Horton Creek to Horton Springs

Weather: 62º, sunny

About this Hike:  I did this trail back in May 2013 and wrote a blog post about it back then.  Glad to say nearly five years later not much has changed.

A relatively flat four mile hike rewards you with views of Horton Spring gushing from the side of a mountain.  Evidence of scrub oak and maple carpeted the ground in places.  The shadowy spots near the spring had a dusting of snow.  Surely this was a more wintery view than the lush forest I enjoyed in May 2013.  Still, there were many old-growth evergreens along this trail.  Not all of them are ponderosa, and I want to research what types of pines these are.  Compared to Prescott, the forest surrounding Payson is more lush and diverse.  I dare say I appreciate this much more now than I did back in 2013 as a relative AZ newbie (two years in AZ at that point).

I need to make sure nearly another fives year period doesn't pass before my next hiking trip in Payson.

Horton Creek

  

Horton Spring Trail

Weather:  82°, sunny, slight breeze

About this hike:  Horton Spring trail is just off Highway 260, near Kohl's Ranch (~20 miles north of Payson).  Trail head parking can get tight, but just up the road is a U.S. Forest Service -maintained paved parking area with plenty of spaces and latrines.  Best part is, no Tonto Pass needed to park here.    

It's 8-10 miles out and back from the Horton Spring Trailhead to the actual spring.  This hike was well worth it.  Mostly easy overland trails lead through magnificent ponderosa pine forest and alongside Horton Creek.  The trees must've been oozing sap during my visit, because the forest smelled very fragrant.

The trail ends at Horton Spring and you can actually see where the spring gushes from the side of the mountain.