HOUSTON LOOP

HOUSTON LOOP

Payson Area Trails System

View of the Mogollon Rim from Houston Loop

For a short, moderate-rated
trail, this one really packs a punch. It's wide, well-signed and
within shouting distance of suburbia, but what's not advertised about
Payson's Houston Loop is its unrelenting ups-and-downs that can
catch the first-timer off guard. The quad burning workout pays off
with

high point vistas of the
Mogollon Rim hovering above the metal rooftops of woodland retreats.
Where the trail dips into the canyons around Houston Creek, Ponderosa
pine trees throw shade over moist drainages imprinted with elk
tracks. Elk rarely venture more than a quarter mile from water
sources, so keep an eye out for them where the trail hops over rivulets and puddles. The trail's bonus attraction is a Cold War Era curiosity known
as a seismic bunker. The metal structure built into a hillside has
been abandoned for years and is now under siege by local graffiti
rebel forces. It's a dank, creepy place (mind the Bud Light cans
underfoot) that you'll want to observe from the outside only.
Beyond the den of debauchery, the trail redeems itself as it ascends
an exposed ridgeline and heads into the woods. The route follows
deeply rutted, dodgy 4x4 roads that are popular with bikers and ATV
riders. In my experiences on this trail, the wheeled users have been
responsible and courteous around hikers. With its carousel of
changing scenery, history side show, challenging dips and climbs and
close-to-town access, this trail makes for an entertaining Rim
Country trek.

LENGTH: 4.5-mile loop from
the Chaparral Ranch trailhead OR 9.6 miles roundtrip from Houston
Mesa trailhead

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION:

4,800� � 4,950�
(Chaparral) OR 4,800� � 5,200� (Houston Mesa)

GETTING THERE:

Chaparral Ranch
Trailhead: From the intersection of State Routes 87/260 in
Payson, go right (east) onto 260 and continue 2.4 miles to Chaparral
Pines Drive. Turn left (north) and go 1.2 miles to the Chaparral
Ranch Trail access turnout. There's parking for about 3-4 vehicles.
Do not block private driveways in the area. Large groups should
access this trail via the Houston Mesa Trailhead. Houston Mesa
Trailhead: From the intersection of State Routes 87/260 in
Payson, go 1.7 miles north on 87 to Houston Mesa Road. Turn right
(east) and continue 0.8 mile to the trailhead on the right (past the
�horse camp�). From here, follow Houston Trail 3 miles to the
loop.

Cold War Era bunker

INFO
& MAPS:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/5b27be_ac107b0dfb5e48689a45387e775aa37f.pdf