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Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260 - 4 members in 8 triplogs have rated this an average 2.3 ( 1 to 5 best )
8 triplogs
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Apr 27 2025
avatar

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

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Walk / Tour avatar Apr 27 2025
pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290
Walk / Tour
Walk / Tour
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
  3 archives
Oct 09 2021
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 Guides 25
 Routes 376
 Photos 5,897
 Triplogs 346

40 male
 Joined Mar 01 2018
 Chandler, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 09 2021
John10s • Triplogs 346
Hiking0.39 Miles 52 AEG
Hiking0.39 Miles      20 Mns   1.67 mph
52 ft AEG      6 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 near Pine and a stop at some neighborhood ruins in town, we visited Indian Gardens Naco Paleo Site on the drive home. As the official guide for this "trail" mentions, this isn't really a hike, just a short walk from the parking lot to an open area for fossil hunting. I was surprised to see a few vehicles in the lot when we arrived, and a few more arrived in the short time we were there...I didn't realize fossil hunting was so popular.

Near the entrance was was a sign with pictures of the common species found at the site. We walked a little further beyond that, but the area closer to the lot seemed to be the best location for fossil hunting, with more exposed rock/gravel. We only spent a few minutes there to see what the site was about but did find one brachiopod. I'm not really a fan of sitting around hunting for fossils for any extended length of time, but I was glad we made the stop just to see what was there.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Informational/Interpretive Sign
 
Sep 04 2016
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 Guides 4
 Photos 2,750
 Triplogs 402

60 male
 Joined Nov 13 2005
 Cave Creek, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 04 2016
cabel • Triplogs 402
Hiking0.25 Miles 30 AEG
Hiking0.25 Miles
30 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
All who wander are not lost...just me.
 
Jul 12 2014
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 Guides 1
 Routes 148
 Photos 9,924
 Triplogs 3,652

63 male
 Joined Apr 02 2005
 Mesa, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 12 2014
Tortoise_Hiker • Triplogs 3,652
Hiking0.35 Miles 30 AEG
Hiking0.35 Miles      25 Mns   0.84 mph
30 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
johnlp
John played tour guide on this one. ;)
_____________________
Tortoise Hiking. Stop and smell the Petrichor.
 
Jul 12 2014
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 Guides 1
 Routes 14
 Photos 7,202
 Triplogs 5,208

68 male
 Joined Mar 16 2008
 chandler,az
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 12 2014
johnlp • Triplogs 5,208
Hiking0.25 Miles 30 AEG
Hiking0.25 Miles      25 Mns   0.60 mph
30 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
Tortoise_Hiker
Denny and I wandered around looking for fossils for twenty minutes not really noticing any. There was another group poking around so I asked to see what they were finding. The fossils they found are much smaller and subtle than we expected. After that, we found a few and were on our merry way. :)
_____________________
“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson
 
Nov 24 2009
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 24 2009
PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097
Hiking0.25 Miles 30 AEG
Hiking0.25 Miles      20 Mns   0.75 mph
30 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Quick stop off to grab a handful of fossils on the way back to Payson from Young. Success!
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
Oct 11 2009
avatar

 Guides 25
 Routes 36
 Photos 2,890
 Triplogs 658

39 male
 Joined May 30 2008
 Peoria, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 11 2009
hippiepunkpirate • Triplogs 658
Hiking0.50 Miles 50 AEG
Hiking0.50 Miles
50 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was geology fieldtrip for GLG 225 Invertebrate Paleontology at NAU. The first stop (along Highway 87/260, 3 miles south of Pine at the Control Road junction), is not listed in the hike description. A few brachipods were found (one guy found an awesome Spiriferoid), but mostly it was a vast amount of crinoid material. One of the grad students said he found a shark tooth at this locality previously.

The second stop was at the locality from the hike description. The photos show specimens from both localities, so I have noted in the captions "Pine Locality" if applicable. Hiking data reflects estimates combined from both localities.
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Brachiopod  Bryozoan  Crinoid Fossils  Naco Formation  Spirifer
_____________________
My blog: Mountain Tripper
My book: Arizona: A Photographic Journey
  1 archive
May 24 2009
avatar

 Guides 13
 Photos 532
 Triplogs 51

64 female
 Joined Oct 25 2002
 Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260Payson, AZ
Naco Paleo Site - HWY 260
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 24 2009
Dschur • Triplogs 51
Hiking0.25 Miles 30 AEG
Hiking0.25 Miles
30 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
My husband and I decided to try out our cameras and do a little bit of fossil hunting at the Famous Naco site... The really good site was paved over when they relayed out the road as destroying one of the only places we have found some rare echinoderms...
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Antelope Horns  Gunnison's Mariposa Lily
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bryozoan  Composita brachiopod  Crinoid Fossils  Naco Formation  Spirifer
_____________________
Dawn
--On the loose to climb a mountain, on the loose where I am free. On the loose to live my life the way I think my life should be...For we only have a moment and a whole world yet to see...I'll be looking for tomorrow on the loose. ---unknown--
 
average hiking speed 0.97 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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