- Arizona County HP: #11
- Difficulty: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (on a scale of 4)
- Summit Elevation: 11,420 feet
- Mountain Range: White Mountains
- Ancestral Lands: Pueblo, Western Apache
PLANNING DETAILS
Location: Mount Baldy is located on the boundary of the Mount Baldy Wilderness and the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, approximately 80 miles southeast of Show Low. The closest towns with amenities are Eager and Springerville, AZ.
When to Visit: Late Spring to Fall. Mount Baldy is the second-highest mountain in Arizona, so there is often snow atop the mountain well into May. The Arizona Department of Transportation also closes the access road (AZ Highway 273) leading to Mount Baldy’s trailheads during the winter months. Visitors can check the road’s closure/re-opening status online at AZ 511.
Fees/Permits Required: Mount Baldy’s eastern slope is located in the Mt. Baldy Wilderness Area and is open to the public. However, the summit is on tribal land belonging to the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. Non-tribal members are prohibited from summiting Mount Baldy, and trespassers may be fined. The public trail remains just below the summit (near 11,200 feet elevation). Visitors are asked to respect the tribal boundary.
Getting There: Mount Baldy has two trailheads, both of which are located on Mount Baldy’s eastern side.
Directions from Phoenix: Follow AZ-202 east toward Tempe/Mesa. Take Exit 13 (AZ-87/Country Club Drive) toward Payson. Follow AZ-87 north for 74 miles. At the north end of Payson, turn right onto AZ-260 toward Show Low. Follow AZ-260 east 124 miles to the junction with AZ-273. Turn right onto AZ-273, and follow the highway south for 10 miles until you reach the sign for the Mount Baldy Wilderness and West Baldy Trail #94. (Note: If you plan to utilize the East Baldy Trail, that trailhead and parking area sit 4.5 miles further south on AZ-273)
Directions from Flagstaff: Follow Lake Mary Road south for 55 miles until it intersects with AZ-87. Turn right onto AZ-87 toward Payson, and continue on AZ-87 south for 37.4 miles. At the north end of Payson, turn left onto AZ-260 toward Show Low. Follow AZ-260 east for 124 miles to the junction with AZ-273. Turn right onto AZ-273, and follow the highway south for 10 miles until you reach the sign for the Mount Baldy Wilderness and West Baldy Trail #94. (Note: If you plan to utilize the East Baldy Trail, that trailhead and parking area sit 4.5 miles further south on AZ-273)
Parking: The West Baldy parking area consists of a large paved lot that can accommodate 20 cars. There are 2 vault toilets with trash cans near the parking area, but no potable water.
Pets Allowed: Yes. However, due to bear activity in the area, all pets must be leashed or remain under their owner’s direct control.
Kid Friendly: Due to the length of the hike and elevation, this high point is best for kids aged 13 or older.
The Summit: Mount Baldy’s summit is sacred to the White Mountain Apache Tribe and closed to non-tribal members. The top of this extinct stratovolcano has two peaks separated by a saddle. The elongated northern ridge is listed on most maps as Mount Baldy and covered by a giant rockpile. The rounded southern peak is often listed on maps as Baldy Peak, and is slightly lower in elevation.
TRIP SUMMARY
Date Visited: April 23, 2026
Route Used: West Baldy Trail (#94) – 15.6 miles round-trip
Mount Baldy might be the most unique of all my Arizona CoHPs. That’s because I didn’t intend to hike 100% of the way to the summit. Instead, I planned to only go to the tribal boundary around 11,400 feet and leave the true summit untouched.
Mount Baldy isn’t just the highest point in Apache County. It’s also the highest point on the White Mountain Indian Reservation (formerly known as Fort Apache), and is considered a sacred place for the Indigenous people.
I know there are some peakbaggers who will disregard the warning against trespassing on the summit. After all, there’s little chance you will actually get caught. But, much like Maunakea (Hawaii’s highest point), I just don’t feel that my highpointing quest is more important than someone else’s sacred space.
