KEY INFO
LOCATION Cedar Ranch to Moqui Stage Station
DISTANCE 25.6 miles one-way
DAY-TRIP OPTION See turnaround note in the trail description.
SHUTTLE RECOMMENDATION Grandview Road (FR 301) (passage mile 18.5)
DIFFICULTY Easy
LAND MANAGERS Kaibab National Forest, Tusayan Ranger District, www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab, 928-638-2443; Arizona State Land Department, azland.gov, 602-542-4631; Babbitt Ranch, babbittranches.com, 928-774-6199
RECOMMENDED MONTHS April–June and September–November
GATEWAY COMMUNITY Not applicable
GEOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS Not applicable
Along this passage, the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) follows ranch roads, but traffic is infrequent and the unique terrain is an integral part of the rich variety of landscapes along the entire Arizona Trail. As you look south toward the stunning San Francisco Peaks, try to imagine the scene 1 million years ago when lava spewed from an 18,000-foot supervolcano over thousands of miles.
The route is easy to follow because volunteers have done a good job marking the various road intersections with AZT-branded, four-by-four posts. The final 5 miles follow singletrack that is occasionally obscure but makes a nice diversion from the road.
Note that this passage crosses Arizona State Lands and a permit is required to camp outside the 15-foot trail corridor. This passage also crosses land owned by the Babbitts, one of the oldest and most well-respected ranching families in the state.
Head north-northeast on FR 9008A, as indicated by AZT signs. Walk through a sparsely vegetated landscape of juniper trees and rabbitbrush to a fork at mile 3.6. Stay on the main road, which breaks off to the right around Tub Ranch. Go through the gate—leaving it as you found it—and bear left and up the hill onto a beautiful high plateau at the first intersection. Take a moment to absorb the view, especially of the San Francisco Peaks to the south.
The road enters small hills dotted with trees. Cross a wash in 0.2 mile, bear left (southwest), and climb gradually. After some power lines come into view, you reach a fork. Bear right and continue 0.1 mile to another fork. Stay right again and continue straight ahead (north) to Rabbit Tank, which is 0.5 mile west of the trail.
TURNAROUND NOTE: If you’re just out for the day and you haven’t arranged a car shuttle, Rabbit Tank (passage mile 6.4) is a great place to turn around and reverse your route.
From the small dirt tank, cross under the buzzing power lines, follow a right fork to the north up a hill, and begin a long traverse of another broad, featureless plateau. After bearing north and finally northwest, you pass Upper Lockwood Tank. Follow the old road as it curves to the right around the tank, heading northeast along a tributary of Lockwood Canyon. You reach Lockwood Tank at a fence with two gates. Go straight through the gate in front of you, bear left, and continue through another distinctive gate to Grandview Road on the north side of the tank. Turn left and head northwest.
A cattle guard, a fence, and several signs mark your crossing into the Kaibab National Forest (the road you’re following becomes FR 301). Cross the cattle guard and look to the left for a wooden sign for Kaibab National Forest. Behind this sign, head west on a faint singletrack. Look for several large rock cairns that mark the trail ahead. Aim for a lone juniper tree, and look for AZT signs to help guide your way.
Passage 35 traverses Babbitt Ranch under wide-open skies that contrast dramatically with the dense pine forest to the south.
The trail improves as it reaches the trees and bends briefly to the left (southwest) before curving back to the northwest. Cross an old dirt road at a right angle. The trail winds and rolls through a dry piñon–juniper forest as it parallels FR 301 to the northwest, then becomes less distinct as it crosses FR 301. Follow the singletrack to the northwest on the other side.
The trail breaks out of the trees into a clearing and all but disappears. If you can’t see the faint trail heading across the clearing, take a compass bearing of 330° and head for the opposite side. There you reach a fork in the trail that marks the end of Passage 35. The right fork is the continuation of the AZT into Passage 36. To reach the parking area at Moqui Stage Station, turn left (west) and continue 0.2 mile to a Forest Service sign marking the trailhead.
This passage follows dirt ranch roads over its first 19 miles and then jumps onto a faint but pleasant singletrack. The entire passage offers fun riding, with views of surreal landscapes rarely seen on most rides. For more information about mountain biking along the Arizona National Scenic Trail, visit aztrail.org.
From Flagstaff, drive north on US 180 about 33 miles, and turn right (east) onto FR 417 near mile marker 248 (if you reach the Kaibab National Forest sign, you’ve gone too far by 0.4 mile). Continue 5.2 miles to a point just a short distance north of Cedar Ranch where a side road (FR 9008A) leaves FR 417 to the left. The passage begins here and follows FR 9008A north-northeast.
From the intersection of US 180 and AZ 64 in the town of Valle, go north on AZ 64 for 11 miles to FR 320 (mile marker 224). Turn right (east) onto FR 320 and drive 16 miles to an intersection with FR 301. Turn right (south) on FR 301 and drive 3.5 miles to the Moqui Stage Station. Park here, walk up a road that curves to the right (northeast), pass an old stone well in 50 yards, and follow singletrack east through the trees 0.1 mile to intersect the very distinct AZT. (To follow the AZT northbound, turn left toward Russell Tank.)
Horses outnumber humans along Passage 35.