By James LaJocies
With the winter temperatures sinking and
cabin fever climbing, I have
been infected with the desire to take to the mountains and seek a cure
for my winter doldrums. With pack and trail map in hand, I set forth
into the wilderness of Mother Natures Wonderland to consume my dose of
prescribed medicine in which she can only cure.
Today’s adventure is a loop trek in and around Yeager Canyon on the west face of Mingus Mountain. The loop trail actually consists of three trails which offer spectacular views of the Northern Bradshaw Mountains, Granite Mountain and the Mountains near Camp Wood and Juniper Mesa. But vistas are not the only adventure. A good portion of this loop is deep with in the Ponderosa Pines of the Prescott National Forest.
Once you reach the trailhead you will have a choice of two trails to began your adventure. The trail loop consists of three trails, the Yeager Cabin Trail (#533), Little Yeager Trail (#111) and Yeager Canyon Trail (#28). If you choose to trek clockwise, you will step off onto the Yeager Canyon Trail (#28). Or you may go counter clockwise as I did and step onto the Yeager Cabin Trail (#533) and began you assent up the west face of Mingus Mountain.
Once I stepped onto a wide Yeager Cabin Trail and began my assent through a grove of ash trees and a series of switchbacks, it was not long before the first vistas broke through the vegetation of tall brush, mostly mahogany and silk tassel standing up to eight feet tall . Magnificent views of Chino Valley, the Northern Lonesome Valley, Granite Mountain and the Bradshaw Mountain range stands above the valley floor and ready for the click, click of your favorite camera. This leg of the trail offers most of the vistas of the loop. So snap it up while you can.
Continuing your forward momentum upward, you will soon start to enter into a deeper forest vegetation of junipers, pinyon and ponderosa pines and the pinnacle of your climb on this leg. Your vistas will soon disappear at this point, but you will be rewarded by being surrounded with the serenity of a deep forest environment. Trail conditions change as you begin to enjoy a more gentle traversing of your trek and catch your breath after a good one and a half mile climb.
The Yeager Cabin Trail (#533) ends at a tee junction of a unknown fire service road. At this juncture, turn Northeast (Left) onto the road and follow it for about two tenths of a mile until you reach the Little Yeager Trail (#111). The trailhead sign is located at a tall tree pole to your left as you enter an opening meadow like area along the forest road.
To me the Little Yeager Trail is a great hike. No vistas to speak of, but a great forest environment of ponderosa pine, great specimens of alligator junipers, gambel oaks and of course our large Arizona white oak. All of which tower above majestically as you traverse through their cooling shade. No doubt that this leg is a great Spring and Summer time trek.
The Little Yeager Trail is the longest stretch of the loop, at about two and a half miles. But if you add the last half mile from the Yeager Cabin Trail and the first half mile of the Yeager Canyon Trail, you will have about three and a half miles of a deep forest trek. Quite, peaceful and serene. Solitude, to say the least. Until it becomes interrupted.
After enjoying the Little Yeager Trail, it will soon come abruptly to an end at a trail tee in which there is a marker #530. Take trail 530 to the left and it will lead to the final leg of your trek, the Yeager Canyon Trail (#28). The trail marker will be ahead of you in less then a quarter of a mile. Enter onto the Yeager Canyon Trail and began your final descent along the west face of Mingus Mountain.
The Yeager Canyon Trail drops rapidly through a series of switchbacks to the bottom of a small drainage that lies just south of Yeager Canyon and continues down to a confluence with Yeager Canyon. Along the way the trail becomes quite steep and the footing along the way is somewhat rocky. Along this section of the trail you will witness an abundance of pinyon pine trees.
Soon after your descent, you will come upon an granite cliff out cropping with a couple of junipers offering cooling shade to this sunny western slope of the Yeager Canyon Trail. This cliff jaunts out from the trail and offers an open view to vistas of the Northern Lonesome Valley, the Bradshaw Mountains and Mount Hickey to the North. This is a great spot for a snack or a picnic and some good pictures to the west. Otherwise, a must ‘sit down’.
Continue your descent from the mountain traversing trough its bushy slopes with a southern exposure. Soon you will reach the tributary drainage of Yeager Canyon. The trail here is nicely maintained and meanders under a canopy of ponderosa pine and with in a short distance, you will finish your loop.
