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Easy accessibility to the outdoors draws many explorers to the White Mountains of Arizona. Thousands of miles of trails and roads in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest run in and around Torreon. These winding forest roads are ideal for hiking and cycling.
Before you head out, be sure to keep safety in mind. The Arizona climate is dry, so always carry plenty of water and generously apply sunscreen. During the summer monsoon season, dangerous storms can develop in the afternoon, so it’s best to hike or ride early in the morning. Finally, hike with a buddy and always let someone know where you’re planning to hike and when you expect to be home so they can get help if an issue arises.
Please keep in mind that bicyclists should yield to both horseback riders and hikers on trails. When bikers encounter one of these other trail users, it is up to them to pull over to the side of the trail and stop until they’ve been passed.
Below are our favorite trails but check AllTrails.com for more resources.
- Timber Mesa Trail
Timber Mesa Trail is a 7.6-mile, moderately challenging trail popular from April through September. It’s a scenic, well-marked trail, a bit rocky in places, with an elevation gain of 583 feet. Considered moderately challenging, most hikers take close to three hours to complete.
Directions: Drive on State Highway 260 towards McNary. Turn left on Porter Mountain Road (Forest Road 45). Drive 2.2 miles. Turn left at the cattle guard. Drive 75 yards to the cindered trailhead on the right.
Distance from Torreon: 12 miles - Fool Hollow Lake Trail
Fool Hollow Lake Trail is an easy 3.2-mile out-and-back scenic trail around this scenic mountain lake. The lake is named Fool Hollow because the locals joked that only a fool would try and farm the place and the name stuck. Part of the trail is paved, and part is gravel. You’re sure to enjoy the geese and waterfowl in the lake. Day pass to enter the park is $7.
Directions: Two miles north of US 60 off Highway 260 in Show Low.
Distance from Torreon: 3 miles - Buena Vista Trail Short Loop
This popular 3-mile loop trail is considered an easy route, open year-round and about a 5-minute drive from City Park. Trail riders and hikers enjoy beautiful ponderosa pine forest views. The main trail is well marked but be careful as crossovers aren’t as easy to navigate. This is the shorter loop of the Buena Vista Trail.
Directions: US-60 to Rim Road in Show Low.
Distance from Torreon: 3.6 miles - Buena Vista Trail
Buena Vista Trail is a 10.3-mile moderately challenging route. This trail traverses many hills and during early spring it can be muddy in spots due to winter runoff. It’s a very popular trail for birding, hiking, biking, and horseback riding and is known for a wide variety of wildflowers in the springtime. At the half-way point, the terrain gets sandy and rocky, making it a more difficult bike ride. The best time to visit is in the summer months when the mud is at a minimum, however, there will likely still be mud pockets around. Be sure to download the map as this trail crisscrosses with other ATV trails and is a bit confusing.
Directions: US-60 to Rim Road in Show Low.
Distance from Torreon: 3.6 miles - Los Burros Trail
Los Burros Trail is 13.6 miles long, offers great scenery, mellow climbs, and some challenging rock areas if you do the full trail. It’s considered a moderately challenging trail that gradually takes you uphill, with a 1,286-foot elevation gain. This long and winding trail ultimately wraps around Wishbone Mountain. More: https://www.arizonahighways.com/los-burros-trail.
Directions: From Pinetop-Lakeside, drive east on State Route 260 for 5.2 miles to Cady Avenue. Turn left onto Cady Avenue, which becomes Forest Road 224, and continue for 7.1 miles to Forest Road 20 (look for the Los Burros Campground sign). Turn right onto FR 20 and continue for 0.5 miles to the trailhead, which is located at the far end of the campground.
Distance from Torreon: 29 miles - Panorama in Lakeside
The Panorama Trail is a moderately challenging 8.9-mile loop near Lakeside with scenic outlook views (hence the name Panorama) at about the halfway point. This trail tends to get muddy during wet weather. If you look closely, you can often see deer and turkey tracks on the trail. Generally flat, with only 698 ft. elevation gain, this trail offers a nice balance of forest and fields.
Directions: US-60 to N. Penrod Rd. to Porter Mountain Rd.
Distance from Torreon: 14.6 miles - Blue Ridge Trail in Lakeside
Rated difficult for mountain biking, the Blue Ridge Trail is a 9.1-mile loop trail near Lakeside. This trail winds through beautiful, dense woods and, although rocky, includes a long series of switchbacks back to the bottom. Much of the Blue Ridge Trail follows a nice creek, an added perk for bikers who want to stop for a break. Some bikers call this more of a hiking trail than a mountain biking trail.
Directions: US-60 to AZ-260 to Branding Iron Loop
Distance from Torreon: 13 miles - Country Club Trail
This is a moderate to easy trail that loops 3.5 miles through ponderosa pine, juniper and oak woodland. Rated easy, with an elevation climb of 200 feet for the first half, then mostly downhill from there.
Directions: From Lakeside Ranger Station drive south on State Highway 260 towards McNary. Turn left onto Bucksprings Road. Drive 0.6 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 182 (road to Sky Hi Retreat). Drive 2 miles. You will pass the Springs Trailhead on the left. Where Forest Road 182 veers to the left, proceed straight on to Forest Road 185 (past Sierra Springs Ranch entrance). Trailhead is on the right 100 yards down Forest Road 185.
Distance from Torreon: 19 miles - Los Caballos Trailhead
Pack a lunch and plenty of water for this 14.6-mile loop. This trail is considered moderately challenging and will take the better part of the day to complete. Great for hiking and backpacking and sure to be a good workout. Be sure you keep your eyes up as wild mustangs are known to frequent the area, hence the name of the trail.
Directions: Via AZ-260 E from Payson, turn right onto Joe Tank Rd.
Distance from Torreon: 3.4 miles - Show Low Bluff Trail
At just a mile long, this is a great trail to walk off dinner and take in the fresh air of the mountains. Like many of the trails in the area, dogs are welcome, but here they can even enjoy space to run off leash in some areas. This trail is unique in that there’s a small stream running alongside much of it, making for a picturesque scene. Considered easy, this trail is great for multi-generational families to enjoy.
Directions: Via AZ-260 E from Payson, turn left onto W. Deuce of Clubs, right onto N. White Mountain Rd.
Distance from Torreon: 5.2 miles - Mogollon Rim Trail
This easy .8 mile out-and-back trail gives you the escape you need without the time commitment many other hikes require. Great for walking, running, or hiking, there’s plenty to see in a short distance. Be sure you stay on the path, as this trail is on private land but is accessible through public easements. The path is paved, making it easier for all generations of hikers. The views of the breathtaking forest below make this hike a must-do.
Directions: Via AZ-260 from Payson, to White Mountain Rd.
Distance from Torreon: 8.7 miles
Remember to bring a helmet, gloves, tool kit, extra tire tube, first aid kit, water to drink, sunscreen and rain gear whenever you're riding or hiking in remote areas. Enjoy!
Located just three hours from Phoenix in Show Low, Ariz., Torreon is a luxury golfing community nestled in the White Mountains. It offers convenience, world-class recreation and amenities for the entire family. Offering everything from a sprawling outdoor pool, expansive fitness center to award-winning food at Torreon Grille as well as a family and game center, fishing pond and endless trails throughout the community, every member or guest is sure to enjoy time at Torreon. Learn more at https://torreon.com/
Contact Linda Cedarblade, designated broker for Torreon Realty at (928) 532-3030 or lrc@torreon.com for more information on gorgeous, high country lots nestled in the White Mountains.