Flat Rock Point

Trail Overview

This out-and-back trail picks up from a network of trails in the area. It leads out to a finger on a ridge point where the trail's end has a fire ring. There are some partial views of the canyon beyond the trees. This trail is narrow at the beginning, with overgrown baby trees that will brush the side of your vehicle, adding those lovely Arizona pinstripes that the locals rave about. There are a few other narrow points, but the beginning is narrowest. The trail has a few rocky, bumpy sections, especially as you get closer to the end. There are a couple of other dispersed campsites along the way, but the best one is at the very end. A livestock water tank close to the end is quite pretty, with a couple of interesting rocks. This is how this trail gets its name. There is one bar of AT&T cell service in this area.

Photos of Flat Rock Point

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Difficulty

The trail rating is for the narrow section at the beginning, where you go through a bunch of young trees that most likely need to be thinned out. There are a few rocky, bumpy sections along the way, especially closer to the end. This area can also get muddy, and there are some deep leftover ruts to watch out for.

History

The Mogollon Rim is a rugged escarpment that forms the southern limit of the Colorado Plateau. It extends across the entire forest, approximately 200 miles in total, and provides excellent views within plateau country and desert canyon country as well. Dropping as much as 2,000 feet in some areas, the Rim offers some of the most far-reaching scenery in Arizona. Views stretch from its rocky precipice to Four Peaks of the Mazatzals northeast of Phoenix. Sightseeing is a favorite activity along the Rim. Still, this forest area also boasts a historic system of hiking and horseback trails, a couple of picturesque lakes for boating and fishing, and backcountry skiing for wilderness adventurers. The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of Arizona. It extends diagonally approximately 200 miles, starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the New Mexico border. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. The Rim is an escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. Its central and most spectacular portions are characterized by high cliffs of limestone and sand, namely the Kaibab limestone and Coconino sandstone cliffs. This escarpment was created by erosion, faulting, and cutting dramatic canyons into it, including the Fossil Creek Canyon and Pine Canyon. The name Mogollon comes from Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon, the Spanish governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715. The Mogollon Rim's limestones and sandstones were formed from sediments deposited in the Carboniferous and Permian Periods. Several of the Rim's rock formations are also seen on the walls of the Grand Canyon. The extensive basaltic lava flows cap or even bury the Rim in many places. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Mexican spotted owl. Other wildlife present on the Rim will be herds of elk and deer. You may see black bears, mountain lions, and even the occasional red-tailed hawk or peregrine falcon. There are also coyotes, horned toads, and rattlesnakes. This area frequently has fire restrictions early in the season. Be sure to contact the local ranger station for information about the current campfire restrictions. Or, at the minimum, check the Coconino Fire webpage. https://www.coconino.az.gov/2595/Fire-Restriction-Information

Technical Rating