big man tips

THE BACK ROADS TO POTATO LAKE Thistles around Potato Lake attract pollinators. Whether called crayfish, crawfish, crawdads or aquatic cockroaches, there are two sure things about the prolific freshwater crustaceans--they harm native species and they love bacon. With few natural agents to control them, the population of non-native crayfish released into Arizona lakes and streams via bait bucket dumps or other means, has exploded. Potato Lake is surrounded by pine forests. Their voracious appetites and territory-hogging talents are decimating indigenous aquatic wildlife. They consume the eggs and larvae of native fish, amphibians and reptiles and gobble up critical food supplies. Invasive crayfish threaten native species. Plus, their nearly year-round reproductive cycle means they can commandeer a waterhole in no time flat. They need to go. Forest Road 9362T serves as the trail. The best way to help eradicate them is to prevent their introduction in the first place. The second-best way i...

SOUTH FORK TRAIL Willows hug the So. Fork of the Little Colorado River At the point on the South Fork Trail #97 where the route crosses a creek and begins its grueling climb, I was jolted to a stop by screams that sounded like an injured dog.   In a flash, a herd of elk bolted across the trail just yards ahead of me.   Five females in tandem, then a lone male.   Eden meets Hell. They scrambled up a knoll following the cries of a distressed calf.   The adults circled the young one who continued to wail from its high perch. Two more elk burst from the creek, stopping briefly to stare me down before they charged up to meet the herd, round up the calf and bolt into the back county.   They gave me a thrill and I reciprocated with exactly what they needed--their space.   Encounters like this one are common on the White Mountains trails of northeastern Arizona. Wild roses bloom through August. Before venturing out into the forests, hikers should be aware of common...

Three Ways to Explore Payson's American Gulch End of American Gulch South Trail American Gulch is a tributary gorge of the East Verde River that encompasses an area of juniper-studded hills and riparian corridors on the west side of Payson. Replete with natural springs, stock tanks and a maze of dirt roads, the rugged terrain offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Juniper-shaded South Trail Three disjointed but thematically cohesive trails---all named American Gulch--- explore this strip of high desert and chaparral. The American Gulch North, South and Loop Trails anchor the western edge of the 20-plus-mile Payson Area Trails System ( PATS) network of interconnected city and forest service paths.  Together, the name-sharing threesome are like a flyover of the area's natural history and the town's efforts to restore and protect its sensitive fringe habitats.  North Trail follows Forest Road 508 All three can be easily hiked in an afternoon and a good way to ta...

SUNFLOWER FLAT & J.D. CABIN EXPLORATION Kaibab National Forest J.D. Cabin site on the Kaibab National Forest Literature is rife with tales of creatures both real and imaginary. Books like J. K. Rowling�s "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and the 1963 classic "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak introduce readers to magical places and whimsical creatures. These fanciful tales might inspire you to explore the equally enchanting real-life critters and locations of Arizona. There�s an easy way to indulge your curiosity and step back in history along the dirt roads and prairies southeast of Williams.  T his two-part outing begins at Sunflower Flat Wildlife Area. Situated in a high-country wet meadow surrounded by mountain peaks of Kaibab National Forest, the site is unique in that its condition varies with rainfall, and visiting wildlife responds accordingly. When there�s lots of rain, the 160-acre Arizona Game & Fish property is a shallow lake t...

BUBBLING PONDS PRESERVE Blackhawk Trail at Bubbling Ponds Preserve Hikers who enjoy wildlife viewing will have a heyday at the Bubbling Ponds Preserve in Cornville. Cradled among desert hills, wineries and dewy green zones along Oak Creek, the site has two formal trails that loop among the property�s rare and varied habitats. The flat, soft paths pass through mesquite forests, meadows, cattail wetlands, a warm water hatchery for raising native fish and a shady riparian corridor. Informational signs, viewing benches and observation decks help maximize the visitor experience. Lower Oak Creek Important Bird Area Because of its reliable water and favorable nesting niches, the property is a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds, reptiles and mammals including several threatened species. Hikers are practically guaranteed sightings of Great blue herons, Red-winged blackbirds and many common species of waterfowl. With luck, you might also spot a more elusive Snowy Egret, Vermillion Flycat...

SKUNK CANYON-ARIZONA TRAIL-FLAGSTAFF LOOP CIRCUIT Flagstaff Entrance to the Skunk Canyon slot This pleasant stroll links a short, lesser known route with two of Flagstaff's most popular trails. Offering a backdoor into a heavily used recreational corridor, Skunk Canyon Trail is a sleepy little gem accessible off of Flagstaff's Lake Mary Road near Walnut Canyon that shares dirt with the Flagstaff Loop and Arizona Trail. Over its 2.7-mile course, the 2-track trail follows the contours of a shallow gorge that morphs from a sun drenched, gaping meadow of hip-deep grasses and wildflowers into a skinny path in a woodsy slot canyon dripping in moss. Inside the slot "jewel" of the trail, towering pines, shallow limestone caves and tangled brambles complement its deeply shaded drainage. Flagstaff Loop Trail  After emerging from the dark forest, the trail enters another meadow before plugging in to Passage # 33 of the Arizona Trail. The AZT leg of the hike is a mile-long walk o...