State: Arizona
Location: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Length, Round Trip: 14 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 7500 feet
Maximum Elevation: 9000 feet
Best Season: April to November
Usage: Moderate
The Sky in this Arizona Landscape has a surreal quality about it, typical of western skies
Trail Information
Cool water, great views and three seasons of use make the South Fork trail one of the most rewarding trails on the District. A round trip hike adds up to 14 miles so many people like to leave a vehicle at each trailhead. The lower trail follows the South Fork of the Little Colorado for 3.5 miles, through stands of cottonwood, sycamore, pine, aspen and oak. Several grassy meadows open up the scenery and make ideal picnic spots, offering a change from the steep-sided canyon that dominates most of the lower trail.
The South Fork of the Little Colorado is a fast running stream fed by runoff and springs. Many pools exist along its path where an angler can snag a fish or a footsore hiker can cool off. Look for signs of beaver; gnawed aspen stumps and intricately built dams are their trademark.
Views from the upper bench are spectacular. From the southwest to the northwest, Mt. Baldy, Greens Peak and all the mountains between are spread out, while the vast grassland to the north stretches all the way to the horizon. To the southeast, Escudilla Mountain rises near the New Mexico state line.
Mexican Hay Lake is a shallow, high elevation lake. A large meadow borders it on one side and an aspen and conifer forest on the other. The tall reeds that give the lake its name make it a magnet for waterfowl. Ducks and Canadian geese can be seen through most of the year and bald eagles winter there. Elk, deer, beaver and turkey are all common sights along the trails.
Directions
The trail is accessed from South Fork Campground or Mexican Hay Lake
