Davenport Hill Trail #63

The 5.6 mile trail provides visitors to Dogtown Lake with an interesting, scenic day hike to the top of Davenport Hill and back. The higher elevation of the hill (7805 feet) and the northern exposure of the trail provide hikers with a cool climatic change and also a change in vegetation from ponderosa pine to Douglas fir/white fir and oak near the summit.

The trail follows Dogtown Wash about 0.3 mile and then climbs to a flat, where it follows an old logging road before turning north toward Davenport Hill. The trail ascends the hill at a gradual 8% grade to the top. Although the trail ascends 755 feet, flowing switchbacks take most of the sweat and toil out of the climb. The first mile is an effortless stroll through woodlands of Gambel oak, ponderosa pine and sunny clearings. The uphill trudge begins where the trail crosses unsigned Forest Road 717 and moves onto the first of several edge-hugging switchbacks.

Farther up, the trail ducks into a sheer canyon shaded with moss-draped Douglas and white firs. The slim path traverses the canyon walls, landing hikers on the final uphill haul where picture-perfect views of Dogtown Lake and Bill Williams Mountain dominate the horizon. Once past a second gate, the trail emerges on the summit ridge for a short, flat walk to the high point.

Follow the same trail back to the start. From the trail, you can enjoy scenic views of Dogtown Lake and the country around Williams.