The Blue Ridge section of the Arizona Trail stretches across meadows, forests, and canyons from the top of the 2,000 foot Mogollon Rim to Arizona Highway 87 near Blue Ridge Campground.

General Information: The Blue Ridge section of the Arizona Trail stretches across meadows, forests, and canyons from the top of the 2,000 foot Mogollon Rim to Arizona Highway 87 near Blue Ridge Campground. The trail's route across the Blue Ridge Ranger District begins at General Springs Cabin. This Forest Service Work Station was named after a nearby water source discovered by General George Crook. Crook was famous for his campaigns against the Apaches in this area. Legend has it that he narrowly escaped a band of marauding hostiles here.

From the old cabin, the trail winds down General Springs Canyon to the Fred Haught Trail named after another historic resident. This leg of the Cabin Loop System leads the Arizona Trail to the top of Battleground Ridge. Here it offers good long distance views of the surrounding countryside before descending into East Clear Creek Canyon and crossing that small mountain stream just as it flows into Blue Ridge Reservoir.

Directions: From Flagstaff, Drive 55 miles south to Clints Well on Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road), then 9 miles southwest on AZ 87 to FR 300 (the General Crook Trail). Turn east about 6 miles to the General Springs trailhead. (FR 300 is closed in winter.) Or turn north from Clints Well about 7.5 miles to the Blue Ridge Trailhead.

Elevation: 6,900 feet

Elevation Gain: 300 feet

Distance: 8 miles

Usage: Light

Difficulty: Moderate

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