Views to die for…one of our top 10 hikes!

And only 30 minutes from our cabin!

We set off today to hike up on the Mogollon Rim.  We had a couple of options that Vicky had scoped out.  We frequently do that--decide on the way.  

As we were driving along, Vicky said something to the effect of "or we could hike off of the road coming up, the Rim Road," so we pulled off, drove a ways, saw some interesting side roads that Vicky thought would go far enough for a hike, and stopped. 

We like to hike on roads that are four numbers and a letter.  That means they are rarely traveled on by vehicles.  They are 4-wheel drive roads, at best.  

Here is an example.  A three number road.  You could drive your Prius on it:

  

Now, a four number road with a letter.  Often the Forest Service has categorized these roads as "closed," which means closed to motorized vehicles.   But not closed to hikers or, as we found out after getting permission from the Park Service,  to our bikes. 

Yesterday we hiked on a beautiful four-letter-and-a-number road:

This was the good part of the road.  There were sections where we weren't even sure we could drive it in our 4Runner.

The hike was so peaceful, the road going along Webber Creek.  

After close to two miles we could tell that the forest was opening up ahead.

And it did, to one of the most beautiful sites we have seen.  A large meadow along the edge of the rim.  Views in several directions.  Stunning.  The photos show it:

We saw hoodoos that were as spectacular as any we have ever seen elsewhere, including in National Parks.

We read an article this morning in the New York Times about how crowded National Parks are becoming.  (our solution, by the way, is to create more National Parks!). 

Yet, yesterday, 30 minutes from our home, we had a spectacular hike.  We saw no one else.  Just us and nature.  With stunning meadows and views, and quiet forests with birds and many butterflies. 

Of course, we had to discover this amazing place on our own.  And work for this experience.  It was a four mile hike with a decent elevation gain.  But that is part of the fun….in fact the discovery of a new spectacular hike is exhilarating to both of us!