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Bobtail Ridge Trail #194 - 3 members in 7 triplogs have rated this an average 2.7 ( 1 to 5 best )
7 triplogs
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Mar 22 2026
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 Guides 2
 Routes 310
 Photos 1,165
 Triplogs 315

52 male
 Joined Mar 24 2021
 Tucson, AZ
Pineline Bobtail Middle lolly, AZ 
Pineline Bobtail Middle lolly, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Mar 22 2026
JackluminousTriplogs 315
Hiking1.87 Miles 371 AEG
Hiking1.87 Miles      45 Mns   2.55 mph
371 ft AEG      1 Min Break
 
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Day two of the Pinals.

Woke up to a lovely sunrise, had breakfast, packed up the cookery, and decided to hike while it was still cool. Having avoided Pineline the day prior for fear of deadfall and angering my sister's foot, I decided I'd take that.

Pineline is pretty catastrophically burned but has lovely views to the west and south. At the junction with Middle, I kept going on what I thought was Pineline, but at the end of the trail there is a damaged sign that identifies that segment as Bobtail Trail. I enjoyed Bobtail, as it has a good mix of burn and extant forest, nice views, and is setting up for a good wildflower show too. Lots of lupines that have yet to bloom.

From the end of Bobtail I took the road back to Middle, then followed the section of Middle we'd avoided the day prior. There was no deadfall and the trail was clear and easy to navigate, but quite exposed. At the time I was hiking it was pleasant, but the day prior in the afternoon it would have been a tad warm for my liking.

Enjoyed some hammock time before packing up and heading down to Globe for lunch. Stopped at a Mexican place that was pretty busy, and the food was really good (especially the chips and salsa). Then drove home at a leisurely pace; fortunately there was not a lot of traffic and with a couple exceptions nobody else was in a super hurry either.
 
230205
Aug 03 2013
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 Guides 264
 Routes 2,902
 Photos 14,821
 Triplogs 6,003

56 male
 Joined Nov 20 1996
 
Pioneer Bobtail Loop, AZ 
Pioneer Bobtail Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 03 2013
joebartelsTriplogs 6,003
Hiking13.10 Miles 3,800 AEG
Hiking13.10 Miles   9 Hrs   55 Mns   1.83 mph
3,800 ft AEG   2 Hrs   46 Mns Break14 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Partners partners
The_Eagle
I've been curious about Bobtail Ridge #194 after a failed attempt 4 years ago with Chris, Wally & Stefan. After careful planning I threw together a loop with two mines noted on topo. Knowing the destroyed nature of Bobtail it was necessary to put it last to be sure there would be no turning back.

Pioneer Trail #196 is currently an all out friendly brush wade for roughly the upper 0.75 mile. This was my first time completing the lower end. It impressed me more than anticipated. The pines keep rolling all the way down to the lower end. There are a few non-pine stretches. The views are top notch IMO. I'd do this again in a heartbeat. On the way down we passed a family of all ages, a pleasant surprise.

Next up were a couple old mines spotted on topo with some defunct roads viewable on satellite. Didn't look much for the first. It may be there but it isn't easily visible. The second was fairly well cleaned up based on other mines I've seen over the years. A few relics linger in the bushes if you look around. Of more interest to myself were the nice views.

To get out of the tangled web I saw something that looked cleared but not a road heading straight back down to FS221. Took a bit to find but it worked nice albeit sliding steep in areas. Bruce called it, it appears to be a fire break.

