Cappie’s Scoop: Mom read that once we do this hike, it will be our favorite in the area. She was right! I can’t wait to come back again in the fall to see what it looks like. But for now, I had so much fun playing in the snow at 10,300 ft high! There was also no one else on the trail when we hiked it so we had the whole trail to ourselves. Mom and I decided to hike counter-clockwise (Abineau Trail first) and get to the snow quicker. Clockwise takes you on Bear Jaw Trail. It was only a little more than 2 miles and we saw it, the view of the highest peak in Arizona, Humphrey’s! We crossed over towards Bear Jaw Trail and headed down on Waterline Road first before turning left to continue on Bear Jaw. The aspen trees were everywhere! Mom kept stopping to take pictures but they all looked the same to me, big white sticks with green leaves! I’m sure it looks amazing in the fall and we’ll probably be back to see it … if mom has her way! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: Since this loop trail reaches an elevation of over 10,000, you may have to wait until the snow clears to be able to safely complete the loop. This is a great hike after the snow clears (or maybe still a little bit of snow to play in) and also a great fall hike too with the tons of aspen trees on the trail.

Directions: From Flagstaff, you can reach this trail from two different highways – either 180N or US-89N. Either way, you’ll be driving on a fire road to get to the trailhead. We didn’t need 4WD or high clearance although high clearance is nice. 1) We chose to take 180N because we wanted the least amount of driving time on the fire road. Take 180N for about 18.7 miles. Turn right onto FR 151. After 1.2 miles, continue straight onto FR 418. In about 3 miles, turn right to take the road to the trailhead. There is a sign for the trail. 2) Or take US-89N for 15.7 miles to Forest Road 420, which is directly across from the turnoff to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Turn left onto FR 420 and continue about a half-mile to Forest Road 552. Turn right onto FR 552 and continue 1 mile to Forest Road 418. Turn right onto FR 418 and continue 8.1 miles to Forest Road 9123J. Turn left onto FR 9123J and continue 0.5 miles to the trailhead.

Cappie’s Scoop: I tried to hike this peak in 2019 but mom saw a bunch of animal tracks on the trail, got nervous and said we better turn around. She didn’t tell me what she saw but mom knows best right! We returned to conquer this trail again and it turned out to be a fun hike! There is a lot of hiking up and up and up. Eventually we reached a small cabin and I was hoping to go inside but it was locked. Bummer! Then we saw the sign for the lookout tower and mom said, let’s go! But I knew it was going to be another tower with no dogs allowed. Still, mom loves her towers so we went to the top and sat behind the tower on a big concrete platform and had snacks. There was still some snow around the tower so we sat in the warm sun. It was very nice! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: The area was damaged by the 2000 Pumpkin Fire so you may see a lot of trees still burned. This is a great calf burner hike with lots of steep uphills eventually reaching a small cabin, saved from the fire. Go 0.5 miles more and you reach the lookout tower. There is a flat platform on the other side of the operational fire lookout tower which makes a nice spot to sit and relax.

Directions: From Flagstaff, head north on Hwy 180. Continue on 180 for ten miles beyond the turn for Arizona Snowbowl. After mile marker 232, and just before mile marker 233, turn left onto FS 193 – a dirt road with a cattle guard at the start. Go about 3.2 miles until it ends at a T intersection with FS 171. Go right on FS 171, and continue about 2 miles. Turn right onto FS 190, go up about half a mile and you’ll see the trailhead parking area on the right side.

Cappie’s Scoop: The good news, this trail starts out going downhill into the canyon. The not-so-good news, you have to finish your hike climbing uphill out of the canyon! So furiends, save some energy for the end of your hike. Once you get to the canyon, it’s a nice walk through meadow-like areas and eventually Sandy’s Canyon trail ends at the junction for the Arizona Trail (AZT) but continue on the AZT going north. Off in the distance, I saw the San Francisco Peaks and as you get closer for the turnoff to Fisher Point, you see to the right some cool sandstone cliffs and the beginning of Walnut Canyon. I went over to check them out and saw a sign that if we wanted to walk through the canyon, it was one mile each way. I hiked for a bit inside and then I wanted to climb up to Fisher Point to see the view from there. It was very cool but furiends, be careful and don’t get too close to the edge, it’s a bit scary! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: There are a number of trails you can access from hiking into Sandy’s Canyon. This route takes you from the canyon up to Fisher Point and returning the same way. It may be helpful to have a map handy. You can extend your trip by taking a detour through Walnut Canyon (add 2 miles RT to your hike) to explore the sandstone walls.

Directions: From Flagstaff, head south on Lake Mary Rd for about 4.5 miles. Turn left to access Sandy’s Canyon trailhead (there is a sign for this trailhead on Lake Mary Rd). Then make your immediate first right and drive down the dirt road about 0.2 miles till it ends at a parking lot.