Highline Trail Overnighter

• When to ride: The Highline Trail Overnighter is best ridden in the spring and fall, as the summer months are often quite hot and there is no freshwater access in the creeks. The town of Pine sits at around 5,400 feet and will often see snow in the winter months, and the route climbs up over 6,200 feet. Expect lingering snowpack early in the spring.
• Route Direction: The route can be ridden in either direction, but we strongly suggest a clockwise loop so you can do most of your climbing on the singletrack rather than descending, given the trail’s popularity among hikers, backpackers, and equestrians. Expect other trail users no matter which way you ride; be courteous, and be aware.
• Ideal Bike: The route is best ridden on a hardtail mountain bike with front suspension or a full-suspension mountain bike, but confident mountain bikers would have no trouble tackling the route on a rigid mountain bike with big tires or a drop-bar mountain bike. Low gearing and the ability to carry enough water, depending on the time of the year, will be important.
• Getting Here: The Pine AZT trailhead is about a 1.5-hour drive from Flagstaff to the north, 20 minutes north of Payson, and two hours north of Phoenix. There aren’t any public transit options to Pine, but there are some Payson-based shuttle services that might help.
• Parking: Overnight parking for AZT users is permitted at the Pine AZT Trailhead. We left our cargo van here with no problems, but it’s probably a good idea to avoid leaving any valuables in clear sight.
• Wildlife: There are Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, javelina, rattlesnakes, black bears, and various scorpions and spiders on this route. Watch your footing and follow Leave No Trace principles at camp and while on the trail.

• There are a few established wilderness campsites on the Highline Trail, including several near small creeks for water access. See the route map for details.
• The Highline Trail camping is basic, with no amenities.
• We camped at the marked spot around mile 18 in late March and had access to a deep creek.
• You’ll find some unofficial dispersed camping along NF-64, the gravel road portion of the route, along the south side of the loop.

• There is no resupply on the loop, so stock up before the trip or pick up what you need at the Ponderosa Market in Pine before setting off.
• There are some small creeks on the route that flow during the spring and fall but are commonly dry in the summer months.
• Webber Creek and the East Verde River are usually flowing all year long.
• The FarOut app offers a free water report map where trail users can provide updates on water sources. This resource is invaluable and will be helpful when planning your trip and where to camp. Consider getting the app and purchasing the full AZT guide if you frequent the trail.
• Finish your ride at the Old Country Inn or Pine Creek Fudge Ice Cream & Espresso for a celebration meal.

Starting just south of Pine, Arizona, the Highline Trail Overnighter centers on the Highline National Recreation Trail, a historic 62-mile trail that hugs the base of the Mogollon Rim in the Tonto National Forest. The route starts and ends at the Pine Trailhead and opens with an 840-foot climb through stands of Ponderosa Pines, brushy hillsides, and rocky ridges that serve up wonderful views of rim canyons, fascinating rock formations, and distant mountains.

The high point of the route is 15 miles into the ride, at 6,400 feet. There are several smaller creeks that make wonderful wilderness camping spots during the spring and fall. The singletrack portion of the route ends with a descent to the most easterly part of the route at the Washington Park trailhead. From here, you can continue to follow the route, or potentially make the climb north to the top of the Mogollon Rim for some of the most scenic camping in the area.

Continuing south, the route transitions from trail to gravel roads, winding and rolling their way through scenic pine forests with plenty of options for dispersed camping tucked away from the road. There is only one small one-mile section of paved riding on the Payson Winslow Highway before riders duck into the trees for one last singletrack descent back to the trailhead.