Perhaps my more relaxed outlook on highpointing stems from the fact that I consider myself a hiker, not a mountaineer. Reaching the summit is a goal, but not the goal. Getting to travel around the state and hike in this diverse alpine terrain is reward enough for me.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe doesn’t offer climbing permits for this summit (though they do offer hunting, fishing, whitewater rafting, and camping permits for other parts of the reservation). So while it was possible for me to trespass without getting caught, I intended to respect the summit’s sacredness. Just as I would respect Arlington National Cemetery or a cathedral with stained glass windows.
This hike was peak number four on my April 2026 peakbagging trip around Arizona. I’d already hiked Mt. Union on Tuesday, and both Gila CoHPs and Black Mesa’s high point yesterday. As a result, I didn’t get to my hotel in Chinle, AZ, until 9 pm last night after a ton of driving and a wild off-trail hiking adventure on the Navajo Reservation.
Nevertheless, I was back up at 5:30 am this morning because today would be my longest day of the trip. I needed to make a nearly 200-mile drive south to the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. Plus, I needed to arrive at today’s trailhead early enough to complete a 15+-mile hike.
I’d already researched the two routes up toward the summit. I had the choice between a 15.5-mile (round-trip) hike up the West Baldy Trail (#94) or the 13.5-mile trek up the East Baldy Trail (#95).
Based on these trail names, one might guess that the West Baldy Trail ascends the mountain’s western side, and the East Baldy Trail uses the slopes on Mt. Baldy’s eastern side.
This assumption is incorrect, though. Both trails head up the mountain’s eastern side, paralleling each other and eventually joining together just below the summit. The reason for their deceptive names has less to do with their location and more to do with which fork of the Little Colorado River they run along.
Mount Baldy is the headwaters of the Little Colorado River, which is fed by snowmelt flowing down the mountain’s east side before it flows toward a canyon reservoir just outside of Greer, Arizona. The West Baldy Trail runs along the western fork feeding the Little Colorado River, and the East Baldy Trail runs along the eastern fork.
I didn’t have a preference for which trail I used, but I did have to make a choice. The two trailheads are 4.5 miles apart, and they connect at 11,200′. So, while the West Baldy Trail was the longer of the two options up the mountain, its grade should be more moderate due to that extra distance.
After 3.5 hours of early morning driving, I finally reached Springerville and Eager — the two neighboring towns nestled in the Round Valley just east of Mt. Baldy. I made a quick stop at Tin Can Coffee for a hot latte. And, oh what a welcome relief for my taste buds after several days of mediocre gas-station coffee from Speedway.
As I continued the remainder of my drive into the White Mountains, I could see patchy snow clinging to the northern slopes of Mt. Baldy. But it didn’t look too bad, though, and at least the sun was shining.
Lucky for me, 2026 was a low snow year, so the Arizona DOT opened AZ Highway 273 to vehicle traffic on April 15th. The only question that remained was how much snow might still be on the trails as I ventured up toward the summit. The White Mountains get the highest annual precipitation of anywhere in Arizona!
Finding the West Baldy trailhead was easy, with road signs announcing the turnoff from the highway and sending me into a giant paved area. After my last few Arizona CoHPs — none of which had a proper trailhead or parking area — I found myself driving into a pristine paved parking lot with two vault toilets at one end and elaborate trailhead signs at the other.
Today’s hike would be my longest hike of this trip, and after my nearly 200-mile drive to the trailhead, my legs were more ready to get moving. Yet I was surprised by the blast of cold wind as I exited the car. The temperatures would climb to 90°F in Phoenix today, but it was currently only in the 40s at the trailhead, with a biting wind making it feel even colder.
The relative chilliness was due to the trailhead’s elevation of 9,200′. This was higher than the summit of anything I’d climbed in the past few days during my Arizona highpointing quest. And the cool mountain air is about the last thing you’d expect when you think of the desert Southwest. But Arizona is a surprising state. Today would be an alpine day.
