Arizona hike: Fall colors along Mogollon Rim

Hiking blogger Mare Czinar likes nothing better than to hit the trail. You can find more of her news and recommendations at arizonahiking.blogspot.com.

One of the best long hikes on the Mogollon Rim is the Cabin Loop System. Several trailheads provide myriad options for day hikes or multiday backpack treks on five trails that link several abandoned fire-lookout cabins. In autumn, the Barbershop Trail portion of the route is known for its colorful foliage.

The hike begins with a steep descent into Yeager Canyon, a creek crossing, then an immediate climb back up to a ridge. The trail is sketchy in places but is marked by tree blazes. Along this section, moist pockets of bigtooth maples form canopies of red, orange and gold over a moss-fleeced pine-fir woodland.

At 0.7 mile, turn right to pick up the U-Bar Trail. Deeply wooded, this trail features Gambel oaks and aspen groves that shine in electric yellow in mid-October. The ruins of Dane Cabin and its spring appear at mile 2.3 before the trail winds north along the edge of Dane Canyon.

Soon the path dips into the gorge via switchbacks that land hikers in a stream-bisected meadow at the 4.3-mile point, a good turnaround for a leaf-peeping day hike.

Length: 8.6 miles round trip.

Rating: Moderate.

Elevation: 7,120-7,598 feet.

Where: From Payson, go 29 miles east on State Route 260 to Rim Road (Forest Road 300 at the Woods Canyon Lake sign). Turn left and go 22.8 miles on FR300 to FR137. Turn right and continue 3.4 miles to the Barbershop Trail sign. Hike begins on the west side of the road at a small wooden sign. Dirt roads are sedan friendly.

Details: 928-477-2255, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.