 2
 Routes 208
 Photos 93
 Triplogs 205

male
 Joined Aug 08 2020
 Phx az
Hart PrairieFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 27 2020
ScaredyCatTriplogs 205
Hiking10.79 Miles 1,425 AEG
Hiking10.79 Miles   5 Hrs   57 Mns   2.03 mph
1,425 ft AEG      38 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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Decided a bit too many vehicles to want to hike this road. Instead we did 3 hikes along the road. 1st one was about 3 miles in. This one veers right and up a hill we then took an intersecting route down.

We then did a 2nd short hike. This one was fern mtn. We parked across the street. This one is steep with a narrow trail. This section is easy to miss.

We then drove a couple miles further down for a longer hike. Hart prairie road gets rougher in this area. I dont recommend cars venture to Bismarck Lake th. This section is just over a mile but it then connects to the AZ trail. Next we turned right and followed it up into the aspens.

This is where we observed early Fall colors. The ground coverings were gold and some of the Aspen leaves yellow. This was further evident during the Aspen Corner section. We could see stronger colors further up on Humphries.
 Culture
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foliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observationfoliage observation
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
At 9000 ft in the aspens.
 
Aug 23 2020
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 Guides 2
 Routes 2
 Photos 557
 Triplogs 33

35 female
 Joined Oct 05 2019
 
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 23 2020
wanderingtrailsTriplogs 33
Hiking1.60 Miles 333 AEG
Hiking1.60 Miles
333 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
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Quick little loop with my yorkie and goldendoodle, who both aren’t the biggest fan of hiking. Super easy walk in the woods. Ferns are abundant and tons of little squirrels around for the dogs to admire. I’d recommend this for someone who has hike adverse dogs or young kids.
 
Jul 29 2020
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 Guides 7
 Routes 73
 Photos 14,456
 Triplogs 628

62 female
 Joined Aug 19 2011
 Scottsdale, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 29 2020
outdoor_loverTriplogs 628
Hiking2.30 Miles 300 AEG
Hiking2.30 Miles
300 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
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Hike 3 of 3. My new Hiking Shoes drew this Hike. They're actually approach shoes. Beefier than Trail Runners, but still a low cut and not as beefy as my Backpacking Boots.

NOTE: This Hike has changed from the original Description and the Route. The Stem of the Lollipop is a bit longer now. There are now 3 new layers of Parking Lot where the original Switchbacks used to be. They were the access and the stem of the lollipop. No more. You take the Humphreys Trail to a turnoff and go through an Aspen Forest before crossing the big meadow to the original loop. This may affect the Arizona Trail Access as well. @sredfield The changes took me by surprise, but I had seen the turn off of Humphreys a few weeks ago, so I knew to start there. They have closed the Switchback section completely at the other end. Most of them are obliterated anyway and I doubt that they will open that section again.

Honestly, having done the new section and the old section now, the new section with the Aspen Forest is much nicer. You just get a small sample of Aspen via the old loop. Now you get a nice stroll through them for almost half the hike. It was a great way to wrap up the day.

Shoes need better insoles for sure. And along with my new Trail Runners, La Sportivas are very narrow, so it's going to take a bit for my feet to get used to them again. No Blisters for the day though, so I'm happy with my choices.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
The Meadow is full of Purple between the Lupine and another tall purple stalky flower that is seriously stealing the show. Paintbrush is trying. Some yellow and white scattered. Once out of the meadow, flowers are almost in the Light range especially on the Loop itself. No Sunflowers on any of my Hikes, I'm surprised since they are nuts in the median of I-17.
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!"
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Jun 15 2020
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48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Aspen Nature LoopFlagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 15 2020
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
Hiking3.40 Miles 500 AEG
Hiking3.40 Miles
500 ft AEG
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Linked   none no linked trail guides
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Evening hike with Shauna from Aspen Corner, north on the AZT, around Aspen Loop, and the lower end of Humphreys Peak Trail and back. My first time on this route, and it did not disappoint. Beautiful, tall aspens, bracken ferns, and some bristlecone pines mixed in with meadows and distant views. A little chilly in the sunset breeze which was super nice. Freshly dismembered ponderosa pines lay scattered across upper Hart Prairie, victims of a meadow restoration effort to remove pine encroachment. Great sunset, too.
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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
average hiking speed 2.09 mph
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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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