The trail began with a mellow hike through a forest for the first mile. Then it dropped me down into a valley where wooden signs announced that I was now entering the Mount Baldy Wilderness and the Apache National Forest
The next few miles were nice and cruisy as the route took me down to the West Fork of the Little Colorado River and up through the river valley. One reason the parking area I’d just left was so big was that it is a popular backpacking route in the summer months. Hikers can escape the oppressive Arizona heat and set up camp along this scenic river where the temperature usually only reaches the mid-70s.
Backpackers can also hike a scenic 18-mile counterclockwise loop hike that parallels both river forks of the Little Colorado River. This route ascends the West Fork Trail (which I’m hiking on) to the point where it meets the East Fork Trail at 11,200 feet. Then it descends back to the valley on the East Fork Trail, before using the crossover trail to connect the loop and return to the trailhead.
The Little Colorado River eventually came into view and ran parallel to my path. And that’s when I spotted three fishermen down on its shores and briefly stopped to talk with them. They said they were fishing for Apache trout, Arizona’s state fish, which is only found in freshwater streams above 6,900 feet in elevation. I wished them all good luck and continued on, hopefully without scaring all the fish away with my goodbyes.
The Little Colorado River was the main character during the next few miles of the hike. It was more than a dozen feet wide in places and often split into small tributaries, forming small forested islands before the rushing water merged again downstream. The grassy terrain around the water looked like the perfect place to lounge on a warmer day, and I could definitely see the appeal of backpacking the loop.
As I reached mile 2.7, the trail began pulling me higher and higher above the river valley. I could now see the patchy snow clinging to the upper slopes of Mt. Baldy. But I also now felt as if I were hiking into a 15-20 mph cold headwind as I ascended the grassy slopes toward the next stretch of forest.
I passed a trio of hikers around mile 4.3, just as we were coming to a creek crossing with giant logs laid across the water to keep our feet dry. I wouldn’t see these fellows again until I was nearly back to the trailhead at the end of my hike, as they weren’t planning to hike quite as far as me today. But it was nice to see some fellow hikers out here today.
The route was ridiculously quiet once I was back under the forest’s wind protection. Other than the fishermen and the three hikers, there wasn’t a soul out on the mountain on this Thursday morning in late April. It must be too early in the season, and I’m not sure Mt. Baldy is anywhere near as popular in the springtime as the mountains closer to Arizona’s big population centers, like the Mazatazals or Santa Catalina Mountains.
Once I reached roughly 10,000 feet in elevation, a mild altitude headache began to emerge. This wasn’t a huge surprise, though. I only left sea level two days ago. I wasn’t aggressively throwing myself into high-elevation hiking as I had during my Santa Fe to Taos thru-hike last October. But I also hadn’t really had enough to acclimate either. So I kept the pace slow and did my best to drink more water.
This elevation was also where the first patches of snow appeared beside the trail, though none of it seemed to be obscuring my route. It was mostly confined to the northern slopes and the trees.
The biggest challenge up ahead was the dozens of downed trees on the route. I spent the next 1.5 miles climbing over and under what felt like a never-ending set of hurdles. Some seemed recent from this past winter, but others had clearly been there for multiple seasons.
I can’t fault the USFS for not clearing the trail, though. Since January 2025, they’ve taken unprecedented hits to both their budget and manpower. And don’t even get me started on the proposed move of their headquarters to Salt Lake City, UT, as part of this “reorganization.”
Once I reached 11,000 feet, I had sweeping views of the mountain and desert beyond. But this was also when the wind seemed to pick up, and the snow on the trail provided a new challenge. I had to continually remind myself how *lucky* I was to be able to hike this trail in April. On a normal snow year, it would require several more weeks of patience before this area was so accessible.
