RED MOUNTAIN TRAIL
RED MOUNTAIN
TRAIL
Few things in
life are certain but what we know for sure is; wet dogs stink, Star Trek is
great, some hikers think beer is the fifth food group and Red Mountain is one
of the most magical places on earth. Okay,
those first three might be dubious, but the last one---an atypical volcano
north of Flagstaff--- offers a singular hike that supports the claim. If you�re looking for a mind-boggling,
surreal experience, forget theme park attractions--Red Mountain is the real
deal.
Located just off Highway 180 north of Flagstaff, the 740,000-year-old
cinder cone offers a rare opportunity to walk inside the guts of a formerly
explosive geological wonder. Although
the mountain�s fractured and fabulous form is a sight to behold, geologists aren�t
certain about what caused its northeast face to slump away exposing the
internal structure.
Thousands of years of wind and water erosion have sculpted the
mountain�s multi-colored layers of volcanic ash and cinders into craggy pillars
and honeycomb walls. Along the short, family-friendly access trail that winds
through a pinion-juniper forest, views of the gaping U-shaped collapse give a
taste of what�s to come.
At the
1.24-mile point, the trail meets the inky black cinder slopes at the base of
the volcano where a wooden ladder must be climbed to get to the good stuff.
Once inside the volcano,
hikers are surrounded by 800-foot escarpments, stony passages and wildly
contorted rock columns called �hoodoos�.
Footpaths wander among weather-blasted
pinnacles, crevasses and pine trees and shrubs that somehow took root in the
cracks. There�s even a short trek
through a tight passage where ongoing erosion washes out bits of shiny black
hornblende minerals (often mistaken for obsidian) that collect in glinting
streams underfoot. Look overhead to see chockstones (boulders caught in cracks)
and lava caps that teeter atop grainy spires like fancy hats. Be sure to bring
a fully-charged camera or phone to document the adventure in case you�re asked
to prove what you know for sure about this Arizona natural treasure.
LENGTH: 3 miles
roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6700�
� 7000�
GETTING THERE:
From Flagstaff,
go 30.5 miles north on US 180 and turn left at the sign for Red Mountain
Trailhead near milepost 247. Dirt access road is passable by passenger vehicle
when dry.
INFO: Coconino
National Forest
TRAIL
 |
| Hiking among hoodoos |
Few things in
life are certain but what we know for sure is; wet dogs stink, Star Trek is
great, some hikers think beer is the fifth food group and Red Mountain is one
of the most magical places on earth. Okay,
those first three might be dubious, but the last one---an atypical volcano
north of Flagstaff--- offers a singular hike that supports the claim. If you�re looking for a mind-boggling,
surreal experience, forget theme park attractions--Red Mountain is the real
deal.
 |
| View of Red Mountain from the access trail |
Located just off Highway 180 north of Flagstaff, the 740,000-year-old
cinder cone offers a rare opportunity to walk inside the guts of a formerly
explosive geological wonder. Although
the mountain�s fractured and fabulous form is a sight to behold, geologists aren�t
certain about what caused its northeast face to slump away exposing the
internal structure.
 |
| Inside the volcano |
Thousands of years of wind and water erosion have sculpted the
mountain�s multi-colored layers of volcanic ash and cinders into craggy pillars
and honeycomb walls. Along the short, family-friendly access trail that winds
through a pinion-juniper forest, views of the gaping U-shaped collapse give a
taste of what�s to come.
 |
| The ladder |
At the
1.24-mile point, the trail meets the inky black cinder slopes at the base of
the volcano where a wooden ladder must be climbed to get to the good stuff.
 |
| Bizarre pillars of ash |
Once inside the volcano,
hikers are surrounded by 800-foot escarpments, stony passages and wildly
contorted rock columns called �hoodoos�.
 |
| Hikers explore a stony passage |
Footpaths wander among weather-blasted
pinnacles, crevasses and pine trees and shrubs that somehow took root in the
cracks. There�s even a short trek
through a tight passage where ongoing erosion washes out bits of shiny black
hornblende minerals (often mistaken for obsidian) that collect in glinting
streams underfoot. Look overhead to see chockstones (boulders caught in cracks)
and lava caps that teeter atop grainy spires like fancy hats. Be sure to bring
a fully-charged camera or phone to document the adventure in case you�re asked
to prove what you know for sure about this Arizona natural treasure.
 |
| A hiker emerges from a tight spot |
LENGTH: 3 miles
roundtrip
RATING: moderate
ELEVATION: 6700�
� 7000�
GETTING THERE:
From Flagstaff,
go 30.5 miles north on US 180 and turn left at the sign for Red Mountain
Trailhead near milepost 247. Dirt access road is passable by passenger vehicle
when dry.
INFO: Coconino
National Forest
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