1 Buckskinner Trail

This is an easy trail that starts from Buckskinner Park in the town of Williams. It can be used as the short, easy hike described here, or as part of a more ambitious hike by connecting to the Bill Williams Trail.

Location: In Williams.

Distance: 2 miles out and back.

Approximate hiking time: 1 hour.

Elevation change: 200 feet.

Best seasons: Late spring through fall.

Water: Water is available at Clover Spring. Be sure to treat the water before drinking.

Other trail users: Horses and mountain bikes.

Canine compatibility: Dogs are allowed if kept under control.

Permits and restrictions: None.

Maps: USGS Williams South; Kaibab National Forest (Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts).

Trail contacts: Williams Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, 742 South Clover Road, Williams, AZ 86046, (928) 635-5600, www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/.

Finding the trailhead: From Route 66, Williams’s main street, turn south on 4th Street. Go two blocks, then turn right (west) on Sherman Avenue. After two more blocks, turn left (south) onto 6th Street. Follow this street a short distance out of town. Keep left (south) at the Forest Service complex, and follow 6th Street (now maintained dirt) to Buckskinner Park, which is on the right (west) just before the end of the road at City Reservoir. The trailhead is behind the ramadas to the west.

The Hike

This well-defined trail heads south-southwest into a ravine, then works its way to the top of a volcanic terrace. A few Douglas firs mix with the ponderosa pine–Gambel oak forest, but when the trail reaches the flatter terrain above, the firs disappear. The trail continues west-southwest, crosses another ravine, and reaches Clover Spring at 1 mile. This is a logical turnaround point for a short, easy hike.

For a longer hike, continue on Clover Spring Trail for 0.5 mile to Bill Williams Trail, then turn left (south) to hike to the top of Bill Williams Mountain. This is a climb of more than 2,000 feet, and adds 6 miles to the round-trip distance. Hiking Northern Arizona includes more information on the Bill Williams Trail.

Miles and Directions

0.0Trailhead at Buckskinner Park.

1.0Reach Clover Spring, your turnaround point.

2.0Arrive back at the trailhead.