Mount Elden - Lookout Trail & Heart Loop Trail
[ No Comments ] Posted on 05.10.08 under Arizona, Flagstaff
Length: 3 miles to the top of Elden, X miles round trip
Difficulty: Difficult, steep
Elevation: 6,900 ft at trailhead; 9,295 to top of mountain
Trailhead Access: From Flagstaff: Follow Santa Fe Ave (Also known as Highway 89, or Route 66) north towards Page until you pass the Flagstaff Mall. Right past the Peaks Ranger District Office and directly across from Arizona State Credit union is the trailhead parking on the left.
This is a great, challenging day hike to the top of Mount Elden. The trail is well-maintained and leads you to some beautiful views of the city of Flagstaff, Arizona, the San Francisco Peaks, and the interesting geology of Mount Elden.
The trail is well defined and there are signs marking the forks and splits. A map at the trailhead outlines the extensive network of trails that runs around the foot of the mountain, as well as up and over the top. In this hike, we’ll go to the top of Elden to the lookout tower, continue along the “catwalk”- a cool ridge that extends to the north on the Sunset Trail, and then we’ll drop down the Heart Trail and walk along the foot of the mountain back to the trailhead.
From the trailhead parking lot, you will follow the Elden Lookout Trail. This trail will split 3 times within the first mile, with different trails branching off to the right and left, but just follow the signs for the Lookout Trail and you’ll be okay. Once you really start climbing, there will be no more forks until the top!
You will hike through pinion, ponderosa, and juniper trees. My favorites are the large, gnarly old alligator juniper trees. There will also be cactus, yucca, and other shrubbery.
The trail will get steep and start switchbacking, and you’ll reach Douglas fir and Aspen trees. Don’t give up, you’re almost there!
After 2.3 miles, you will summit in a little saddle and have the option of continuing straight on the Sunset Trail, or going left .2 miles to the lookout towers and the true top of Mount Elden. I recommend going to the top. You can check out the plethora of TV and radio towers that have sprouted up over the years, and if you are lucky (depending on the time of year), you can climb the fire lookout tower and perhaps talk to the ranger who may be stationed there. The views of the town are also pretty cool.
Then you can head back down to the saddle and continue along the Sunset trail. This trail follows along the inner basin of Elden, where there was a huge fire in 1977 started by some campers. There are still skeletons of dead pines, but many aspens have sprouted and are thriving now. This is my favorite part of the trail.
The Sunset trail follows the bowl of the inner basin and then cuts northeast onto the ridge. This part is called the catwalk because you can pretty much see down both slopes of the mountain as you follow along the top. It’s neat.
You will come to another split in the trail. Take the Heart Trail which drops east off of the ridge. This will meander down the east face through some red dirt and interesting geology. You will follow this for 2 miles.
Once again the trail will split and you will want to go to the right (south). Head .2 miles to the Christmas Tree trail. This will take you back to your car!
