Payson: Highline Triangle

 The Highline trail restoration project has recently been completed. It was a multi-year project to turn a seldom used, tough to enjoy trail into a masterpiece. Mission accomplished. The final major project area was near Horton Spring going east towards the Derrick trail. Some other re-routes and tread touch-ups were completed on each side of this area, but the bulk was done here. I was eager to see how the new trail was routed and how it rode.

I had fairly ambitious plans: ride up Horton Creek trail, go west to the fish hatchery along the Highline trail, then turn around. I'd then continue east to the Derrick trail and if I felt fine, do another out-n-back to See Canyon. I'd finish with a downhill along the Derrick trail. All told, this was about 28 miles. However, I was still nursing some rather sore ribs from my wreck on Mt. Elden a week prior. I guess I'll just play it by ear.

When I arrived, the Horton Creek trailhead was full. I went back down the road a short way to the Derrick trailhead, plenty of room there and I'd be popping out on the trail across the road anyway.

Time to climb. It's generally uphill to the Highline trail from here.

Horton Creek was dry at the bottom, but soon was flowing nicely.

I didn't recall the trail being more of a double track or being super chunky. Had it really degraded this much since my last time here? Perhaps. There was plenty of hike-a-bike on this day. And while I didn't have another crash, I managed to donate to the trail gods nonetheless...

Hike-a-bike carnage. Good grief. Banged my pedal right on the scar tissue from a healing wound.

Horton Spring is a sight to behold.

I had a snack, played photographer for some hikers, then began making my way towards the fish hatchery along the Highline trail. I didn't get too far though. I just wasn't feeling it. Ribs were sore, the elevation was kicking my butt and I really wanted to see the new stuff east of Horton Spring. I decided right there, I'd turn around and make this a short ride. I'd ride over to Derrick trail and drop down to the car. The other stuff can wait for another ride.

Now back east of Horton Spring. The old trail goes sharply up to the left and look at that new tread. Beautiful.

I was curious to see the routing on this section as it is nowhere near the old tread.

The trail now contours around the side of a large hill instead of going up & over it.

Remnants of the recent burn here.

The Mazatzal Range in the distant.

There were a couple of short, steep pitches I had to walk up. Maybe could've have ridden them or at least given a better attempt had I been feeling better. 

Not all of the old tread was bad.

That's not to say the old tread wasn't touched up along the way, nice berms here.

Rim country riding is spectacular.

I reached the Derrick trail junction and headed down. 

I could see some of the trail work here too, grade reversals added and not as much loose rock as I had remembered. It was still bumpy, that's the nature of this geology layer.

Cool looking Manzanita tree.

About halfway down the Derrick trail, it smooths out, the grade mellows and it's forested riding.

The final descent appeared to be new. There's my yellow car.

A few switchbacks guide you into the trailhead.

Route:

Funny mural next to Alfonso's Mexican food in Payson.

On my way home I wanted to check out a short section of the AZT800 route as it enters the Payson area. I recently heard a report of a locked gate and No Trespassing signs. I pulled off by the casino and walked down the dirt road, which is part of the route. There was a fence at the bottom, but the gate was open. About 200' later, there were concrete barriers all across the road, fencing, yellow tape and yes, no trespassing signs. The other side of the barricades are National Forest land and upon inspecting the signs, it appeared this strip of land in question was reservation. I poked around on the USFS side to see if a bypass up to the road would be possible. Not really, there's a barbed wire fence all along AZ87.

I made my way back to my car, but as I topped out on the hill I was met by a Tribal Officer. He asked what I was doing and I mentioned how this area had been used for years for long distance bike routes. He immediately dropped his guard and he told me the tribe closed the area off because of the OHV crowd speeding through. He mentioned I could set up a meeting with the tribal council to see if bikes and pedestrians would be allowed through. The alternative would be to simply stay on the wide paved shoulder of AZ87 into town, the entire section in question is only 2 miles. At this point, I'm leaning that way for simplicity. Either way, I was glad I stopped and was able to get an explanation of what was going on.

None shall pass.

Don't do it. You may lose a bike.

That's how small of an area we're talking. Green arrows would be the AZ87 route.