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Houston Brothers Trail No. 171
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Houston Brothers Trail No. 171
For much of its length the Houston Brothers Trail wanders along the bottom of Houston Draw, a picturesque little valley through which a spring-fed perennial stream flows. T
he scenery here is mostly pastoral with a few photogenic rock outcrops and aspen groves to remind you that you are in Rim country.
This trail served a number of purposes during a heyday that stretched over most of the first half of this century. The Houston brothers were ranchers who used it for moving livestock from one part of the range to another. The Forest Service used the trail to move fire guards into isolated forest cabins where they were on twenty-four hour duty during times of high fire danger. Evidence of both of these pages out of the trail's history is visible at a number of locations, including a cabin site which Gifford Pinchot, father of the U. S. Forest Service singled out for its peaceful beauty. Today this trail is part of the Cabin Loop trail system, which provides an opportunity for Forest visitors to relive an aspect of Forest history while they enjoy the area's natural beauty.
At a Glance
| Usage: | Medium |
|---|---|
| Closest Towns: | Happy Jack, AZ |
| Operated By: | Mogollon Rim District - 928-477-2255 |
General Information
General Notes:Rating: Moderate
Hiking time: 3 hours
Notes:
- No motor vehicles. Be prepared to follow blazes, the path is faint and hard to see in places.
- A small stream provides water at one point on this trail.
- FH 3 (Lake Mary Road) and AZ 87 are paved. FR 95 is graveled and suitable for passenger vehicles except during winter when it is closed.
Directions:
Location: 65 miles (about 2 hours) south of Flagstaff in the cool pines of Mogollon Rim country.
Access:
- Northern Trailhead: Drive about 55 Miles south of Flagstaff on Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road). Drive north 9 miles on AZ 87 to FR 95. Turn south (right) about 11 miles to FR 139A. Turn left on 139A and go 0.2 (2 tenths) mile to a large trail sign with Fred Haught Trail. Also near the large sign is a small oak sign (on the east side of road) that has Pinchot Cabin on it. Road is obliterated to the cabin but once you hike down to the cabin there are signs with Houston Brothers Trail on them.
- Southern Trailhead Drive about 55 Miles south of Flagstaff on Forest Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road). Drive north 9 miles on AZ 87 to FR 95. Turn south (right) about 9 miles and turn left on FR 139. Continue 9 more miles on FR 139 and turn right (west) on FR 300. Go 0.1 (1 tenth) mile to Houston Brothers Trailhead sign.
GPS - Northern Trailhead at Pinchot Cabin (Map): 34°30'23.5"N 111°11'40.1"W
Maps
- Forest Service Topo Map (FSTopo Geo-enable PDF):
- More Maps:
- USDA FSGeodata Clearinghouse: Arizona FSTopo Maps available for download in Geo-enabled PDF and GeoTIFF formats. Note: USGS 7.5 Minute (1:24K) Topo Maps and FSTopo Maps use the same title.
- USFS Store: Map Locator & Downloader purchase or download USGS topographic maps. Note: USGS 7.5 Minute (1:24K) Topo Maps and 1:24K FSTopo Maps use the same title.
Click map thumbnail for a larger view.
Activities
Day Hiking
The 1.5 mile hike from Pinchot Cabin to the cabin at Aspen Spring is a nice half-day hike. The trail is 7 miles one way from Pinchot Cabin to the trailhead on FR 300 (the Rim road).
Backpacking
This trail is part of the Cabin Loop Trail System. Water is usually available in a small stream along the trail and Aspen Spring.