- Hikes in Arizona
- Phoenix Area and Central Arizona
- Six Shooter Trail
Six Shooter Trail
Location
To get to the Bell trailhead: from the Phoenix area, take US-60 East toward Globe. Once in Globe, turn right on Hill street, just past mile post 251. Please watch your speed in this area, as it is a residential area. Follow the Tonto Forest signs 1.2 miles and turn right onto Icehouse road. This soon becomes FR112. Drive 1.8 miles to a stop sign. Drive another 2 miles to the end of the pavement. Drive 0.5 more miles to the CCC picnic area and trailhead. The dirt road is in very good shape and passenger cars are no problem.
Hike details
Season
- February
- March
- April
- May
- September
- October
- November
Solitude
Difficulty
Permits
Hike the Six Shooter trail in the Pinal mountains near Globe, Arizona.
Driving through Globe on the way to other areas of the state, you would never know what kind of beauty lies in the mountains around this area if you never stop to see them. Six Shooter Trail is an excellent exploration into this very beautiful area.
From the CCC picnic area, the six shooter trail (Trail 197) starts out in desert scrub and Manzinita. Make a quick left at a trail junction (JCT_1R on the map). This trail climbs steadily here, but comfortably. After the first hour of hiking, you are in a pine and sycamore forest that only gets more green as you continue to climb. The trail follows a dry creek canyon up the mountain, with good views of Globe and surrounding mountains.
After five miles of steady climbing, you reach the trail junction of the Telegraph trail, which hooks up with Icehouse trail. There is a very scenic spring here if you look around a bit (JCT_2L-SPRING on the map) The Icehouse trail (Trail 192) will take you back to the CCC picnic area as well if you want to take a different route back. Take your time during the last mile and see if you can spot the spring dug out of the rock on your right (Ferndell Spring, marked SPRING on the map). The spring is a bit off the trail and partially hidden. This part of the trail is covered in ferns and well shaded. This trail ends abruptly at the junction of other trails, but by walking another 1/4 mile on a dirt road (END on the map), you can get more mountain views to the east.
There are several campgrounds in the area and it is worthwhile to spend some time in this area. When you are ready, return to the desert of Globe and your car.