Amazing, Spectacular Arizona Trail, Day 5: Telephone Hill-Little Round Valley

Welcome back to Aspen’s Tracks, thruhiking the Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico. Today, we’re continuing hiking along Passage 40, from Telephone Hill to Little Round Valley. Backpacking southward, aspens continue to take center stage beside alpine ponds under a brilliant blue sky.

In the land of Arizona
Through desert heat or snow
Winds a trail for folks to follow
From Utah to Old Mexico

It’s the Arizona Trail
A pathway through the great Southwest
A diverse track through wood and stone
Your spirit it will test

Oh, sure you’ll sweat and blister
You’ll feel the miles every day
You’ll shiver at the loneliness
Your feet and seat will pay

But you’ll see moonlight on the borderlands
You’ll see stars on the Mogollon
You’ll feel the warmth of winter sun
And be thrilled straight through to bone

The aches and pains will fade away
You’ll feel renewed and whole
You’ll never be the same again
With Arizona in your soul

Along the Arizona Trail
A reverence and peace you’ll know
Through deserts, canyons, and mountains
From Utah to Old Mexico
-“The Arizona Trail,” Dale R. Shewalter

Arizona Trail: Telephone Hill-Crane Lake

Hiking south on Passage 40, the backpacker crosses Telephone Hill, where the pines and aspens offer a respite from the Kaibab winds. Dropping down the back side, the trail passes skirts AZ-67 and passes one of the first substantial water sources in a while, Crane Lake, especially in this dry year.

Arizona Trail: Crane Lake-Little Round Valley

Departing Crane Lake, the AZT proceeds south through a meadow before gradually ascending into aspens and pines once again. Aspens and conifer covered hills dominate the remainder of the route, rolling across hills hiking south toward Little Round Valley.

In the next entry, we’ll continue day 5 with the distance from Little Round Valley to Pleasant Valley.

Arizona Trail: Passage 40 Logistics