Length: 13.8 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Moderate

Managing Agency: Coconino National Forest

Journal: "Up and Down", "Return to Dane Canyon", and "Backpacking...With Style"

**Kid Friendly Hike**

From Payson, go north on SR87 to FR 95.  Turn right and follow FR 95 for 11 miles to FR139A.  Turn left and find the signed trailhead on the east side of FR139A.

Trail Description:

From the trailhead, the trail drops to the west into Houston Brothers Canyon.  Two-tenths of a mile from the trailhead you will find historic Pinchot Cabin.  From the cabin, the Houston Brothers Trail heads south down the open canyon.  The U-Bar Trail starts on the old road heading east from the canyon.  The old road climbs quickly out of the canyon and switchbacks to a gate.  Cross through the gate and continue to follow the old road.  There are very few blazes or cairns in this area, so just stick with the road.  Soon you will reach a junction with FR 168G.  Turn right and follow 168G until it reaches a second junction about one mile from the trailhead.  At this point the trail leaves the road and becomes a single track heading east into the woods.

The trail follows along heading generally east and soon crosses Dick Hart Draw.  The trail continues east and soon passes a large water tank.  It then drops in and out of two small draws before coming to FR96 about 2 miles from the trailhead.

The trail crosses FR 96 and heads toward Barbershop Canyon.  The trail descends steadily to the fence at the canyon’s rim.  From the fence the trail is rocky as it descends to the canyon bottom.  Shortly before reaching the bottom, check out the rock on the right of the trail that was inscribed by the trails builders:  U.S.F.S 1920.  Barbershop Canyon is very pretty.  One small campsite can be found at the bottom 3.0 miles from the trailhead..  After crossing the creek, the trail then climbs steadily out – switch-backing once before reaching the east rim of the canyon.

The trail proceeds east, crossing a draw and then reaching FR141. Cross FR141 and start hiking down FR141A.  Follow this road down past McClintock Spring and up to the rim of Dane Canyon.  The trail leaves the road and begins a gentle descent to the bottom of Dane Canyon.  At the bottom Dane Canyon is a beautiful meadow with perennial water – about 5.0 miles from the trailhead..

The trail climbs back out of Dane Canyon through three moderate switchbacks and then reaches the rim of Dane Canyon.  The trail is mostly flat for the next half mile follows the rim of the canyon to the south to Dane Spring and the cabin there.  Dane Spring is reported as reliable. 

From the top of the switchbacks to Dane Spring, the floor of Dane Canyon is hundred of feet below the rim.  After the spring, the bottom of the canyon rises quickly and soon you are walking in the bottom without ever changing elevation.  The trail continues, mostly flat along the canyon bottom, through a burned area.  The fire must have been a ground fire as most of the tallest trees are still standing; the medium trees have dead lower branches; the smallest trees are blackened skeletons.  About a mile from Dane Spring, the trail climbs out of Dane Canyon and crosses a ridge before dropping down to end at the junction with Barbershop Trail. 

A left turn here will take you to Buck Springs Cabin (.5 miles).  Or turn right to complete the Cabin Loop.