Arizona · Hiking

East Fork

East ForkPhoto: neepster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
15.0 mi
round trip
955 ft
climb
9,404 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is East Fork open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. It doesn't name East Fork, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

East Fork is a 15-mile out-and-back hike on natural-surface trail in the Springerville Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in eastern Arizona. It climbs from about 8,440 feet to 9,404 feet, a gain of 955 feet, and is rated hard. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is accessible only for horses, not for bikes or people with mobility needs. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. At a nearby weather station at a similar elevation, typical July and August highs run about 70 to 71°F, with lows in the mid-40s. Winter is much colder, with typical highs around 42°F and lows near 11°F in January. The East Fork of the Little Colorado Trailhead is the parking for this route, and the trail is open year-round. Butler Canyon, a hike, lies about 1.3 miles away, and the West Fork (Lc) mountain biking route is about 1.1 miles off. Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground and Winn Campground, both within about 2.5 miles, offer places to stay.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit East Fork

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      42° / 11°

    2. Feb

      42° / 15°

    3. Mar

      46° / 21°

    4. Apr

      53° / 25°

    5. May

      62° / 31°

    6. Jun

      71° / 37°

    7. Jul

      71° / 44°

    8. Aug

      70° / 43°

    9. Sep

      67° / 37°

    10. Oct

      60° / 27°

    11. Nov

      51° / 21°

    12. Dec

      42° / 14°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sunrise Mtn, AZ, 6 mi away at 9,370 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Overland ConnectorPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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