Description: This hike features easy access and cool, alpine forest and meadows in the Dry Lake Hills.
Location: 8 miles northwest of Flagstaff.
Type of trail: Loop.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Total distance: 5.6 mile loop.
Trailhead elevation: 8,070 feet.
High point: 8,700 feet
Elevation change: 630 feet.
Time required: 3.5 hours.
Water: None.
Best season: Summer through fall.
Maps: Humphreys Peak, Sunset Crater West USGS, Coconino National Forest.
Permits and restrictions: None.
For more information: Peaks Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, (520) 526-0866.
Finding the trailhead: From Flagstaff, drive northwest about three miles on US Highway 180, then turn right (north) on the Schultz Pass road (Forest Road 420). Continue past the end of the pavement on maintained dirt road to the Sunset Trailhead at Schultz Pass, 5.3 miles from the highway.
Key points:
0.0 Sunset Trailhead.
0.2 Stay right at Little Elden Trail junction.
1.7 Cross the crest of the Dry Lake Hills.
2.0 Go straight ahead onto Brookbank Trail.
3.8 Turn right, uphill, onto an unsigned trail.
4.2 Join an old road below the stock tank, and turn right downhill.
4.9 Go right at the junction with Schultz Loop Trail.
5.4 Sunset Trailhead.
The hike: These trails are relatively new and are not shown on the topographic maps. From the trailhead, the Sunset Trail first crosses the gentle slope above Schultz Tank through beautiful ponderosa pine and aspen forest. The Little Elden Trail goes left; continue straight ahead. Now the trail enters a small drainage and turns uphill. Climbing steadily but at a moderate grade, the trail stays on the right side of the drainage for more than a mile. It then crosses an old road, and veers out of the drainage to the left and enters a more open forest. The open aspect is due to the fact that the area was once logged. The trail reaches the crest of the Dry Lake Hills, where there are good views of the San Francisco Peaks to the north, then descends west on the south side of the ridge to meet the Brookbank Trail.
From this junction, continue straight ahead on the Brookbank trail as it contours the slope westward. Here the forest is a pleasing mixture of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and aspen. Soon the trail crosses over a broad saddle and turns north. It descends though a small meadow then descends northwest via several switchbacks through dense fir forest. The trail passes through another saddle and meadow, then contours around a hill to the north. The forest is so dense here that there are very few views. Continuing around the hill, the trail heads south, then meets a T intersection. Turn right, uphill on the unsigned trail. After a hundred yards, the trail levels out into a large meadow with a seasonal lake, the largest in the Dry Lake Hills. (The next section of trail crosses private land. It is open to hikers at present. Please respect private property and all posted signs.)
The trail turns into an old road as it crosses the meadow. Watch for a good trail branching right (north) before the road crosses the meadow. Take this trail directly toward the San Francisco Peaks, skirting a small stock tank on the east, and then join an old road just west of the stock tank. Follow the road downhill to the north. At the junction with Schultz Loop Trail, turn right and continue to Sunset Trailhead.