KEY INFO
LOCATION Sunflower to Mount Peeley
DISTANCE 16 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATIONS Cross F and Mormon Grove Trailheads
DIFFICULTY Strenuous
LAND MANAGER Tonto National Forest, Mesa Ranger District, www.fs.usda.gov/tonto, 480-610-3300,
RECOMMENDED MONTHS March–November
GATEWAY COMMUNITY Not applicable
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS See “Amazing Mazatzals”.
This inconspicuous passage traverses some of the most beautiful places on the entire Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) and offers a stunning variety of landscapes over a relatively short distance. You’re unlikely to see many people on the trail, and even fewer now that the Sunflower Fire of 2012 incinerated a large portion of the landscape.
This passage begins a long stint in the Mazatzal Wilderness, which continues through Passage 25. This diverse range is marked by serpentine canyons and craggy peaks, a perennial river farther ahead, and surreal high desert. Bring protective clothing and keep it accessible, as Arizona’s formidable flora often crowds the trail.
From the sycamore grove under AZ 87 and the turnoff for Bushnell Tanks, follow the access trail about 0.25 mile to the AZT trailhead sign. Turn right (west) onto the AZT, where a carsonite post marks the trail about 30 yards away. The trail soon crosses an abandoned road; look for cairns on the opposite side and continue west. At this point, a tunnel under AZ 87 becomes visible. Follow the trail through the tunnel and pass through a wire gate on the west side of the highway. Specifically designed for the AZT, this tunnel is tall and wide enough to accommodate equestrians.
Continue west from the tunnel along the fence line for about 50 yards to where a cairn marks a right-hand (north) turn. A carsonite post marks the singletrack that soon climbs over a small ridge to the north. The trail veers left (northwest) to drop into a small wash. Pass through a gate and follow cairns west along a somewhat fainter trail. Stay off the dirt road on your right and follow Trail 344, a faint remnant of a double-track. Pass through another gate to the south side of the fence, and you are soon on a very clear singletrack. Crest a small hill and cross a wash on the other side. Cattle trails create multiple forks here, but the large cairns will keep you on the right path.
In 0.4 mile, pass through another gate and look due north for carsonite posts marking a clear doubletrack. The AZT follows a left (west) fork in the road. The right fork leads about 80 yards to a spring that seems to be reliable—to find the spring, make a 90-degree turn to the right when you reach a fence.
Take the right (north) fork and stay on Trail 344. Follow the faint singletrack that breaks off to the left (north) of the road, as signs indicate. Soon, you pass through yet another gate and a stock pond. Cairns guide you north-northwest; under power lines at the northern edge of the grassy field, the trail crosses FR 393.
Continue north through scrub oak, and more cairns, as the trail crosses a stream-bed in a charming valley under idyllic white cliffs. Near the 5-mile point, the trail intersects the Cross F Access Trail, which connects to the Cross F Trailhead.
TURNAROUND NOTE: This is an ideal spot for turning around if you’re just out for the day.
Sycamore Creek is a pleasant riparian corridor that parallels Passage 22.
To continue on the trail, take the left fork to wind north-northwest, following Little Saddle Mountain Trail (Trail 244). Pass through a gate and climb northward along a canyon that leads into the stunning Mazatzal Wilderness. After it climbs to the ridge above the canyon, the trail eventually intersects with the Mormon Grove Access Trail (near an abandoned corral) and becomes the Saddle Mountain Trail (Trail 91). The AZT continues on Trail 91, which is an old mining roadbed converted to singletrack, and passes through a flat saddle called the Potato Patch. Just beyond and to the northwest of the trail stands Saddle Mountain, at 6,535 feet.
Hiking on past Saddle Mountain, you pass the intersection with the trail to Story Mine; for the next mile or so brush tends to encroach on the trail from McFarland Canyon, which sometimes has water flowing or a few standing pools. After crossing McFarland Canyon, the route becomes Trail 95 as it climbs up to Thicket Spring and the intersection with Cornucopia Trail (Trail 86), a great spot to take a break. From here it’s a rather long and rocky climb on abandoned doubletrack, leading to the junction with the Mazatzal Divide Trail (Trail 23) and the end of the passage. To reach the Mount Peeley Trailhead, continue straight for 0.5 mile on the Cornucopia Trail.
Most of this passage is in the Mazatzal Wilderness, where bikes are prohibited. For detailed information about scenic mountain biking routes around wilderness areas, visit aztrail.org.
Take AZ 87 north to FR 22 (Bushnell Tanks Road) near milepost 218. Park along the road just before the massive gate. Walk south on FR 22 about 0.5 mile until just after it turns left; watch for the trail descending to the right. (If you reach the cattle guard, you’ve gone too far.) Turn right again at the bottom of the bank along the road, and follow the drainage and carsonite signs about 300 yards to a grove of large sycamore trees along Sycamore Creek. This creek floods and changes course frequently; the trail may be obscured through the grove. Cross Sycamore Creek and take the short spur trail about 200 yards to the AZT. A large AZT sign marks the junction. Follow the trail right (west) of the sign through a tunnel under AZ 87, and hike north on the Sunflower Trail.
The numerous springs, seeps, and creeks of the Mazatzal Mountains are a welcome contrast to the dry desert passages of the south.
Drive 4.8 miles north of the historic townsite of Sunflower and the turnoff for Bushnell Tanks on AZ 87 to mile marker 222.8. Turn left (west) onto a paved road (FR 627), opposite the Mount Ord turnoff. Follow FR 627 downhill 1.2 miles and then turn right, over a cattle guard, onto FR 201. The sign is visible after you make the turn. Follow FR 201 for 1.2 miles and turn left (west) onto FR 25. Continue on FR 25 for 4.7 miles to a corral and parking area. Hike up the access road, past the wilderness signage, for 0.5 mile to intersect the AZT and Saddle Mountain Trail (Trail 91).
Drive 4.8 miles north of Sunflower on AZ 87 to mile marker 222.8. Turn left (west) onto paved FR 627, opposite the Mount Ord turnoff. Follow FR 627 downhill 3.4 miles to the signed trailhead, on your left. The access is on the opposite side of the paved road. Hike 0.7 mile to intersect the AZT and Saddle Mountain Trail.
If you want to hit the trail from here, please follow the trail description in reverse order. Drive 4.8 miles north of Sunflower on AZ 87 to mile marker 222.8. Turn left (west) onto paved FR 627, opposite the Mount Ord turnoff. Follow FR 627 downhill 1.2 miles and then turn right, over a cattle guard, onto FR 201. Drive 9.3 miles on FR 201 to the Mount Peeley Trailhead, where you’ll find a small parking area. The sign here says CORNUCOPIA TRAIL (TRAIL 86) and indicates a 0.5-mile hike to the Mazatzal Divide Trail (Trail 23) and AZT.