Back on FS221 we headed over to the bottom of Bobtail. Along the way we found a shady Arizona White Oak to make due for lunch. It wasn't particularly comfortable, the views aren't much from the lower end and it was the warmest segment of our loop... nevertheless a break

Excitement kicked in approaching Bobtail as it has nagged my mind for years. No sign. Since it rides a pitched ridge it's difficult to see what lies ahead. From what I gathered this trail was not a Bruce "favorite". It could use a clip. A cairn here and there would make it easier to navigate. In the end Bruce looked like he'd jumped into a sausage grinder. It didn't seem like a Twin Peaks Trail #240 torture chamber yet I'm glad it's over. Outstanding views in the upper 2/3rds and nice pines in the upper half are the pleasant thoughts I take away.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
here and there, nothing to write home about

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Squaw Spring Quart per minute Quart per minute
difficult to judge piped off, estimating by pipe leakage
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- joe
 
92328
Aug 03 2013
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 Guides 42
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 Photos 15,483
 Triplogs 2,930

70 male
 Joined Jan 20 2009
 Far NE Phoenix,
Pioneer-Bobtail Ridge Loop, AZ 
Pioneer-Bobtail Ridge Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 03 2013
The_EagleTriplogs 2,930
Hiking13.42 Miles 4,400 AEG
Hiking13.42 Miles   9 Hrs   56 Mns   1.87 mph
4,400 ft AEG   2 Hrs   45 Mns Break15 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Partners partners
joebartels
Joe's turn to pick and plan...he started Friday night around 8pm. So we were off to the Pinals to do some trails I've never been on, and that Joe never completed.

Knew it was going to be one of those days when we missed the upper Pioneer #196 TH (Still signed as Squaw Spring #196). We turned around and saw the TH sign sticking out of the brush. At least this is friendly brush, and only lasted 3/4 mile. The pine trees kept coming and the views were quite nice.

A short walk on FR112 and we were on an old Jeep trail that on the map, led past 2 mines.
The first was a no show, the second had been filled in, but there were all sorts of interesting trinkets left behind.

From this point we bailed on a portion that Joe had drawn up because it was just to "Thick". We scouted a route down to get us over the Bob Tail Ridge Trail. We found an area that had been cleared long ago, removing all the sharp crap. It was steep and loose, but ultimately got us down to FR221 unscathed.

Now for the fun part... The Bobtail Ridge Trail #194. Joe mentioned (after we started the hike of course), that he's tried this trail from the top before. He said they'd bailed on going down because of the crappy conditions. I would not at all be surprised, if the last feet to touch this trail were Joe and Stillers 4 years ago. The GPS tracks we posted are actually "On Trail" for probably better than 95% of the time. The problem was that "The Trail" has all sorts of things growing in it that you have to go through, over, and under and love to rob you of your precious blood. My arms look like hamburger today. Sure the views were nice, but I would not recommend this trail to anyone, unless you are not playing with a full deck.

We started up top in the morning at 72*, it got up to 94.5* for a high, and finished at 77* back up top. It was in the 90's for the climb up Bobtail Ridge trail.

Saw 3 deer (one decent buck in velvet), a Woodpecker, blue jays, and 2 Coti running in front of the truck. We also could hear some Coti on the Pioneer Trail.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Squaw Spring
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Squaw Spring Dripping Dripping
Couldn't tell the flow. It's surrounded by a fence and encased in a metal tank. The ground was wet around it, but could see no area were you could filter from.
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry 🦅
 
92337
Jun 21 2009
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 Guides 264
 Routes 2,902
 Photos 14,821
 Triplogs 6,003

56 male
 Joined Nov 20 1996
 
Bobtail Ridge Trail #194Globe, AZ
Globe, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 21 2009
joebartelsTriplogs 6,003
Hiking5.20 Miles 1,900 AEG
Hiking5.20 Miles   4 Hrs      1.30 mph
1,900 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Partners partners
DarthStiller
sarichter
wallyfrack
We attempted the Bobtail Trail without much luck. It just doesn't really exist or perhaps we missed a turn. We only managed to go down one mile of the 2.3mi listed on the sign. Heading back we got off track. Plowing through a sixteenth of a mile of solid prickly bush with New Mexico Locust took an hour and about a pint of blood. Chris the one guy with pants didn't endure the fun. We got separated and headed over to #196 by directions etched in the dust of the truck. Heading down a good distance we were getting out of the pines and it seemed unlikely we hadn't found Chris. It was back to the trailhead for a couple hours of "Pine on the Boulder". After the Bactine bath I must admit I'm feeling pretty good now.

