Little Saddle Mountain Trail
Little Saddle Mountain is an 12.9 km hike in the Tonto National Forest between the Phoenix area and Payson. It delivers some of the same views as Saddle Mountain without being as long or strenuous. This hike is at its best in the spring when everything is blooming! Expect light traffic on this route and come with lots of water.
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Route Description for Little Saddle Mountain Trail
Little Saddle Mountain is a pretty hike with classic desert views for miles. It takes you near Saddle Mountain without the big climb that would be required to reach the top, so it’s a nice in-between hike when a big mountain summit isn’t in the cards. We love this hike in the springtime when the desert is blooming.
Note that this route suffers from overgrowth in the summer and fall after the rainy season. You’ll want long pants and maybe even some clippers to keep the going smooth. Bring plenty of water on this route and avoid hiking it during the heat of the day.
From the trailhead, enjoy a quick warmup before you start climbing, keeping left into the canyon. It’s a consistent but fairly mild uphill trip through the canyon. Keep right where a spur trail heads to the left. The route ends at a T-junction with FR 25. From here, turn around and retrace your steps.
Getting to the Little Saddle Mountain Trail Trailhead
The trailhead for the Little Saddle Mountain Trail is on FR 627.
Route Information
Little Saddle Mountain Trail Elevation Graph
Weather Forecast
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