Hiking & Walking in Blue Range Primative AreasBlue Range

 

 

 

Its 173,762 acres are indeed wild and it is the last designated Primitive Area in the United States. The Blue Range remains one of Arizona's untouched and little known jewels. This is a land of rugged mountains, steep canyons, and stark ridges that is at the same time remote and accessible through an extensive trail system.

 

Contact Information:

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

P.O. Box 640

Springerville, AZ 85938

928.333.4301

website

 

 

 

 

Wilderness and Primitive Areas

 

In 1933, the Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed the Blue Range should be managed for primitive uses to maintain the wilderness of that area.

 

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In 1933, the Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed the Blue Range should be managed for primitive uses to maintain the wildness of that area. Its 173,762 acres are indeed wild and it is the last designated Primitive Area in the United States. The Blue Range remains one of Arizona's untouched and little known jewels. This is a land of rugged mountains, steep canyons, and stark ridges that is at the same time remote and accessible through an extensive trail system. Trails are open to non-motorized and non-mechanized use only within the primitive area.

Bear Valley Trail #55

 

The Bear Valley Trail starts at the junction of Trail #23 near Bonanza Bill Flat and stays relatively level as it crosses Cow Flat until it drops into the canyon near Franz Spring.

 

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The Bear Valley Trail starts at the junction of Trail #23 near Bonanza Bill Flat and stays relatively level as it crosses Cow Flat until it drops into the canyon near Franz Spring. There is a spring and an line cabin used by the grazing permit holder in his operation and it is a good port in a storm for hikers. The trail climbs out of the canyon here and crosses Campbell Flat to the edge of the Mogollon Rim where it descends into Bear Valley. As it crosses Bear Valley you can observe the effects of a forest fire that burned in 1993. As the trail climbs out of Bear Valley be sure to watch for trail blazes on trees and rock cairns as the trail can become indistinct from here to the Blue River. The portion of trail to Auger Tank is rough and may require some route finding skills. At Auger Tank there is a tendency to follow the drainage but that is not the trail so look for the trail to leave the drainage to the west and keep alert for blazes and cairns. The trail drops into Sycamore Canyon where there is an old, dilapidated corral and then climbs out of the canyon to Ladron Spring, a reliable water source. From here the trail descends to the Blue River over a narrow chute that is marked by several small waterfalls.

 

Length: 12.1 miles

Rating: Moderate

 

Access: Via Trail #23, Bonanza Bill Trail or from the Blue River