Heading east from Dewey, this is a bonus, non-canonical, 15th segment of General Crook Trail.
As surveyed by the general himself in 1871, the General Crook Trail ran ~200 miles from Fort Apache, up the Mogollon Rim to near what is now Show Low, then west to Camp Verde, and onto Fort Whipple (in Prescott). Mileage was carved into rocks and trees, P markers for miles from Camp Verde west to Prescott; V for miles from Camp Verde east to Fort Apache.
As the modern General Crook Trail makes it’s way east from Ft. Whipple, it is renumbered as it passes through the Prescott National Forest (General Crook Trail #64), Coconino National Forest (General Crook Trail #130) and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (General Crook Trail #140). The east end of the trail is at (missing) marker V114 at FR 139, just west of Cottonwood Wash. Thus, Cottonwood Trail #508.
Cottonwood Trail #508 is a faint path, heading southeast for a half mile, before disappearing as it turns south up Cottonwood Wash. Angle 200 yds. left, across the wash, to pick up an unnumbered jeep trail. After 2½ miles, at Gourd Flat Canyon, Trail #508 splits left onto FR 132B. After 3½ miles, by the ranch, Trail #508 splits right off FR 132B, turning back to foot trail along the east flank of Butler Point.
Cottonwood Trail #508 climbs up a small wash to Bald Point. I briefly lost the trail again, just before it joins FR 163 at 4⅓ miles. FR 163 passes through a open gate to Scrub Point. Trail #508 splits right off FR 163 at just over 5 miles. Trail #508 drops 150 ft. to the bottom of Bryant Canyon. Trail #508 then climbs up Bryant Canyon, ending after just under 7 miles at Pinedale Ridge Rd. / FR 132.
Just on the other side of Pinedale Ridge Rd. is the General Crook Connector Trail, which — see above — does not actually connect to the General Crook Trail, but does connect Cottonwood Trail #508 to the White Mountain Trail System. Basically, you could think of Cottonwood Trail #508 as V114-V121, and the General Crook Connector Trail as V121-V127.
Cottonwood Trail #508 is has a wide variety of signs: White diamonds, which may or may not have a directional arrow, or even be accurate. Blue diamonds, which may be attached to trees, fiberglass posts, or fallen logs. Or simply broken off, in pieces. Fiberglass posts that simply say “Trail”, or may have symbols showing what is allowed (people & horses) or not (vehicles). Surveyor’s tape, often sun-bleached. Or just a signless, green, metal u-channel post. It’s a real mish-mash.
I saw wild horses in Cottonwood Canyon and near Scrub Point. I was taking flower photos both times, missing action shots. I was not expecting any flowers. Overall, coverage was light, but variety was good. There were a fair number of tufted evening primrose along Cottonwood Wash, showy phlox in the upper reaches of Bryant Canyon, and dense Stansbury’s cliffrose between Bald Point and Scrub Point.
Top Row: tufted evening primrose, pink & white longleaf phlox.
Middle Row: Fendler’s desert dandelion, Stansbury’s clifrose, not sure.
Bottom Row: indian paintbrush, western wallflower, baby aster.
Other than spot shade in Cottonwood Wash, and the pine grove near the head of Bryant Canyon — see video thumbail below — there is absolutely no shade. Even the juniper are so small, I had to hunch next to dried out cow flop to eat lunch. The Rodeo-Chediski Fire did a real number on the area. At least it wasn’t hot: 71℉, and winds legitimately gusting 30+ mph (per National Weather Service).
Cottonwood Wash Directions: From Phoenix, head north on AZ-87, the Beeline Highway, into Payson. Turn right on AZ-260. In 68.1 miles, 200 yds. before mile marker 321, turn right onto dirt FR 139. Park at the dirt loop in 100 yds.
ZB Draw Directions: Continue east on AZ-260. In 4.3 miles, just past mile marker 325, turn right onto Scotts Ln., then make a quick right onto Pinedale Ridge Rd. / FR 132. In 3.5 miles, the gravelly, but car-drivable, road crosses Cottonwood Trail #508 / General Crook Connector Trail. Park in the small pullout.
GPS File: Cottonwod_Trail_508
Distance: 7.92 mi.
AEG: 820 ft.
Time: 3h 07m
Rumble Video
Vimeo Video
Hiking Cottonwood Trail #508, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest from Preston McMurry on Vimeo.
