We drove out to the Coconino National Forest to hike the Abineau/Bear Jaw Loop Trail in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. This was a 7 mile hike (mostly a loop) with 1,800 ft of gain, hiking up to 10,327 ft of elevation. We saw 10 other people on the trail today, not many for a Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.
A 0.4 mile spur trail leads up to the loop. We decided to go counterclockwise, up Abineau Trail first, taking the steep trail up and the more gentle closed road and Bear Jaw Trail down.
This trail goes through a mixed forest of pines, fir and aspen trees. The trees were tall!
On the way up the Abineau Trail we had some views of the side of Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona.
There were a few snow patches to cross on our way up.
The high point of the loop is the junction of the Abineau Trail with the closed Waterline Road (10,327 ft).
Here we had a great view of the side of Humpreys Peak, and
to the north, nearby cinder cones, the Painted Desert, and in the far distance, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
We then headed down the Waterline Road for 2 miles, enjoying the gentle down grade. There were a few downed trees, but they were easy to step over or duck under. We saw several butterflies enjoying the dandelions.
The Bear Jaw Trail was in the forest, here we had a few looking up towards where we had hiked down, and what I believe may be Abineau Peak.
It was a bit early for wildflowers, but we saw lots of these bright yellow peas.
We drove out to the Coconino National Forest to hike the Abineau/Bear Jaw Loop Trail in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. This was a 7 mile hike (mostly a loop) with 1,800 ft of gain, hiking up to 10,327 ft of elevation. We saw 10 other people on the trail today, not many for a Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.
A 0.4 mile spur trail leads up to the loop. We decided to go counterclockwise, up Abineau Trail first, taking the steep trail up and the more gentle closed road and Bear Jaw Trail down.
This trail goes through a mixed forest of pines, fir and aspen trees. The trees were tall!
On the way up the Abineau Trail we had some views of the side of Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona.
There were a few snow patches to cross on our way up.
The high point of the loop is the junction of the Abineau Trail with the closed Waterline Road (10,327 ft).
Here we had a great view of the side of Humpreys Peak, and
to the north, nearby cinder cones, the Painted Desert, and in the far distance, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
We then headed down the Waterline Road for 2 miles, enjoying the gentle down grade. There were a few downed trees, but they were easy to step over or duck under. We saw several butterflies enjoying the dandelions.
The Bear Jaw Trail was in the forest, here we had a few looking up towards where we had hiked down, and what I believe may be Abineau Peak.
It was a bit early for wildflowers, but we saw lots of these bright yellow peas.
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