Length: 2.4 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Easy

Managing Agency: Coconino National Forest

Journal: "Into the Woods Again" and "When Good Hikes Go Bad"

**Kid Friendly Hike**

From Payson, go north 32 miles on AZ 87 to mile marker 284.6. Turn left on FR 616 and drive 3.2 miles to the Pivot Rock Canyon Campground. Turn into the campground and park. This is also the trailhead for the Pivot Rock Canyon Trail and the Pivot Rock Springs Trail. The trail begins across the road at the closed road sign.

Trail Description:

This is a beautiful easy hike through what has been described as an Arizona Rain Forest. From the trailhead, follow the closed road for about a tenth of a mile; the road then forks left. Go right and cross the creek. For the next half mile, the trail meanders back and forth through lush ferns, oaks and pine trees, crossing the creek several times.

At 0.7 miles, the trail crosses the creek for the last time and seems to abruptly end. Also at this point a side canyon joins the main canyon. Continue straight ahead about 20 yards and you will find an old road that will become the trail.

The going is easy along the old road. At 1.2 miles, the road turns sharply to the left (west). Another side canyon is directly ahead. Continue to follow the road for the last 0.2 miles. Wildcat Spring is on the left (north) side of the canyon. A concrete box marks the location. When we were here in June of 2001, the spring was flowing nicely and there were many places in the creek with water in them. If you continue up the road, it ends at a forest road about 500 yards up from the spring.

Return the way you came.