Oak Flat Mine Rd

Directions: Take US 60 towards Globe. The turn is at Mile Post 231, where you turn left onto a dirt road. Magma Mine Rd which takes you to the Oak Flat campground is the right had turn at this intersection. You want to stay on this main road as it turns left for a .5 miles until you come to a locked. This is where you park. The road should be easy enough for most cars.

Dog Friendly: Yes, minimal cactus. There was still water in the creek but it will probably be gone soon.

This one of my favorite hikes that is strictly for the dogs. It was 97 degrees when I left Mesa and when we got to the gate it was 83 degrees. It takes a little over 30 minutes to get there from the 202 and the 60. The whole hike is on an old mine road, so it's easy to follow and it's a gradual uphill that's almost unnoticeable.  The road follows a creek which is still barely running but was lot of fun all spring. We went in the afternoon so the route was shaded by the surrounding hills. The road leads to an old open pit copper mine. Watch out for cattle.

Haunted Canyon

Directions: Take US 60 East towards Globe-Miami, you're going to turn left on Pinto Valley Rd (Forest Road 287) which is .4 miles past Mile Post 239. Take Pinto Valley Rd approximately 7 miles to Forest road 3037. Drive this road until you come to a gate, there are several parking places.

Dog Friendly: Absolutely; however, the water is probably seasonal. Watch out for cattle!

This probably one of my favorite dog friendly hikes. It takes less than an hour to get there from the 202 and US 60, It's only a few degrees cooler than the valley but a lot of the hike is shaded. It's also an interesting drive as Pinto Valley Rd takes you through the heart of a large mining operation. As mentioned above there is a gate on FR3037 so you have hike 1.5 miles to the single track. It's not bad, the creek was running along the road for most the road to the trail head. It's an easy hike with only a few, short, steep climbs once you get on the trail. Lots of big trees and some stellar views.

Red Mountain Trail

Red Mountain HooDoo

Directions: From Flagstaff take Highway 180 North approximately 30 miles. The parking for the trail head is signed on the highway and is easy to spot.

Dog Friendly: So-so. There were other groups of visitors when we were there on a Friday, so leash your dog.

This is a short easy hike but well worth the stop. If you didn't know what was there it would be easy to drive right by as it doesn't look like much from the highway. Red Mountain is a cinder cone that was turned into a natural amphitheater by an eruption and then further eroded over the centuries. There are many different rock formations and mini-slot canyons.

Link to more photos:  Red Mountain Photos

The ladder required to enter the amphitheater

Hike to the Sun Flower Mine

Directions: Take Highway 87 North towards Payson, your going to turn left on Forest Rd 627 which is approximately .6 miles past mile post 222. Your going to drive 1.2 miles and then make a right on Forest Rd 201 and then turn left in 1,3 miles on Forest Rd 25. I parked at a campsite where Forest Rd 25 meets Sycamore Creek. On the way to the mine we hiked along and in the creek and it eventually intersects with 25A, It wasn't bad but took longer. On the way back we hiked along 25A. The mine and the processing plant are the first road to the left. You can search for Sun Flower Mine on Google Maps. I have a 4wd truck but there are parts of 25A that I wouldn't drive and I'm there to wear the dogs out so I don't mind hiking.

Dog Friendly: Yes, I lucked out, it was 60 degrees and the West Fork of Sycamore Creek was still running. The dogs had a blast and as I write this they're all passed out.

Timbers and the sealed mine tunnel

The Sun Flower Mine (also known as the National Mine) was active from 1913 to the mid-1980s. It was mostly a mercury mine but gold, silver and copper were also mined. What makes this area great is that there is still some of the mercury processing plant still left but unfortunately not as much as there was before the 2012 Sun Flower fire. Beyond the processing plant the actual mine is about 1/2 mile away. All three of the tunnels have been sealed.

One of the sealed mine tunnels of the Sun Flower Mine

Despite the recent fire the hike along the creek was scenic and rugged. The view from parts of Forest Rd 25A was excellent. It was well worth the drive.