South Fork Trail

The South Fork trail, just south of Payson, gives hikers a little taste of all things Arizona.

Traveling along an easy-to-moderate trail, hikers will see everything from prickly pear cactus to evergreen trees, skittering lizards to hopping bunnies, and high grassy plains to striking mountain views.

The trail itself offers soft dirt, crushed gravel, river rocks and a few steep inclines just to remind hikers that they are actually hiking.

Getting to the trail is refreshingly uncomplicated, as well.

From the intersection of Shea Boulevard and the Beeline Highway in Fountain Hills, travel north 47 miles.

The trailhead is at the junction of SR 188 and the Beeline (SR 87) – a half-mile past mile marker 235. Take a left at the intersection (signs direct to the Deer Creek trail). A short dirt road leads directly to the trailhead.

Three trails – South Fork, Deer Creek and Gold Ridge – begin at the same point.

Gold Ridge branches to the left a short distance into the trail. Keep straight until you come to a gate. A little past the gate, the Deer Creek trail splits off the main trail. Keep going straight along the South Fork trail.

The first part of the hike offers spectacular mountain views as it takes hikers along an open grassy ridge.

Afternoon hikers will walk into the shadow of Mazatzal Peak to the northwest.

Look for whitetail rabbits nibbling shoots of grass along this area.

The trail leads down to, and crosses, Deer Creek. It is the first of several crossings. As of mid-September, though, the creek bed was bone-dry.

Leading back up the opposite side, hikers get an eyeful of the flora of the creek bed.

About a dozen century plants with towering blooms flank the trail.

The trail crosses the creek to the south side again and what was a wide-open hike turns into a jaunt through the forest.

The dense trees promise a colorful fall, and afternoon hikers are fully shaded.

But as the leaves in the trees above begin to change color, hikers should be weary of other leafy plants below.

About two miles into the hike, several patches of poison ivy grow precariously close to the trail.

At two-and-a-half miles, hikers will see the remnants of an old stone cabin. This makes a nice turn-around point for a five-mile hike.

Just reverse course and head back to the trailhead.

For those with Herculean stamina, the trail continues on for several miles before climbing Pine Mountain Road. To the end and back is a 15-mile adventure.

Or, hikers can connect with either Gold Ridge or Deer Creek trails for a long loop.

As a bonus, a rest stop awaits just across the Beeline Highway, complete with full facilities, snack and soda machines and water fountains.

This hike was first featured October 2000 and revised February 2007.