At 11,200 feet in elevation and 7.5 miles into my hike, the trail leveled off. I’d finally reached the point where the West Baldy and East Baldy Trails converged. This was the official end of the trail, according to the USFS. So I sat down near a small dry patch in the sun and pulled out my lunch to fuel up for the return trip.
Just beyond the sign, I could see the junction with the unofficial trail that leads to Mt. Baldy’s summit. There was a line of rocks stretched across it, but no signs prohibiting entry or marking it as the boundary to the White Mountain Apache Reservation. This is probably because there is some debate over whether this is the reservation boundary or whether it’s higher.
The USFS map at the trailhead showed the entire summit inside the reservation. But other maps show the public boundary bisecting the mountain, with the peak’s east side on USFS land and the mountain’s west side on the reservation.
As I ate my lunch, I pondered the best way to approach the next part of my journey. I knew I did not want to set foot on the summit itself, regardless of whether a map said it was public land. If the White Mountain Apache people held the very top of this mountain sacred, I wanted to respect that.
But, I did want to ascend up to a respectful distance where I could photograph the summit, just as I had with Hawaii’s highest point. And so, I gingerly set off, dodging snow piles and downed trees, up to a point where I could see the infamous rock pile atop Mt. Badly’s summit.
Since I didn’t go all the way to the summit, there was no register to sign or survey marker to photograph (though I suspect both might exist up there). My journey up Mt. Baldy was complete. I turned back toward the West Baldy Trail to begin the long descent back to the car, and the short drive to Springerville, where I had a reservation at the historical Reed’s Motor Lodge.
If you get the chance to stay at this cute motel established in 1949, it’s well worth a visit. Film legend John Wayne used to play cards here in the 1960s, and the motel’s management has remodeled most of their rooms into themed suites. I had the Marilyn Monroe room, which had a retro 1950’s vibe, velvet chairs and headboards, a vintage chandelier, and pictures of Marilyn Monroe on the walls. It was the perfect way to relax after my long hike up Mt. Baldy.
BONUS MATERIAL
Alternate Routes:
- East Baldy Trail (#95) parallels the eastern fork of the Little Colorado River as it flows down Mount Baldy’s slopes toward Greer. This 6.75-mile trail is slightly shorter than the West Baldy Trail (#94), and the trailhead is located 4.5 miles farther south on AZ-273.
- Baldy Loop. This 18-mile route combines the West Baldy Trail (#94), East Baldy Trail (#95), and the Crossover Trail (#96). The loop can begin at either the West Baldy or East Baldy trailhead and offers hikers the opportunity to hike along both forks of the Little Colorado River.
Public camping nearby:
- Winn Campground is located on the east side of AZ-273, halfway between the West Baldy and East Baldy trailheads. This USFS campground is open seasonally (May to October) and offers 63 campsites, picnic tables, vault toilets, and potable water. Online reservations are available during the peak season, and first-come, first-served from mid-Sept. to Oct. 3. Cost: $26/night
- Hoyer Campground is located in the town of Greer, AZ. This large USFS campground is open seasonally (mid-May to October 31) and offers 91 campsites, picnic tables, flush toilets and showers, potable water, an RV dump station, and is walking distance to Greer Lake and the Little Colorado River. Online reservations are available during the peak season, and first-come, first-served from mid-Sept. to Oct. 31. Cost: $38/night.
- Rainbow Campground is located 11 miles south of Mount Baldy on the shores of Big Lake. This large USFS campground is open seasonally (May 15 to Oct. 31), offering 165 campsites with asphalt pads, flush toilets, showers, potable water, trash, RV dump station, a general store, boat ramp, and fishing access. Online reservations are available during the peak season, and first-come, first-served from mid-Sept. to Oct 31. Cost: $34-36/night
Resources:
- Overview of Mount Baldy (Summit Post)
- Mount Baldy and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (USFS)
- Hiking the West Baldy Trail (Arizona Highways)
- F.A.Q. Hiking Mount Baldy (White Mountain Apache Tribe)