big man tips

STAGE STATION LOOP Cow Tank on the Stage Station Loop Long before the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, Route 66 and ultimately, Interstate 40 drastically altered the travel corridors of Northern Arizona, a maze of backcountry dirt wagon roads south of Williams connected the town with surrounding communities. Although they�re no longer used as primary routes, the roads that remain now mostly lead to ranches and popular recreational sites. Ruins of an historic stage coach rest stop.  Stage Station Loop, a rough 4x4 road that spins off the Bill Williams Mountain Loop�a 30-mile scenic drive that�s also called Forest Road 108�gives a taste of what long distance travel was like back in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Natural water tanks near the stage station site. Kaibab National Forest calls it a bike route and its rutted, crooked course tests the skills of Jeep enthusiasts, but the shady trail that follows old Forest Road 41 also makes for a moderately challenging hike with s...

VISHNU TRAIL: A Tiny Trek on the Edge of the Grand Canyon. A hiker on the Vishnu Trail approaches G.C. views. Whether hiked as an inspirational appetizer, warm up walk or add-on trek while exploring around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near the town of Tusayan, the Vishnu Trail is a quick and easy diversion with tantalizing views and opportunities to engage with the Arizona Trail.   Vishnu Trail connects with the Arizona Trail The hike begins directly under the Grandview Lookout Tower, where the well-marked path heads north through wildlife-rich pine-oak woodlands and shrubby enclaves.   After roughly a quarter-mile, glimpses of the hazy, russet chasm begin to appear through the trees. Grandview Lookout under stormy skies. Yes, we got soaked! An oak-shaded passage on the Vishnu Trail. As the trail progresses to its overlook spur, scenic vistas unwrap like unexpected gifts that surprise and thrill.   Vishnu Temple (right) seen from the trail overlook. A metal gate mark...

DEVIL DOG LOOP #117   Stump Tank along Forest Road 108 The year 1926 marked the birth of two American icons---Route 66 and Devil Dogs snack cakes. That year, the Mother Road, which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, received its official numerical designation and the Drake Baking Company rolled out the chocolate cream-filled treats. So, how do these bits of trivia distill into a story about hiking? Easy�the subject route begins at the Interstate 40 Devil Dog exit and follows two decommissioned sections of Historic Route 66. Although it�s more likely that the Devil Dog Loop #117 was named for the World War I moniker for U.S. Marines instead of the kiddie lunch box staple, the trail makes a name for itself as a history-steeped walk in the forest. 1922 alignment of Route 66 For much of the 20 th century, Route 66 served as a major highway through northern Arizona. Its demise came with the construction of Interstate 40 which gradually replaced the scenic road with a modern freeway. Wal...

BEALE WAGON ROAD HISTORIC TRAIL Kaibab National Forest Laws Spring Way back in the mid-1800s a hardy battalion of 4-legged "ships of the desert" helped to blaze a passage through the Southwestern wilderness. It was Lt. Edward F. Beale who bestowed the noble title upon 22 camels imported from the Middle East to help survey the unforgiving landscape for a highway into the newly acquired Western territory. The Beale expedition team of 1857-59 had high hopes for the humped beasts that were hailed for their strength and tenacity. Although their work ethic did pan out as advertised, they didn't win any popularity contests among workers because of their smell, spitting habits and cranky temperaments. Hence, they were retired from government service after the project was completed. Camel motif on Beale Wagon Road trail post Although short-lived, the work of the lanky creatures is memorialized on wooden posts bearing their image along the original rough cut, 10-foot-wide trail ...

CLOVER SPRING Williams Clover Spring On a mountain with no shortage of summit-busting hiking trails, it takes will power to swerve off the epic routes onto one with a subtler kind of charisma. Whether bypassed due to time constraints, bad weather or dwindling supplies, secondary routes often get ignored in favor of heavily travelled arterial trails. Clover Spring Trail #46 epitomizes the joy to be found on the little trails that compete for love with the summit routes on Bill Williams Mountain. Trough at Clover Spring More an option than a diversion, this shady, moderate path is toggled to challenging Bill Williams Mountain Trail #21 and can be hiked as either a short loop or an alternative leg that adds less than a mile to the standard summit route. The "C"-shaped connector moves through beautiful woodlands overlooking the city of Williams. A short section of climbing among lichen-cloaked boulders precedes the arrival at a rustic concrete trough marking Clover Spring. Don...