Still uncommonly COOL temps for late June :)
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
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- joe
 
44256
Jun 21 2009
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 Photos 285
 Triplogs 9

45 male
 Joined Dec 25 2008
 phoenix, az
Bobtail Ridge Trail #194Globe, AZ
Globe, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 21 2009
sarichterTriplogs 9
Hiking5.20 Miles
Hiking5.20 Miles   4 Hrs      1.30 mph
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
DarthStiller
joebartels
wallyfrack
this was painful. check out joe bartels gps route... yes we walked around in circles through thickets and thorns.
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  2 archives
44263
Jun 21 2009
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 Guides 27
 Routes 726
 Photos 12,867
 Triplogs 910

56 male
 Joined Jul 05 2006
 Mesa, AZ
Bobtail Ridge Trail #194Globe, AZ
Globe, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 21 2009
DarthStillerTriplogs 910
Hiking9.20 Miles 2,000 AEG
Hiking9.20 Miles   4 Hrs   30 Mns   2.04 mph
2,000 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Partners partners
joebartels
sarichter
wallyfrack
The night before this hike, I was still pondering whether or not to wear shorts or long pants. It is June now in AZ, but I've hiked the trails in the upper region of this area before and when I thought about the nettles, I decided on long pants. Turns out it was a very good decision.

The Bobtail Trail #194, for all intents and purposes, does not exist after the 0.75 mile mark. Any attempt to go further will only end badly. But don't take my word for it, put on some shorts and have a nice time. Better yet, just ask Joe and Stefan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTYfE16oyqI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHS98oKJdTI

Somehow, I don't remember that much laughter when I think about it now.

We thought we might have ended up on the decommissioned Millcreek Trail #199, but that was only wishful thinking. we spent a little more time trying to find Trail #194, but finally ended up going back sooner than expected.

I was the first to arrive back at the car, which I knew wasn't right, since I am normally the slowest hiker. After waiting 15 minutes, I decided to hike over to the Squaw Spring Trail #196. I wrote a note on my dusty car telling Wally, Joe and Stefan where I was going, assuming they hadn't been killed by a mountain lion. I assumed at this point that they had probably found the trail and made their way down to FR221, because if it there was a mountain lion, I would have heard (a little) more screaming. On my way back up Tr. #196, I figured something may have gone really wrong because I still hadn't run into them. On the way back to the car, I decided to take a detour along the Middle Trail #202 to the last section of the Sixshooter Trail I hadnt yet completed and then to the Pineline Trail back to the car. It was there I found the remaining group napping under some pines. I had arrived from an area no one had expected, and was considering yelling to scare everyone, but couldn't think of the perfect line before everyone woke up. Oh well.

On the way back home, we almost got taken out by a tandem axle white pickup on FR55 doing about 55 mph. His back end fishtailed and for a bit looked like it was on a collision course with my front end. My quick maneuvering avoided a full on collision. However, on the way back, my low tire pressure light came on. Upon closer inspection while trying to add air later on, I discovered that during our close call, my wheel got scraped and some small rocks are now embedded just under the front passenger side tire. WTF!
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44264
May 16 1993
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 Routes 36
 Photos 2,677
 Triplogs 1,391

68 male
 Joined Jul 28 2004
 Scottsdale, AZ
Ferndell Trail #204Globe, AZ
Globe, AZ
Hiking avatar May 16 1993
mazatzalTriplogs 1,391
Hiking4.00 Miles 450 AEG
Hiking4.00 Miles
450 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Went up Pinal Peak (hi pt Pinal Mtns) and did a short loop hike. I guess we used Middle trail and Pineline to get back but not sure.
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  1 archive
100509
average hiking speed 1.82 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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