Backpack East Baldy Trail #95

From the trailhead you start your hike with views over the East Fork of the Little Colorado River as it winds through grassy meadows filled with summer wildflowers. About 1.5 miles in the trail heads into the forest, on your left before you enter the forest is a nice primitive campsite where we stayed the night. Entering in the forest you will climb a steep 800 ft gain over the next half mile through beautiful sandstone rocks. Immediately you are rewarded with an amazing view from on top of a sandstone lookout! You can see over all the meadows and lakes in the area and into the distant mounts. The trail enters the forest after your rock lookout and this is where the second set of campsites are there are several to choose from here. From here the trail is more gradual following the ridgeline through lush mossy forest. We crossed a spring on the way up right off the trail the water was cold and refreshing. Along the trail there are tons of strawberries I would highly recommend taking time to pick and eat them. You will pass an interesting clearing in the forest that has tall wildflowers with hummingbirds and bees buzzing! It’s an incredible sight to see. At the edge of the clearing you see the cause of the clearing, a wrecked military plane crashed during WWII ( thank you to the men who lost their live serving this country). Almost seven miles from the trailhead, this trail merges with another from Sheeps Crossing. The two come together in a saddle below Mt. Thomas, nearly to the top of Mt. Baldy. At the fork keep left to continue to the peak/sudo peak. The summit of Mt. Baldy is located on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation and is closed to all non-tribal members. You can request access to the peak and they usually give it to you. I ask that you please respect the Apache people and their land. We found the sudo peak to be very satisfying. A lot of people like to do the loop but that will require 2 vehicles which we did not have.

I should note that you don’t need to backpack this trail as it is only 13 miles, but because it’s a 4 hour drive from PHX its better to make it a 2 adventure.

Happy Trails!