If camping and exploring trails in the pines with your 4x4 sounds like a great time, then this would be the spot to start. Camping in this area makes for a great starting point for exploring the Arizona Mogollon Rim country near Payson, Arizona. The trail is easily accessible from FR64, Control Road and located near the East Verde Creek at Verde Glen. All within an easy trail ride from camp, you can hunt geodes at Brody Hill, rock crawl Pyeatt Draw or go for a hike on the Highline Trail #31. Along this route you can visit an old recreation site where the foundations and walkways are barely visible. The trail has many beautiful dispersed campsites along the way, the one at the end is below the Mogollon Rim, also allowing access to the Highline Hiking Trail.
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From Payson, Arizona, travel north on Hwy. 260 until Houston Mesa Road, across from Home Depot. Travel north on Houston Mesa Road for 10 miles. Once into Whispering Pines, turn right, east on FR64 Control Road. Travel on the dirt road for 1.6 miles until FR195 on the north side of the road.
The trail can also be reached from either direction on FR64 Control Road.
From the west, Highway 260 travel East on FR64 11.5 miles.
From the east, Highway 260 travel West on FR64 11.8 miles.
Finally had the chance to return to finish this trail. The climb starting at N34° 23.855' W111° 15.676' has been washed out enough that that area makes the trail difficulty more of a 3-3. Enjoyed the trail.
We were stopped at the base of the climb (N34° 23.855' W111° 15.676') about 1.7 miles along by logs piled on the trail. The hill climb beyond the logs was washed out some, but it wasn't impassable. However, just in case the Forest Service decided to restrict the trail until the hill can be repaired, we decided to honor the blockade. Will call the Forest Service before we go up to Payson the next time. The first half of the trail was very neat, so it'll be well worth the time to visit it again. (928) 474-7900 should get you info on the trail conditions.
Called the Forest Service on Monday and was told that if the Forest Service blocks off a road, there will be signs and not just logs piled on the trail.
Arizona National Forests and State Lands are back open for travel. There are still some very important fire restrictions in place. These restrictions can often change by specific areas.
Tonto National Forest officials will close the state’s largest national forest due to ongoing extreme fire danger beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 25. The forest is implementing this forest closure as a precaution to protect the health and safety of the public, employees and firefighters by reducing the risk of human-caused fires.
No one is allowed in the closure area, including Forest Service personnel, unless they are responding to a wildfire or other emergency or patrolling to ensure enforcement of the closure. The order shall remain in effect until July 31, 2021 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first. Residents or businesses using roads in the restricted area to the extent necessary to access their private property are exempt.
Wonderful area to explore over a long weekend. These are some pics of the area and along the trail.
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While living in the Midwest, I developed a passion for searching out new trails and hidden spots. That passion continues to this day in the beautiful southwestern United States. My wife and I are full-time RVers who travel from region to region, exploring every nook and cranny we can find. While getting to know the locals, we gain insight into these areas and then pass on that knowledge to our subscribers. We truly enjoy traversing long, beautiful back-country routes with epic campsites, but we equally enjoy pushing the limits on challenging rock crawling trails. Our rig was built to do everything, and that's what we hope to share with our subscribers.
Please visit our website https://www.xploremor.net to follow us and for opportunities to join us on our adventures. You can also view our vast video library on YouTube. Xploremor YouTube
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