At 11,403 ft., Mount Baldy is one of Arizona's highest peaks. It is also a designated wilderness area. With scenery and views that are sure to please, this 13.5 miles roundtrip hike is a fun one. It has a sub-alpine environment , with distinctive grasses and trees, such as the Krummholz tree.

There are two good trails to the summit. The best trail is Sheep's Crossing. The trail begins at an elevation a little over 9,200 ft. and follows the West Fork of the Little Colorado River for two miles. At this point, the trail turns away from the river, into an old growth forest, which consists primarily of Englemann Spruce and Douglas Fir.

In the next two miles, the trail becomes steep, and gains about half of its elevation, bringing hikers above 10,000 ft. Hikers are soon at a ridge, which is followed to the summit. Mount Baldy has two peaks, with the lower peak open to the public. The trail continues approx. 1/4 miles from the ridge to the main summit.

Please note that the highest peak is not open to the public. The summit is on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, and you would have to try to negotiate for a hiking permit prior to your hike, if you wanted to enter the reservation. The tribe occasionally will issue permits for the top. Contact the Apache Indian Reservation for more information before you make plans to hike into the reservation. The summit is considered sacred to the Indians. Please respect their lands and customs.

The turnaround point for the hike is a small yellow sign and USGS marker. This denotes the boundary between the Forest Service and the reservation boundary.

Location: Eastern Arizona. Take 260 to 273 (Sunrise turnoff) The paved road becomes a dirt road at the Forest Service Boundary. Follow this until you get to the West Fork of the Little Colorado River. Turn here and head to the road's end at Sheeps Crossing.

Weather: Note that due to elevation and location, hikers should be prepared for conditions, since conditions can change rapidly in the area.