Babe Haught Trail
State: Arizona
Location: Tonto National Forest
Length, One-Way: 3 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: More Difficult
Usage: Light
Spectacular sunset
Trail Information
The Babe Haught Trail (# 143) was built by pioneer “Babe” Haught to pack supplies over the rim from Winslow. The trail winds up the Rim through the eastern edge of the vast region devastated years ago in the Dude Fire, which consumed a 21 mile stretch of Rim forest. The lower part of the trail meanders under moderate tree cover through tall grass. Watch out for small log steps hidden under the grass. The grass becomes less dense after the first half mile, as you enter the fire zone and the trail becomes somewhat steeper over rock and sun-baked soil. Many lifeless and often coal-black hulks of trees still stand in various states of intactness providing a reminder to the devastation that occurred here in 1990. The trail is easy to follow and marked every so often by sometimes ridiculously large cairns. It gets rockier as you climb, passing through several bands of sedimentary rock along the way.
The views are excellent almost the whole way due to the lack of tree cover; there are several good views looking down on the fish hatchery. Rolling hills can be seen for 30 miles or more to the South, with the Rim looming a thousand feet high to the North and East. The rising sun added to the effect, casting ever-changing shadows into the steep fissures and ragged alcoves of the Rim’s crumbly sedimentary slopes. The trail disappears on a gently sloping, grassy, rock-strewn plain.
Directions
From Payson:
Travel north on Highway 87 to Forest Road 300. The trail sign is on the south side of the road. Easiest access is from the Hatchery Trailhead.
