Flat Top Trail #607E

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Views

Stop at the Apache Sitgreaves USFS office in Springerville (three miles away) to get more information about this trail and others in the area. The rangers/staff are a terrific resource and more friendly than you can imagine.

Patchy snow in spots in winter, some loose rocks in spots.

Maintained by USFS, this is part of the Murray Basin Trail System. Short run on a nice wide trail with steady, yet gentle, elevation gain. Ample parking in a dedicated lot at the start, and the trailhead is on the north side of the lot. Locals use this for a quick workout, but this isn't Phoenix, so it's lightly traveled. There are mountain bikers sharing the trail with runners. There is some shade all day in the late fall, winter, and early spring, but I recommend an early or late start in summer.

The trail crests on the top of a beautiful flat mesa. There, you'll wander to the edge, which provides sweeping vistas of Eagar, Springerville, Round Valley, the Little Colorado River's emergence from the White Mountains on its way to the Grand Canyon, and east into New Mexico.

Juniper, Pinon pines. Excellent birding area.