Some days, I get the urge to run on singletrack. Rocks. Roots. A technical challenge.
Some days, I feel like running on forest roads. Smoother. Softer. More forgiving.
Some days, I can’t decide.
When that happens, I often park off Woody Mountain Road and Forest Road 532 and do both in a single, enjoyable jaunt.
It’s a 13.7-mile loop that features the best of both types of trails, some gnarly singletrack and some climbing, allowing you to navigate at a slower pace and enjoy the natural splendor, and some forest roads to stride out and pick up the pace with better footing and few, if any, obstacles in your path, save the plumes of dust kicked up by the occasional car blowing by.
Assuming you traverse the loop counter-clockwise, as I always do, the first 8.2 miles is all single-track, following the Flagstaff Loop Trail, west of Fort Tuthill County Park, for a mile before meeting up with the Rogers Trail that takes you up and over Woody Mountain to the Gold Digger/Two Spot trails in the Rogers Lake Nature Area. There’s a steady climb (1,374 feet) most of the way, particularly on the switchbacks heading up the east side of Woody Mountain, but nothing to make you hypoxic or anything.
Once reaching the seasonal (and exceedingly ephemeral) lake, which actually is running high now in spring, the remaining 5.5 miles is spent on the well-groomed dirt road officially labeled as Forest Road 231 but known by locals as Woody Mountain Road. There is some climbing along this stretch, too, 674 feet, but it’s gradual and never feels overly taxing.
Contrasts on this loop are not solely in terrain, though. You can experience a bit of bi-polar trail syndrome along the way.
Rogers Trail (and the segment of the Loop Trail) is not well-trod compared to other popular Flagstaff locales — though mountain bikers do use the Loop to hook up to Soldier’s Trail at Fort Tuthill. On a recent morning, Saturday, I ran across only three mountain bikers and no runners in an eight-mile stretch. The single-track is not so densely wooded that you could not easily step off and let someone on a shredding mountain bike pass.
Then there’s the forest road. Few, if any, obstacles are in your way. What you have to watch for, however, is vehicular traffic. The major drawback – for me, at least – to dirt roads are the clouds of dust you inhale whenever a car rumbles by. On my latest trek, four cars passed me on the road — fewer than one per mile. Not optimal, but not debilitating to one’s lungs, either. On weekends, watch out for four-by-fours roaring past at speeds far beyond the limit. (The other day, I swear, one was driven by a kid who could not have been older than 12.)
You are more likely to see other runners on Woody, as opposed to Rogers Trail. Professional runners frequent Woody Mountain because of their need for speed and aversion to single-track rockiness that might lead to injury in such finely-tuned athletic specimens. That’s the fun part of the fire road part of this course, watching the sleek runners blow past; they, certainly, do not kick up much dust.
Lest you think there’s not much else to see on the dirt road segment, you do pass two lovely ponds just to the east, with frog croaks audible even from across the way. That’s a good spot for a respite if you’re unconcerned about hitting time splits. You also pass by the outskirts of the Arboretum, a place to visit after finishing. It’s only two miles south on Woody Mountain Road from the junction of Forest Road 532, the start of the run.
About that start: The trailhead, unofficial, does not have a kiosk or even a marker. It’s merely a circular dirt pull out near the corner. You can’t miss it. It’s a popular spot for campers and day use. Over the winter, apparently, a giant tree fell and blocked most of the parking, but there’s still enough for at least five to 10 vehicles.
To start: Just follow the single-track path just to the south of the fire pit, and you’re on your way on the Loop Trail.
After 0.9 of a mile, you reach the first signage, where the Loop Trail splits to the left (heading towards Fort Tuthill) and the Rogers Trail to the right. Thus begins the winding, pleasant jaunt on the Rogers Trail. Highlights include stands of Ponderosa pines, verdant meadows and, at many spots along the way, large, lichen-covered basal boulders.
The best part? It has to be the switchbacks, which are steep without being prohibitive. That’s where you’ll see the most foliage and rock formations. It flattens into a rock garden near the top, as you reach the sign signaling the start of the Rogers Lake Nature Area.
Soon, you’ll be headed downhill and reach the junction with the Gold Digger Trail, a 5-mile loop that’s joined with the Two Spot Trail. You make a right turn (north) on Gold Digger for some single-track downhill to the lake, which was dry last October but now shimmers in the sun.
Thus, the single-track is done. Simply take Woody Mountain back to the trailhead — or, if dirt roads offend your trail-purist gestalt, then retrace your steps back on the Rogers Trail for a vigorous 16-mile outing.
Why do I always run this loop counterclockwise? Because it’s a guaranteed negative split, finishing up on Woody.
Rogers Trail-Woody Mountain Road Loop
Distance: 13.7 miles
Driving Directions: From Flagstaff, Route 66 west, turn left on Woody Mountain Road. Drive 3 miles and turn left onto FR 532. Park at a turnout on the left (south) side.
The Route: From the unmarked trailhead, follow a single-track path south for 0.9 miles. At a signed junction, turn right onto the Rogers Trail. Go 5.5 miles to the Gold Digger Trail. Turn right (north) and go about 2 miles to the Two Spot Trail. Go right for 0.5 mile to the kae and Woody Mountain Road (FR 231). Go right (north) 5.5 miles back to the trailhead.
Elevation gain: 2,048 feet
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