Meadow Trail #53

The 7.6-mile Meadow Trail leads from the Meadow Trailhead off of Forest Road 142 (Loco Mountain Road) into the Gila Wilderness. From the trailhead, the trail follows a gentle ridge to the east, avoiding private property at the end of the road. It is 1.25 miles to the Gila Wilderness boundary and the Wilderness Ranger District. After entering the wilderness area, the trail drops off of the ridge through several switchbacks. At the bottom of the ridge, the Sam Martin Trail #23 intersects from the east as Trail #53 turns west. Trail #53 crosses a minor drainage, intersects the east end of Homestead Trail #101, and turns south, staying above the west side of Indian Creek Canyon as it continues south toward the Middle Fork of the Gila River. Near its southern end, Trail #53 drops to the Gila River and ends at Middle Fork Trail #157.