Jenny Cobb, a Prescott resident and active member of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, leads a campout hike to Mt. Baldy each July.
East Baldy climbs from 9,200 to 11,350 feet, so you don’t want to go at this time of year, but it’s never too early to start planning for next summer. Later on the day we left a hailstorm hit the campground and damaged some of the vehicles.
Local daytime temperatures recently plummeted from the 90s into the 40s quickly, leaving frost on our vehicle one morning in mid-October. No one watches weather closer than hikers, because you don’t want to get caught unprepared for heat or cold.
Mt. Baldy is the second-highest peak in Arizona, but unlike Humphreys Peak (12,637) and third tallest Escudilla Peak, the Baldy Peak trails have water throughout, tempting to tired feet. Beautiful meadows dot the trail, along with boulders similar to the Granite Dells.
The early part of East Baldy Trail follows the East Fork of the Little Colorado River, a stream that’s not only beautiful, but also managed to support the endangered Wild Apache Trout. Brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout help to make this a fisherman’s paradise.
This is one of the most dense areas in the state for black bear. Mexican grey wolves are in the area as well, along with mountain lions, mule deer, elk and coyotes.
Mount Baldy Wilderness is one of 90 wilderness areas in Arizona, and at 7,079 acres among the smallest. There are three hiking trails: East Baldy, West Baldy and Crossover Trail, which connects the two.
You can’t get to the top of the trail without a permit, because it’s on the White Mountain Apache reservation. Please don’t try to do this, the land is sacred and should be respected. If caught you can be fined and your backpack confiscated. Good signage reminds you not to trespass.
East Baldy Trail begins near a beautiful alpine meadow, but you quickly enter the forest, which includes Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, Colorado spruce and quaking aspen in the higher elevations. Flowers are also plentiful in summer.
This moderately difficult hike covers 14 miles, but you can turn around at any point.
You may feel the elevation, but there are plenty of downed logs along the trail perfect for snacks or lunch. The further you go up the trail, the more sandstone rock formations you’ll see, as well as great views of the surrounding mountains.
The Great Old Broads organization began in the 1970s and successfully lobbied to designate some of our wilderness areas. Cobb continues to advocate and educate about Arizona’s 90 wilderness areas. She is also a gourmet chef, and treated campers to great low-cost breakfasts and dinners each day.
The drive from Prescott to Mt. Baldy takes more than five hours, but there are many trails, lakes and fun places along the way. Lee Valley Reservoir is just a couple miles from Baldy and offers a serene place to fish, boat or hike.
Mt. Baldy is accessible to all vehicles. Dogs are allowed but should be leashed.
The East Baldy and West Baldy trailheads are only about four miles apart, with Winn Campground between, making a great place to camp among the aspens.
Directions: From Show Low drive about 39 miles east on Highway 260. Turn right on Highway 273 and drive four miles to the trailhead on the right. For more information, phone the Springerville Ranger District at 925-333-6200.
Most of the Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim hikes are behind me for this year as I start on some Prescott and Sedona-area hikes before it gets too cold, then it’ll be time to head south.
For my YouTube channel Preserving Arizona Wilderness we just released our latest video, on East Baldy Trail. Professional videographer Zach Kline and his wife Sushi produced this wonderful video.
youtube.com/watch?v=BkzssNkrEPU
Stan Bindell is always looking for a good hike. If you have one, contact him at thebluesmagician@gmail. com
