| The Steeple Trail is located outside of Alpine, AZ along | | | | along the river is very hot during the summer and this |
| the east-central border of AZ & NM. The trail is | | | | supports a large rattlesnake population, especially the |
| located in the Blue Wilderness area and access is | | | | Black Rattlesnake or Timber Rattler by it's local name. |
| limited to only hiking and pack animals. From the | | | | The Steeple Trail is at an elevation of approximately |
| intersection of US191/180 in Alpine, AZ travel east on | | | | 5200' and is well marked off the Blue Road and has a |
| US180 toward New Mexcio approximately 4 miles. | | | | small parking lot along with a NFS kiosk - there are no |
| Perhaps 1/2 mile before reaching Luna Lake, travel | | | | facilities at the trailhead. The trail head is located on the |
| south on the Blue Road for approximately 30 miles into | | | | north-western section of the parking area and |
| the Blue Wilderness Area. Travel time from Alpine is | | | | immediately travels uphill. The first three miles of the |
| over an hour due to the winding gravel mountain road | | | | trail take you to the top of Steeple Mesa, we like to |
| and frequent river crossings. | | | | call it "Rocky Mesa". The trail on the mesa and the |
| This area is not well known to most hikers given it's | | | | mesa itself is littered with fist sized rocks that make |
| fantastically remote location. However hunters have | | | | quick travel almost impossible. If your ankles are weak, |
| known about the area for years and flock here in the | | | | you may want to consider hiking poles and a pair of |
| fall to hunt mule deer, white tail deer, trophy elk, turkey, | | | | boots with good ankle support. Once on top of |
| bear and mountain lion. The Blue River could support a | | | | Steeple Mesa the trail heads due west for 4 miles |
| native trout population, however Arizona Game & | | | | where it intersect with the KP Trail to your left (south) |
| Fish does not have plans to stock the Gila or Apache | | | | or continue to the right (north) on Steeple Trail # 73. |
| Trout at this time. The best time to hike "Down on the | | | | From the intersection you are approximately 1/4 mile |
| Blue" is from mid-November to the end of March. The | | | | from Mud springs, the only available running water on |
| elevation is just above 5000' along the river and the | | | | the trail. |
| mountains soar to just under 10000'. The temperatures | | | | |