Passage #34 - San Francisco Peaks

Location:  Schultz Pass to Cedar Ranch

Length:  ~29.5 miles

Southern Trailhead:  Schultz Pass - Sunset Trailhead
- GPS Coordinates:  35.28684° N, 111.62627° W

Northern Trailhead:  Cedar Ranch - FR 417
- GPS Coordinates:  35.54733° N, 111.78292° W

Trail Route Description:  From the Sunset Trailhead the current route follows the Weatherford Trail up to the Kachina Trail. This trail circles around to the north to the Snowbowl parking lot. From here the route becomes a bushwack. It drops to the northwest, crosses a fence and then heads due north. It passes Lew Tank, joins a two-track for a short distance, and then leaves it heading north again. There is a turn to the right (east) and then another two-track road. This road heads northwest, reaches a forest road and bushwacks north downhill to another forest road. Crossing this road the route turns to the northwest and soon reaches FR 9003S. From here it bushwacks north-northeast up to FR9009R and then on up to FR 514 and Kelly Tank. From here there is constructed and signed trail to the end of the passage. The trail parallels FR 514 and then continues to the north when FR 514 turns to the east. The route crosses FR 523 and begins following FR 416. It passes Badger Tank and Bonita Tank, and then the route turns to the northwest and travels to Missouri Bill Hill. It skirts around the west side of this hill, heads northwest to FR 417 and then west over to Cedar Ranch.

Difficulty:  Moderate

Season(s):  Spring, Summer and Fall

Water:  There are no reliable sources of water on this passage. Water can sometimes be found at Schultz Pass, Kelly Tank and East Cedar Tank.

Notes/Warnings:

• All water along this passage should be purified prior to use.
• Mountain bikes are prohibited in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness.

Resources:

• USGS Topographic Maps: Humphreys Peak, White Horse Hills and S P Mountain.
• Coconino National Forest map.
• BLM Information Center maps.

For more information, contact:

• The Passage Steward
• Coconino National Forest, Peaks Ranger District, 5075 N. Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004   (928) 526-0866.
• BLM Information Center, One North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004   (602) 417-9300.

Current Trail Information:
2/2008 - Approximately 15 miles of trail need to be built in this passage. Until the trail is constructed, hikers are advised to use the Weatherford and Kachina trails from Shultz Pass to the Snow Bowl parking area. At that point it is necessary to bushwack about 6 miles to Kelly Tank, which is on FR 514. The constructed and signed trail begins again at that point.