After giving thanks for a pleasant trek through attractive riparian vegetation, deciduous hardwoods, ponderosa pine, junipers and jaw dropping vistas; you look back to see where you have been and stand in awe of what you have witnessed and experienced. Another chapter of the wonders of Mother Natures Southwest Wonderland.
Today’s adventure is a loop trek in and around Yeager Canyon on the west face of Mingus Mountain. The loop trail actually consists of three trails which offer spectacular views of the Northern Bradshaw Mountains, Granite Mountain and the Mountains near Camp Wood and Juniper Mesa. But vistas are not the only adventure. A good portion of this loop is deep with in the Ponderosa Pines of the Prescott National Forest.
Once you reach the trailhead you will have a choice of two trails to began your adventure. The trail loop consists of three trails, the Yeager Cabin Trail (#533), Little Yeager Trail (#111) and Yeager Canyon Trail (#28). If you choose to trek clockwise, you will step off onto the Yeager Canyon Trail (#28). Or you may go counter clockwise as I did and step onto the Yeager Cabin Trail (#533) and began you assent up the west face of Mingus Mountain.
Once I stepped onto a wide Yeager Cabin Trail and began my assent through a grove of ash trees and a series of switchbacks, it was not long before the first vistas broke through the vegetation of tall brush, mostly mahogany and silk tassel standing up to eight feet tall . Magnificent views of Chino Valley, the Northern Lonesome Valley, Granite Mountain and the Bradshaw Mountain range stands above the valley floor and ready for the click, click of your favorite camera. This leg of the trail offers most of the vistas of the loop. So snap it up while you can.
Continuing your forward momentum upward, you will soon start to enter into a deeper forest vegetation of junipers, pinyon and ponderosa pines and the pinnacle of your climb on this leg. Your vistas will soon disappear at this point, but you will be rewarded by being surrounded with the serenity of a deep forest environment. Trail conditions change as you begin to enjoy a more gentle traversing of your trek and catch your breath after a good one and a half mile climb.
The Yeager Cabin Trail (#533) ends at a tee junction of a unknown fire service road. At this juncture, turn Northeast (Left) onto the road and follow it for about two tenths of a mile until you reach the Little Yeager Trail (#111). The trailhead sign is located at a tall tree pole to your left as you enter an opening meadow like area along the forest road.
To me the Little Yeager Trail is a great hike. No vistas to speak of, but a great forest environment of ponderosa pine, great specimens of alligator junipers, gambel oaks and of course our large Arizona white oak. All of which tower above majestically as you traverse through their cooling shade. No doubt that this leg is a great Spring and Summer time trek.
The Little Yeager Trail is the longest stretch of the loop, at about two and a half miles. But if you add the last half mile from the Yeager Cabin Trail and the first half mile of the Yeager Canyon Trail, you will have about three and a half miles of a deep forest trek. Quite, peaceful and serene. Solitude, to say the least. Until it becomes interrupted.
After enjoying the Little Yeager Trail, it will soon come abruptly to an end at a trail tee in which there is a marker #530. Take trail 530 to the left and it will lead to the final leg of your trek, the Yeager Canyon Trail (#28). The trail marker will be ahead of you in less then a quarter of a mile. Enter onto the Yeager Canyon Trail and began your final descent along the west face of Mingus Mountain.
The Yeager Canyon Trail drops rapidly through a series of switchbacks to the bottom of a small drainage that lies just south of Yeager Canyon and continues down to a confluence with Yeager Canyon. Along the way the trail becomes quite steep and the footing along the way is somewhat rocky. Along this section of the trail you will witness an abundance of pinyon pine trees.
Soon after your descent, you will come upon an granite cliff out cropping with a couple of junipers offering cooling shade to this sunny western slope of the Yeager Canyon Trail. This cliff jaunts out from the trail and offers an open view to vistas of the Northern Lonesome Valley, the Bradshaw Mountains and Mount Hickey to the North. This is a great spot for a snack or a picnic and some good pictures to the west. Otherwise, a must ‘sit down’.
Continue your descent from the mountain traversing trough its bushy slopes with a southern exposure. Soon you will reach the tributary drainage of Yeager Canyon. The trail here is nicely maintained and meanders under a canopy of ponderosa pine and with in a short distance, you will finish your loop.
After giving thanks for a pleasant trek through attractive riparian vegetation, deciduous hardwoods, ponderosa pine, junipers and jaw dropping vistas; you look back to see where you have been and stand in awe of what you have witnessed and experienced. Another chapter of the wonders of Mother Natures Southwest Wonderland.