51 EAST FORT TRAIL

KEY AT-A-GLANCE INFORMATION

LENGTH: 2 miles

ELEVATION GAIN: 275 feet

CONFIGURATION: Out-and-back

DIFFICULTY: Moderate

SCENERY: Panoramic vista, East Fort ruins, Twin Peaks, Castle Creek Wilderness, Bradshaw Mountains

EXPOSURE: Some shade

TRAFFIC: Very light

TRAIL SURFACE: Rock, gravel, packed dirt, some deadfall, light scrambling

HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours

WATER REQUIREMENT: 1 quart

SEASON: Year-round; may be icy in winter

ACCESS: Sunrise to sunset; free parking

MAPS: USGS Crown King

FACILITIES: Portable toilet available at nearby Horsethief Lookout

DOGS: Yes

COMMENTS: Very remote, but worth the drive

GPS Trailhead Coordinates

UTM Zone 12S

Easting 0383555

Northing 3780670

Latitude N34°9.735'

Longitude W112°15.841'

Directions

Drive north from Phoenix on I-17, and take exit 248 to Bumble Bee Road, which becomes CR 59, Crown King Road, and FR 259 when it enters Prescott National Forest. Follow this dirt road 27 miles to Crown King. Continue following FR 259 to a three-way intersection with FR 52, Senator Highway. Bear left and go 7 miles along FR 52 to Horsethief Basin Recreation Area. Stay on FR 52 through the recreation area and head toward Horsethief Lookout. The signed East Fort Trailhead is located on a bend in FR 52, approximately 0.5 miles shy of Horsethief Lookout. To reach the lookout tower, which has the nearest toilet, continue on FR 52, and keep right at any forks in the road.

Parking may be scarce at the East Fort Trailhead, but there are rarely any other vehicles. You can park in a gap in the manzanita bushes just left of the trail sign, or drive down the trail 100 feet or so to a wider pullout. The dirt road beyond Crown King can be rough, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.

IN BRIEF

Take this rugged remote trail through thick forests of manzanita and pine to East Fort, a high overlook studded with panoramic views of Twin Peaks, the Bradshaw Mountains, and the desert plateau below. Ancient stone ruins reminiscent of Circlestone cap this amazing lookout.

DESCRIPTION

When the infamous Arizona summer strikes Phoenix, hikers head for the cool pines of Flagstaff, Payson, or Pinetop. The Bradshaw Mountains, a massive range 40 miles north of Phoenix, offer a much closer alternative to escape the heat.

At nearly 6,000 feet, the town of Crown King provides a convenient home base from which to explore the scenic woodlands of Castle Creek Wilderness and Prescott National Forest. Crown King has a rich mining history dating back to the late 1800s. Dozens of old gold and silver mines lie within a few miles of this “living ghost town.” Today, it’s a haven for tourists, four-wheelers, and all-terrain vehicles. An ever-active event calendar also attracts many people to this tiny community in the pines.

Seven miles southeast of Crown King, Horsethief Basin Recreation Area entertains outdoor enthusiasts and provides excellent camping facilities, rental cabins, and even summer homes. One can find a small lake for fishing and canoeing, as well as picnic facilities; in addition, more than a dozen trails canvas the Castle Creek Wilderness Area.

Only 1 mile long, East Fort Trail 31 is perhaps the shortest hike near Horsethief Basin, but it captures the beauty of the Bradshaw Mountains and boasts an amazing hilltop view from a rocky outcropping studded with ancient ruins. This trail’s remote location almost guarantees solitude during your hike. Because it’s a long drive to Horsethief Basin, consider hiking to East Fort as part of a weekend outing or combining it with longer trails in the area.

The trail begins at a point on FR 52 approximately half a mile east of the Horsethief Lookout. A wooden roadside sign indicates a distance of 1 mile to the East Fort observation point. Hike down the manzanita-lined trail, which begins as part of an old jeep road, with a head-on view of Twin Peaks to the north. Live oaks and pines provide some shade, and the 6,280-foot elevation makes this hike a pleasant walk in the woods any time of the year.

At 0.15 miles veer right at a fork in the road and then cross Castle Creek, a dry wash for which the entire wilderness area was named. You can see East Fort in the distance, an exposed outcropping of boulders rising above the forest. If you strain your eyes, you might be able to make out the stone ruins atop the boulders. Aged manzanita bushes abound in this forest. Their distinctively smooth red bark contrasts with bright green leaves and pink flowers. Fallen twigs and branches lie strewn across the trail, indicating that very few people come this way.

Reach a bend in the trail near 0.25 miles. Turn left and hike a short distance to a clearing where a sign points out that Trail 31 veers right. Walk up a gentle hill and then cross a gated fence at 0.5 miles. The trail becomes rougher beyond the gate as deadfall hinders your progress in many spots. Recent droughts have weakened the pines and made them especially susceptible to bark beetles. These pests have ravaged millions of trees in Arizona, and you can see evidence of bark-beetle damage.

Cross another wash at the base of the hill. Then begin a moderate climb toward East Fort on crumbly rock and pine needles. The slope gets increasingly steeper as the trail changes direction to the right. At 0.75 miles the trail begins to flatten out as it flanks the northern side of East Fort. Follow cairns to stay on the trail and hike south toward the rock outcropping ahead. Near the very top the trail gets hard to follow, and some light scrambling might be required.

Reach the East Fort observation point after a little more than 1 mile from the trailhead. You can now clearly see the stone ruins on top of the rocky summit, filling gaps between boulders and forming a fortress around the small hilltop. Be careful not to topple the stone structures as you enter on the northern side. There are several walls and circular rooms made of closely fitted stones, a mortarless construction technique identical to that used in the large Circlestone ruins in the Superstitions. No one knows who built these structures or why. Their origins have eluded discovery for many centuries and will likely remain a mystery for centuries to come.

From the 6,375-foot summit of East Fort, the panoramic views are truly awe-inspiring. To the north and west, deep forests cover the rolling hills and mountainsides. Twin Peaks, Horsethief Lookout, and Horsethief Basin are all visible from this open vista. To the east you have a clear view down toward Black Canyon, Agua Fria, and the grassy plateaus of Black Mesa and Perry Mesa. You can even pick out the Sunset Point Rest Area on I-17, reversing its famous view toward the Bradshaw Mountains. Allow plenty of time to take in the scenery before retracing your steps to the trailhead.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

Horsethief Lookout, a fire-finding tower a short distance beyond the East Fort Trailhead, commands an impressive view of the surrounding forests and mountains. The staff usually accommodates visitors, who must climb a harrowing staircase and enter through the tower’s floor.

Horsethief Basin Recreation Area offers a wide range of activities, including camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and canoeing on Horsethief Lake. Hiking trails nearby include Algonquin 225, Horsethief Canyon 30, Twin Peaks 240, Castle Creek 239, Kentuck 217, Tip Top 234, and Horsethief Recreation Trail 202.

Dubbed a living ghost town, the mining community of Crown King is located about 7 miles north of Horsethief Basin. Situated high in the pine forest, it’s a great place to escape the summer heat in Phoenix. Many all-terrain vehicles zoom about on the dirt roads near Crown King. The southern end of Algonquin Trail leads to Poland Creek where swimming holes of all sizes tempt hikers and canyoneers.

The Agua Fria National Monument lies on I-7 between Black Canyon City and Cordes Junction.