Arizona · Hiking

South Fork

South ForkPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
12.0 mi
round trip
95 ft
climb
9,045 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is South Fork open right now?

Closure in the area

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

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

South Fork is an easy out-and-back hike of about 12 miles in the Springerville Ranger District of Arizona's Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, managed by the Forest Service. The route starts at the South Fork Trailhead, and it's a natural-surface trail that can be done on foot, by horse or by bike. The trail rises from a low point of 7,540 feet to a high point of 9,045 feet, a climb of about 95 feet one way. That makes it a gentle, low-effort outing, with no need for steep legs or long stretches of climbing. Summer is the warmest stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Greer, at a similar elevation, put July and August highs in the mid-70s, but those months also bring the most wet days, around 14 and 16. Winter is cold, with January highs around 43°F and lows near 14°F. Apache Vista lies less than a mile away, and the Overland Connector is about 1.7 miles off. Benny Creek Group Area and Benny Creek campground are both about 5 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit South Fork

    Best months: May–June and 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

      43° / 14°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 16°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      50° / 22°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      57° / 26°

      3 wet

    5. May

      66° / 33°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 41°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 47°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 46°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 41°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 30°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 21°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 14°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Greer, AZ, 5.2 mi away at 8,275 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Overland Connector

~3 min drive

0.7-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 48 ft of elevation gain.

PinyonPhoto: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pinyon

~10 min drive

4.70-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 713 ft of elevation gain.

East ForkPhoto: neepster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

East Fork

~11 min drive

East Fork is a 15-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 955 ft of elevation gain.

West Fork (Lc)Photo: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Fork (Lc)

~16 min drive

10.72-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 40 ft elevation gain.

East BaldyPhoto: Greggens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Baldy

~18 min drive

East Baldy is an 11.86-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,641 feet of elevation gain.

West BaldyPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Baldy

~18 min drive

15.96-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 1,737 ft elevation gain.

Lee Valley Reservoir TrailPhoto: Greggens, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lee Valley Reservoir Trail

~17 min drive

1.38-mile loop with 194 ft elevation gain and loss at Lee Valley Reservoir Trail, Arizona

Apache VistaPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Apache Vista

~2 min drive

2.52-mile loop trail in Arizona with 74 ft of elevation gain.

Mt Baldy CrossoverPhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mt Baldy Crossover

~18 min drive

7.00-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 397 ft gain.

HIKE

Butler Canyon

~9 min drive

1.80-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 178 ft elevation gain.