The General Crook Trail #130 is a historic 58-mile point-to-point route following the spectacular Mogollon Rim escarpment in central Arizona. Originally blazed in 1871 by General George Crook as a military supply road connecting Fort Whipple (Prescott) to Fort Apache, today's trail retraces portions of this historic route through Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. This is a trail for experienced backpackers who enjoy solitude, historical routes, and don't mind route-finding challenges. The trail is infrequently traveled and poorly maintained in sections, with faded or missing blazes making navigation difficult. Expect stunning rim-edge views dropping 2,000 feet to the valleys below, frequent road crossings, and a mix of maintained footpath and road-following segments. The trail is marked with metal "V" chevrons on trees (representing miles from Fort Verde), though many have disappeared over the decades.
No permits are required for backpacking the General Crook Trail through Coconino or Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Dispersed camping is allowed and free throughout both forests, with standard regulations: maximum 14-day stay within any 30-day period, and you must camp at least 100 feet from water sources (Arizona law requires 1/4 mile from water or livestock tanks). Groups over 75 people need a free special use permit from the local District office. Bear canisters are not required. Campfires are allowed in dispersed sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods—check current conditions with the Mogollon Rim Ranger District before departure. No camping is allowed within 200 feet of the trail corridor itself in certain areas, and no motorized vehicles are permitted off designated roads.
Mid-April through June and September through October offer the best conditions. Spring (April-June) brings moderate temperatures (50s-70s°F at 6,500-7,500 feet elevation), wildflowers, and more reliable water from snowmelt, though forest roads may be muddy early season. Fall (September-October) provides crisp weather, spectacular aspen and oak foliage peaking mid-October, clearer skies, and fewer afternoon thunderstorms. Summer (July-August) is hikeable but hot with afternoon monsoons bringing dangerous lightning on exposed rim sections; early morning starts are essential. Avoid winter (November-March) when snow and ice make the rim hazardous, many forest roads are closed, and the trail becomes difficult to follow. The Mogollon Rim averages 40 inches of annual precipitation, with significant winter snow accumulation above 7,000 feet.
Water is the critical challenge on this route. Sources are scarce, widely spaced, and seasonally unreliable—expect 15-20 mile dry stretches. Known sources include Woods Canyon Lake (reliable year-round), General Springs near General Springs Cabin (check with rangers), and See Canyon Creek (perennial but verify flow). Small seasonal ponds dot the rim edge but most are dry except immediately after snowmelt or heavy rains. Contact the Black Mesa Ranger District or Mogollon Rim Ranger District before your trip to get current water reports. Carry extra capacity (4+ liters) and plan conservative daily mileages based on source availability.
For resupply, Payson (population ~15,000) lies roughly 15 miles south of mid-trail access points via State Highway 260. The town offers Walmart Supercenter, Safeway, Bashas' grocery, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and outdoor specialty shop Rim Runners—everything needed for full resupply or gear replacement. Smaller Heber-Overgaard to the east has limited options: two small grocery stores (The Market and Overgaard Food Center), Dollar General, and basic services. No mail drop services are specifically advertised for this trail. Most hikers drive in personal vehicles or arrange shuttles rather than attempting thru-hike resupply logistics.
Navigation difficulty is the primary hazard. The trail is infrequently maintained, blazes have faded or vanished entirely in sections, and multiple sources disagree on the exact route. Strong map and compass skills (or GPS with downloaded tracks) are essential—don't rely on following blazes alone. The trail frequently crosses forest roads; it's easy to lose the trail and end up road-walking for miles.
Lightning exposure is serious during monsoon season (July-September). Long sections hug the rim's edge with minimal tree cover and no escape from thunderstorms that build rapidly on summer afternoons. If caught in electrical storms on exposed ridgeline, you're in severe danger.
Wildlife includes black bears (practice proper food storage), elk (common but give wide berth—they're unpredictable during fall rut and can be aggressive), and rattlesnakes at lower elevations and canyon bottoms. Early morning/evening wildlife encounters are frequent.
Wildfire history has impacted sections—the Rodeo-Chediski Fire (2002) burned 470,000 acres on the eastern rim, and the Dude Fire (1990) scorched 30,000 acres. Expect burned snags, deadfall across trail, and altered routes in fire-affected areas. Check for current closures due to recent fire or rehabilitation work.
Rim edges present fall hazards—sections follow cliffs with 2,000-foot drop-offs. Be extremely cautious in high winds, darkness, or poor visibility.
The trail runs roughly east-west along the Mogollon Rim between Fort Verde (west) and Fort Apache (east), with multiple access points via Forest Road 300 (Rim Road). From Phoenix (100 miles): Take AZ-87 north through Payson, continue on AZ-260 east about 29 miles climbing the rim, then turn left (north) onto Forest Road 300. From Flagstaff (55 miles south): Take Forest Highway 3 south, turn south on AZ-87, then east on AZ-260 to FR 300. Major access points include Military Sinkhole, Al Fulton Point, and the Rim Visitor Center on Highway 260 (where trail is well-marked and easy to find).
Nearest airports: Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) is 84 miles from Payson with major rental car services. Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) is 94 miles north with limited commercial service. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA) is 79 miles.
Road conditions: State highways (AZ-87, AZ-260) and Forest Highway 3 are paved year-round. Forest Road 300 is gravel, suitable for passenger cars in dry conditions but closed in winter (typically December-March depending on snow). Recent improvements include paving sections near Woods Canyon Lake. High-clearance not required in summer, but check current conditions after winter snowmelt.
Shuttle logistics: This 58-mile point-to-point requires vehicle shuttle or pickup. No commercial shuttle services specifically advertise for this trail. Most hikers arrange private shuttles, spot a second vehicle at the endpoint, or do shorter out-and-back sections. Flagstaff and Payson have shuttle services that may accommodate custom requests for a fee.
Download GPX tracks before departure—don't trust the blazes alone. Multiple hikers report walking past the trail entirely when chevron markers are missing. Carry both digital GPS and paper maps of the Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves sections.
Camp selection: Since water sources are scarce, you'll likely need to dry camp most nights. Look for established dispersed sites along forest roads (FR 300 parallels much of the route) or flat spots back from the rim edge. Kehl Springs Campground and Crook Campground offer primitive developed sites if you prefer designated camping. Arrive early on summer weekends—rim campsites near lakes fill by Friday afternoon.
Wildflower timing: Late April through June for peak blooms in sun-drenched meadows; October brings a second wave in certain areas thanks to monsoon moisture.
Historic markers: Watch for gabions, cairns, and original milepost markers placed by Boy Scout Troop 26 during their 1976 Bicentennial re-marking project. These add historical interest but aren't reliable for navigation.
Section hiking strategy: Most backpackers tackle this trail in 3-5 day segments rather than thru-hiking, using the numerous forest road crossings for easy access. The section near the Rim Visitor Center is best-maintained and good for first-timers getting a feel for the route.
Fire-affected areas: Segments through the Rodeo-Chediski burn zone have extensive deadfall. Bring work gloves for bushwhacking and expect slower mileage through these sections.
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