Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
San Francisco Peaks Trail Day Hike
when Trip Report : September 28, 2013
where Flagstaff
the hike     This hike is featured as the “Hike of the Month” in the June, 2010 issue of Arizona Highways magazine. We will be hiking Passage 34, or the San Francisco Peaks Passage, of the 819 mile long Arizona Trail. Finished in July, 2009, Passage 34 was the last of the 43 sections, or passages, of the Arizona Trail to be completed. If our timing is right we hope to catch the thousands of aspen along this trail at the peak of their fall colors. If not, this is still a terrific hike.
    Passage 34 is 32.3 miles in length, but today we only plan on hiking less than half of that. Most of the trail winds its way through towering forests of aspen and pine and along lush meadows with commanding views of the spectacular San Francisco Peaks. We will begin the hike from Aspen Corner off the Snowbowl Road and see how close we can get to FR418, which will be our turnaround point. Somewhere along the way we will stop and enjoy lunch among the aspen and pine on the Arizona Trail.
Required:
•  Sturdy hiking boots
•  At least 3 liters of water
•  Rain poncho
•  Hat, sunblock, sunglasses
Recommended:
•  Lunch or snacks
•  Camera
distance 15 miles round trip or less, depending on how close we get to FR418, the turnaround point for this hike
time 5 to 7 hours, depending on how much of the trail we decide to hike.
EC +-200' elevation change
elevations 8,800 feet to 9,000 feet.
type round trip
on trail 100% — Arizona Trail, passage 34
rating "B"     Rate yourself as a hiker.
dogs allowed no
cost Sharing gas expenses with the driver.
The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member.
weather Flagstaff
meet 7:00 AM in the Fry’s parking lot on the SW corner of I-17 & Bell Road. Park behind Denny’s, near the entrance to the Deer Valley Park & Ride.
drive
•  Take I-17 north to Flagstaff.
From Flagstaff, drive north on U.S. Route 180 for 7 miles to the Snowbowl Road (Forest Road 516).
Turn right onto FR516 and continue for another 6 miles to Aspen Corner and the parking area, located less than a mile from the Humphreys Peak parking lot.
Look for a long wood rail fence and a large aspen grove on the left side of the road and park along the shoulder. There will probably be other cars parked here as well.

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