FR-9353F

Trail Overview

This is a nice little bumpy jaunt through the woods. Some rocks sprinkled all over the trail make the trail slow going. One might have to clear downed trees in the trail from winter storms if traveling in the springtime. Mud holes will also linger out here and are pretty sloppy and deep. There is a large downed tree with an established bypass through two trees that are very narrow and would be impassable for large vehicles. There is no cell service out here; be sure to download offline maps before you venture into the area. Multiple offshoots could go to dispersed campsites; it's a good area to explore if you like out-and-back trails. Keep an eye out for deer and elk. This area is also home to free-range cattle. There are a couple of wire gates on this trail. One was destroyed with a sign stating to keep it closed. The other is wide open. The trail ends at a nice large rock fire ring out on the canyon's edge. There is no view through the trees; they are too dense. Check for fire restrictions and prescribed burns with the Coconino National Forest Ranger Station.

Photos of FR-9353F

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Difficulty

The trail is narrow through the trees with areas for oncoming vehicles to pull over and pass. There are long, bumpy, rocky sections. Deep mud holes can occur, and there are narrow sections around fallen trees.

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